[samuria]

my broody hen has been sitting for 7 day on the eggs i bought.
this morning i found one out in the run,
which i put back under her
went to check on her just now and the egg is out
again and broken....
could it have been un-fertile?
and so she dumped it

[darkbrowneggs]

Yes - eggs which have died have a different temp so a good broody knows and will eject it from the nest.

[ANHBUC]

Broodies usually know best.  You should be able to tell if you open the egg to see if there are any signs of development.  There are some pictures of embryo development on HERE for you to compare with.     An egg that has not been fertilised will be the same consistency and look of a fresh egg.  If it has started to develop and died the albumen (egg white) is usually runny/watery.

[Prod]

SO...... if a hen ,or in my case a duck, is still sat on all her eggs then they are fertile??

[samuria]

the egg was like a fresh one ....
so i hope the others are good

[darkbrowneggs]

the egg was like a fresh one ....
so i hope the others are good

Not necessarily, but if she keeps rejecting an egg you can be pretty certain it is dead.

[ANHBUC]

SO...... if a hen ,or in my case a duck, is still sat on all her eggs then they are fertile??

No, some hens/ducks will sit until all the viable ones have hatched and then abandon the others.  The broody urge is so strong they will also sit on a nest of non fertile eggs.   

[Prod]

Well I hope she isn't sat on duff ones. Ive knitted 11 layettes!!!!!!