ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Can supermarket eggs actually hatch? For a supermarket egg to hatch it must have been fertilised. And the vast majority of eggs on supermarkets’ shelves, whether they are from ducks or chickens, will not be fertilised. This is because in commercial egg production male and female chicks are separated at about a day old.

Detailed explanation-2: -However, it is generally not possible to hatch a chick from an egg purchased from a grocery store. Each year, youth from across Michigan explore the embryonic development of chickens. Youth use modified versions of the embryology lessons from the Beginning of Life, Virginia 4-H School Enrichment Curriculum.

Detailed explanation-3: -Typically, supermarket eggs (of any variety) are unfertilized and thus can’t hatch. Fertilized eggs, if exposed to the right conditions, can indeed hatch.

Detailed explanation-4: -Not much. You won’t notice any difference at all when gathering, storing, or eating eggs. Fertilized eggs and unfertilized eggs look and taste exactly the same, and have the same nutritional value. The only difference is that if you incubate a fertilized egg for at least 24 hours, a chick will begin to develop.

Detailed explanation-5: -For hatching to occur, the eggs must be fertile. Fertile eggs can be collected from hens who are housed with a rooster. Eggs sold in grocery stores are not fertile; therefore, they will not grow into baby chicks if placed in an incubator.