The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Connor on January 08, 2014, 11:47:27 am
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My gold Silkie laid her first egg today and the rooster is running with her so how do I know if it is defo fertile I cracked it open and seen 3-4 dark brown dots in the yolk is this a sign of fertility?
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The only way to tell is to incubate them for about 10 days and then candle them.
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dark/blood spots aren't an indicator of a fertile egg :)
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You need to look for the 'blastoderm' Connor. It is a cluster of cells on the surface of the yolk and becomes more visible with an egg stored in a cool place (not a cold fridge) for over 5 days. In that time we have noticed the few cells divide further and the blastoderm enlarges until it is about 3mm across. It is a circular pale, opaque white, spot on the surface. When you see it you will know what I am describing. Darkbrowneggs has (or had) a web site with pictures, but Google 'blastoderm' anyway. These are the cells that are the start of the embryo and then become a chick. Crack the egg into a small bowl and examine the yolk under a magnifying glass. You may need to turn the yolk over with a teaspoon to check the other side.
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The only way to tell without opening them is to incubate them.
If you open them you can see the difference between a fertile and infertile egg but it kinda defeats the object :)
Infertile
(http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/explore/embryology/day01/graphics/38unfertilizedegg.jpg)
Fertile
(http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/explore/embryology/day01/graphics/37fertilizedegg.jpg)
****EDIT*****
What Chris said! :) here's the pictures
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You could open one egg and find it was fertile then try to incubate a whole,lot assuming the cockerel was always hitting the spot, and none of them hatch - so why not cut out the middle step and incubate a few to see how it goes?
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Do you want the bother of chicks at this time of year?
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Thanks and yes I do want chicks I have orders for March to reach and the sales will be starting again soon