How do i tell if a chicken egg is fertilized?

Question

i have two hens that have been laying eggs daily. a week ago i got a rooster to try babies. how do i know when to stop collecting the eggs? i am not there enough to watch for the actual fertilization by the male because i have a regular job. please help. i don't want a nest full of rotten non-fertilized eggs.

Answer 1

candle them. This is what they did in the old days. Hold the eggs up to a candle and if you can see any dark spots that means it is fertilized. No dark spots not fertilized.

Answer 2

hold it up to a lamp.  if u see feathers then u know its been fertilized.

Answer 3

If they are getting along, I would stop collecting no sooner than one week.  It won't hurt you to eat fertilized eggs, so the longer you wait, the better your chances will be.  

When you candle the eggs, use a good flashlight.  You should be able to see development after 5 days of incubation.

Answer 4

Take a flashlight and hold it up to them, if you see a dark spot its fertilized, I would let the hens sit on the eggs for a few days and then check them. Sometimes you can even just hold them up to the sun and be able to tell.

Answer 5

are you planning to incubate them yourself?...the hen will now when to start warming them up