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what are the signs of fertile chuck eggs

mart20 Dec 12, 2010 12:44 PM

Hi again,

I found another egg yesterday, I was wondering if it was from one of the other females but there were no signs that they had laid and that was it after that. I'm thinking it was my little female again, as I tried here with some water and she started lapping at it, but the others weren’t interested. Can they sometimes lay some and then lay 1 or 2 more a few days later? It is her first time so I don't know if that makes any difference.

The main reason I wanted to write this post, is because the first 4 eggs went really moldey so I have just thrown them out as they looked pretty bad. I am a little disappointed however I'm looking on the bright side and see it as experience and like a trial run. The thing is I'd really like to know what the external signs of a fertile egg are? Without having to candle them, I'll write my questions below and your answers will be like a check list.

What colour would a fertile egg be? White? or can they be a yellow colour and still possibly be fertile.

Is being yellow to start with a sure fire sign that it's a dud?

Should they change shape/ expand, and if so when does this usually occur?

Should a fertile egg go hard all the way around or just on top?

I think that’s about all the questions I can think of but if you know of any other signs of how to tell if they are fertile or duds then please let me know as this will help me determine what I'm dealing with when my other chucks lay.

Thanks

Replies (2)

tgreb Dec 13, 2010 08:24 AM

Yeah I would say the first four aare bad. Could see that from the pics. to answer your questions.

YES
YES
within a few hours.
The eggs will firm up-become rigid but the shell will not get hard as your first 4 did.

Tom

mart20 Dec 13, 2010 09:48 AM

Hi Tom,

Thanks for that, it really helps to know what to look for, from what you said it does seem like they were definatley duds, as they never really changed shape or anything. At least I know what to look for next time any way.

Thanks again Tom.
Martin

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