Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Out of curiousity, does anyone know if developing fertile bird eggs have a greater temperature (radiate more heat) than infertile eggs? Therefore making it easier for reptiles, gilas and snakes, to find them.

No they don't because the hen is responsible for keeping them warm. Also, fertile eggs have no higher nutritional value as all of the "stuff" is there already. A developing chick is just a reconfiguration of the material within the egg.

ALL THE "STUFF" IS THERE ALREADY? I DON'T THINK SO. THE NUTRITIONAL ANALYSIS OF AN EGG WITH AN EMBRYO INSIDE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND SUPERIOR TO AN UNFERTILZED EGG. MAYBE THE COLORIES ARE SIMILAR, BUT THE VARIETY OF AND AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS IS VASTLY DIFFERENT. FERTIZED EGGS ARE HIGHER IN CALCIUM, IRON, AND FIBER TO NAME A FEW EXAMPLES.
I HAVE HEARD OF EXPERIMENTES WITH AFRICAN BIRD EATING SNAKES. THE ONES FED UNFERTILIZED EGGS DIED WITHIN A YEAR AND THE ONES FED EGGS WITH EARLY EMBRYO'S THRIVED.

Please state your source. I would like more info. Apparently the USDA is providing incorrect information.

I think you need a reality check with respect to the laws of physics.

The calories certainly aren't any higher in a fertilized egg, due to something called the first law of thermodynamics. In fact, they would certainly be somewhat less, due to the energy used in developing the embryo.

I guess it's possible that calcium could be removed from the shell as the embryo develops. Likely -- I dunno. I don't know enough about biology. However, I do know enough about physics to know that an embryo can't create iron out of nothing.

As for whether a fertilized egg is warmer, it certainly is for warm-blooded animals.

Well- I stand corrected, however-the nutritional worth of a fertilized egg is better for a carnivore than a non fertized egg. My main Qestion that no one has answered is why is it bad to supplement with fertilized eggs every once in a while when this is part of their diet in the wild.