I am getting some new hens today( that ran with roosters in their old home) and don't want to eat fertile eggs. How long after a rooster has done his duty on a hen does it take to get fertile eggs? In other words, how long should I wait to eat the eggs from the new ladies? Am I making sense? Thank you, Jenn

-- Jenn (none@none.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

Safe side 2-3 weeks. Usually they stay fertile for 10 days.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), May 07, 2002.

Of course you know fertile eggs look and taste just the same as infertile?

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), May 07, 2002.

I read that hens can store the roosters sperm in their body for about a month - so you could be getting fertile eggs for up to a month after you get your hens.

Once the egg is actually laid it will remain fertile for about 10 days after which time it would no longer be viable but still perfectly edible.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that wants to know why you don't want to eat fertile eggs. Would you mind sharing?

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), May 07, 2002.

I understand that fertile eggs are better for your health, why don't you want to them? Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Jenn, do you think you could tell the difference? I guess I am curious too! LOL LG

-- Little Quacker in OR (carouselxing@juno.com), May 07, 2002.

=== Once the egg is actually laid it will remain fertile for about 10 days after which time it would no longer be viable ===

I have to disagree with this. My hens have hatched eggs that I've stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

From The American Egg Board:

"Fertile eggs are not more nutritious than nonfertile eggs."

"BLOOD SPOTS Also called meat spots. Occasionally found on an egg yolk. Contrary to popular opinion, these tiny spots do not indicate a fertilized egg. Rather, they are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface during formation of the egg or by a similar accident in the wall of the oviduct. Less than 1% of all eggs produced have blood spots."

"CHALAZA Ropey strands of egg white which anchor the yolk in place in the center of the thick white. They are neither imperfections nor beginning embryos. The more prominent the chalazae, the fresher the egg. Chalazae do not interfere with the cooking or beating of the white and need not be removed."

"ORGANIC EGGS Eggs from hens fed rations having ingredients that were grown without pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or commercial fertilizers. No commercial laying hen rations ever contain hormones. Due to higher production costs and lower volume per farm, organic eggs are more expensive than eggs from hens fed conventional feed. The nutrient content of eggs is not affected by whether or not the ration is organic."

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

I remember reading in one of those great organic magazines years ago, that fertile eggs are better for you becuase they aid in the breakdown of cholestrol. Not more more nutrients just better for you. Why bother with the chickens if you want infertile eggs? the grocery stores are full of them. I have a friend who won't eat "country eggs" becasue she thinks they are not as clean as store bought chicken factory eggs! It tkes humans to come up with the idea of squishing 3 to 4 hens into a cage with no room to even move around, cut off their beaks so they can't peck anything in their frustration, keep the lights on 24 hours a day, feed them high energy feed to force production, burn them out after a year and tell people these eggs are healthy!! Heaven forbid they get around a rooster that is not cost effective. . No wonder I like poultry and animals better than most people.

-- karen in kansas (kansashobbit@yahoo.com), May 07, 2002.

Well, I wanted the eggs to hatch rather than eat them. We have free range chickens and treat them very well. We have a huge coop built for them, too. Thank you so much for all the info! I especially always wondered about the blood spots and white strings. Ya'll are the best! Jenn :)

-- Jenn (None@none.com), May 07, 2002.

Hi, Another thing about store bought chicken egg (Farms), Canned soup companys buy most of those old,old,old, one year old chickens... lacyj

-- lacyj (hillharmony@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Jenn, I wouldn't count on the eggs being fertile past a week or so.

-- mary (mlg@mlg.com), May 07, 2002.

The American Egg Board says, "Fertile eggs may contain a small amount of male hormone, but there are no known advantages."

Seems to me if fertile eggs had anything to do with cholestrol breakdown, they would certainly list it!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Kinda something to consider Rogo, look how long we have been told that "eggs are bad for you". "Chocolate is bad for you." etc etc. It is only now that the medical community is learning that eggs are good for you! Surprise, surprise! And chocolate too! LOL It is only been recently that wine has been suggested as healthly. These things, we who are country folk have always known. So, maybe the powers that be just haven't caught up with the rest yet. Go figure. LOL LG

-- Little Quacker in OR (carouselxing@juno.com), May 08, 2002.