Many people are curious about how hens lay eggs. Some say that hens don't need a rooster to fertilize them to lay eggs. Is this true? Do hens need a rooster to fertilize their eggs? Let's find out.
Does a hen need a rooster to fertilize her eggs?
A hen does not need a rooster to fertilize its eggs. Laying an egg is an ovulation process, and the eggs a hen lays are its own ovum; therefore, rooster fertilization does not affect egg laying. However, if the eggs are to hatch into chicks , then rooster fertilization is required.
How do hens get fertilized?
The reproductive system of chickens differs significantly from that of mammals . Neither roosters nor hens have prominent reproductive organs. When a rooster mounts a hen and aligns its cloaca with hers, it injects sperm into the hen's cloaca. A rooster ejaculates 1.5 to 8 billion sperm during a single mating, the vast majority of which are lost. Only 3-4 sperm reach the ovule region on the yolk sac, but only one sperm can actually fertilize the egg cell.
While the process of roosters and hens reproducing through fertilization may seem short, it's actually quite complex. Both chickens must be very cooperative; fertilization can only occur when their cloaca are aligned. Furthermore, only fertilized eggs can hatch into chicks. Most eggs sold in the market are unfertilized and therefore cannot hatch.
How can you tell if an egg is fertilized?
1. Light
When you hold an egg up to the sunlight to examine it, a fertilized egg, viewed from the front, will have a blastocyst that looks like a disc covering the yolk surface, with a bright center and dark edges, commonly known as the germinal disc.
2. Egg yolk
Gently crack the eggs and pour them into clean bowls, being careful not to damage the yolks. Observe them carefully. If you find a small circle on the surface of the yolk, similar to a fish eye, the egg is fertilized. If not, it is unfertilized.
