Why do Mallard hens lay infertile eggs?

Answer 1

Chicken eggs are only fertile if they have been fertilized. The kind that people generally buy in supermarkets or grocery stores, in order to eat them, are infertile and contain no embryo. Eggs can only be fertile if the hens that lay them are around roosters, and nearly all eggs sold in stores are produced in factory farms where the hens are restricted and never see a rooster. Any that potentially would have a rooster in the flock will be specifically labeled. Even eggs labeled "free-range" are not going to be fertile if there are no roosters in the flock.

Answer 2

Perhaps the chicken didn't understand that the egg was infertile. I would recommend you take the chicken to a therapist as it could have grief issues. If this doesn't help you may want to consider adding a duck or goose egg to the nest. This could ensure a pleasant surprise for the hen.

Answer 3

Yes.

If there is no rooster present, the hen will continue to lay eggs and they will be infertile.

Answer 4

Because there was no male to fertilize them.

Answer 5

Not every egg a chicken lays is fertile. If you do not have a rooster in with your hens none of your eggs will be fertilized.

Answer 6

No,

Chickens lay eggs almost everyday without a rooster. But, in order for the egg to hatch it needs to be fertile!

Answer 7

yes,they are infertile because how could you do a commercial with a fertile egg? well actually,it depends.

Answer 8

At 18 weeks a hen will start to lay eggs. They will lay an egg every day.If they are not with a rooster or male chicken they will lay an unfertilized egg.

Answer 9

All breed and types of chicken can lay eggs, as long as they are female. Some types of chickens can lay upwards of 250 eggs per year, others may only lay a few.