Fertile or Not? Quick, Easy Methods for Testing Your Quail Eggs
If you’ve ever wondered how to check if your Coturnix quail eggs are fertile, you’ve come to the right spot. Today, I’m sharing two easy methods: candling (perfect if you plan to hatch those eggs) and cracking them open to look for a telltale bullseye (a great option if you’re just curious and don’t mind sacrificing a few eggs).
Understanding egg fertility can help you avoid wasting time incubating eggs that won’t hatch, and it’s also a neat way to learn more about how these fascinating birds reproduce. Plus, knowing which eggs are likely to hatch lets you plan ahead for space, supplies, and the excitement of welcoming new chicks. Let’s jump right in!
Why Check for Fertility?
A fertile egg has been successfully fertilized by a male quail, meaning it has the potential to develop into a chick. If you’re incubating eggs, knowing which ones are fertile helps you plan your hatches and improve your success rates. It also gives you a quick window into how well your breeding groups are performing.
Even if you’re not planning to hatch right now, checking fertility can still be worth your time. It can confirm that your roo is doing his job, or help you troubleshoot if you’re seeing low hatch rates later on.
Method 1: Look for the Bullseye
This first method is super straightforward, but remember—once you crack the egg, you can’t hatch it! Use this approach if you have extra eggs you don’t plan to incubate or if you just want to confirm fertility rates in your covey.
- Crack the Egg into a Bowl or Plate
Gently crack your quail egg and pour it onto a clean dish. Try not to break the yolk, as you’ll need to see its surface clearly. - Locate the White Spot
On the surface of the yolk, you’ll notice a small white spot (called the germinal disc). This is present in both fertile and infertile eggs. - Check for the Bullseye
- Fertile (Blastoderm): The germinal disc appears as a bullseye—a distinct, circular white ring with a more defined center.
- Infertile (Blastodisc): The spot is smaller, more solid white, and doesn’t have a ringed appearance.
- Use a Reference Image
If you’re unsure, compare your yolk’s spot to a reference image (like the graphic below, showing the difference between a small white spot vs. a bullseye). With practice, you’ll be able to spot fertility in seconds!
Method 2: Candle Your Eggs
Candling is the best way to check fertility if you plan on hatching the eggs, since it lets you see development without cracking them open.
What You Need
- A Bright Light: A specialized egg candler works great (lots of affordable options online!), or you can use a small, powerful flashlight.
- A Dark Space: Make sure the room is dim so you can clearly see inside the egg.
When to Candle
For Coturnix quail, 7–10 days into incubation is the sweet spot. By then, you should see clear signs of development if the egg is fertile.
How to Candle
- Darken the Room: Turn off the lights or wait until evening.
- Hold the Egg Gently: Position it so the light shines directly through the shell.
- Look for Veins or a Dark Spot: A fertile egg shows a network of blood vessels, a developing embryo, or even movement if you’re lucky.
- Infertile Eggs Appear Clear: If you see no veins or dark areas, it’s likely not fertile.
What to Look For
In fertile eggs, you may notice thin, branching lines near the yolk that represent developing blood vessels. Over time, a small, dark spot indicating the embryo will grow more distinct. As incubation continues, you might even observe slight movement inside the egg, signaling that the embryo is actively developing.
In infertile eggs, you’ll notice a clear interior without any visible vessels, spots, or movement. The egg displays a uniform glow as light passes through easily, without any obstructions.
FAQs About Checking Egg Fertility
Candling can confirm ongoing development (veins, movement), so it’s best if you plan to hatch. Cracking eggs open is foolproof for identifying the bullseye—but you lose the chance to hatch those eggs.
Yes! Just handle them carefully and try not to overdo it—too much jostling can harm a developing embryo.
Timing is everything. Candling too early (before day 7) may not reveal veins yet. Give it a few more days and check again.
Most do, but some shell color variations or very fresh eggs can make the spot harder to see. Practice helps you spot the subtle differences.
Figuring out if your Coturnix quail eggs are fertile can be as easy as cracking one open to look for the classic bullseye, or as hands-off as candling them mid-incubation to see those tiny veins. Whichever route you choose, checking egg fertility adds a fun, educational layer to your quail-keeping journey. It also gives you a head start on identifying which eggs are worth incubating—so you can make the most of every hatch.
Ready to take your quail egg journey to the next step? Check out our guide on how to collect and store your eggs to keep them fresh and ready for incubation. If you’re thinking about hatching, explore our tips for selecting the right incubator and managing ideal humidity and temperature. And for a step-by-step approach to hatching, we’ve got you covered
Happy quail-keeping, and may your coveys always thrive!
