[Oneeyedhen]

Our Cockeral lives with his scots grey girls but he recently jumped in beside our other hens for an afternoon.  If he has had his way with the girls when would their eggs be fertilized? I'm assuming its a few days but really have no idea!  We sell our eggs in an honesty box, only the cockeral free ones. The others we use at ourselves. Thanks for any info 

[chrismahon]

It will be a few days before the fertile ones emerge Oneeyedhen. Certatinly not the next day. Check the eggs by looking at the blastoderm -too much to explain, need to Google it and see pictures. Why don't you sell the fertilised ones? They can't develop until incubated.  Most of ours are fertilised as each breeding set has several hens and a cockerel and we've checked fertility prior to exporting them.

[Derby_menagerie]

It's illiegal to sell eggs that have been running with a cock for consumption, I guess thats why the OP wants to keep breeders/own use and layers apart. is anyone going to complain or even know? well probably not, unless someone leaves there eggs on a warm window sill for 2 to 3 weeks, most people keep them in the fridge! I keep my layers away from the cock.

[OhLaLa]

'If' he had his way with the girls....  you mean 'when' he had his way......

Yes some would certainly be fertilised, and they will be laid a day or two later. If you are unsure just keep them for your own consumption.

 

[Womble]

It's illiegal to sell eggs that have been running with a cock for consumption

I've seen this statement a few times now in different guises. I'm not saying it's wrong of course, but does anybody have a reference to the actual law or regulation that makes this illegal?

[Sylvia]

I'm pretty sure this isn't so My cockerels run with my hens and always have done. I can't say I've ever seen any indication of an egg being fertilised when I've opened them. Mind you, I never sell eggs that are more than a week old. We eat them or family does or the dogs.

[Womble]

Hi Sylvia, It's not easy to tell if an egg is fertile just by looking, but it is possible, as per the picture below:

[chrismahon]

There was a comprehensive article in Practical Poultry July 2011. Selling door to door locally or from your doorstep with fewer than 50 laying hens is classed as Farm Gate Sales. There is no mention at all of fertilised eggs not being allowed to be sold. Does say the boxes should have a 'best before' date on them, which we don't do- oops! Also says they must not be refrigerated and ours are just kept in the cellar.

So until someone actually points to the legislation which states fertilised eggs cannot be sold, even as Farm Gate (all smallholdings have cockerels don't they?) we will continue to sell them.

[darkbrowneggs]

It's illegal to sell eggs that have been running with a cock for consumption, I guess that's why the OP wants to keep breeders/own use and layers apart. is anyone going to complain or even know? well probably not, unless someone leaves there eggs on a warm window sill for 2 to 3 weeks, most people keep them in the fridge! I keep my layers away from the cock.

Can't remember the link now, will look it up later probably, but from memory it is fine to sell fertile eggs as long as there is no perceptible embryonic development, according to DEFRA.   Not that I sell any eggs for eating, its just something I am aware of 

[chrismahon]

Yes DBE, the last thing you want is a customer complaining that they cracked an egg open and there seemed to be a little chick inside.

[darkbrowneggs]

OK  - got it.  This is the link to the Egg Quality Guide issued by DEFRA 

LINKY

And about half way through the document it states

Germ Cell   -   Imperceptible development

No where does it say fertile eggs will not meet the Grade A standard for eggs      - I knew I had read it somewhere.  As I say I don't sell eating eggs, but the info was lurking somewhere in the back of my mind 

Hope it helps 

[plumseverywhere]

I asked at the Domestic Fowl trust about this and they said its not illegal to sell eggs that have come from hens running with a cockerel.
Our cockerel only fancies one hen (poor girl) he never goes near the others it seems! although I'm sure he does.
I was just told to collect very regularly which is what I do, in all the time we've sold/consumed eggs from our cockerel trodden hens, we've never come across anything chick like.

[Sylvia]

I see what you mean, Womble but how many people look that closely at their egg yolk? Most crack them and stick them straight in the pan! I'll have a good look tomorrow though, with my glasses on

[hughesy]

I've heard this nonsense about not being legal to sell eggs from birds that run with a cockerel many times. Fortunately it is total bulls**t.

[Sylvia]

Have a quiche in the oven now. With my glasses on I did spot a weeny germ cell but how many free- range eggs buyers will notice, or care if they did!