How do you like your eggs?

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Ghosty

I always thought they were unfertilized eggs that we eat?? Unless somewhere along the line I heard it incorrectly. I do remember my mother told me once if you see a red spot in the egg, it meant it was going to be a rooster/male. But that could be just old wives tales. I don't know. Somewhere I heard they are unfertilized eggs that the chickens keep laying and those are the ones we eat. ???? Anyone know for sure?

It's a fallacy as are most ridiculous comments made to sound as facts.

Anyway, here's the deal with red spots on eggs:

Blood Spots
Also called meat spots. Occasionally found on an egg yolk. Contrary to popular opinion, these tiny spots do not indicate a fertilized egg. Rather, they are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface during formation of the egg or by a similar accident in the wall of the oviduct. Less than 1% of all eggs produced have blood spots.

Mass candling methods reveal most eggs with blood spots and those eggs are removed but, even with electronic spotters, it is impossible to catch all of them. As an egg ages, the yolk takes up water from the albumen to dilute the blood spot so, in actuality, a blood spot indicates that the egg is fresh. Both chemically and nutritionally, these eggs are fit to eat. The spot can be removed with the tip of a knife, if you wish.


EDIT:
And you can certainly eat a fertile egg:

Fertile Eggs
Eggs which can be incubated and developed into chicks. Fertile eggs are not more nutritious than nonfertile eggs, do not keep as well as nonfertile eggs and are more expensive to produce. Fertile eggs may contain a small amount of male hormone, but there are no known advantages.