are my eggs fertile?

[jcurts]

My female sulcata laid eggs today 3. she did not bury them she just dropped one at a time in the grass. Both of my tortoises are rescues so I do not know their ages but both are 16"+ across and 60+ lbs.
the male has a very deformed shell in the back and I don't think he can position himself correctly to enter the female but he tries. how can I tell if the eggs are fertile. I don't really want babies but I hate to trash the eggs if they are viable.

 

[Tom]

Incubate them.

Do you have more than just the two? How long have you had them?

Females will often drop a few eggs like this before getting down to laying real clutches and digging nests. I call it "priming the pump".

 

[kimber_lee_314]

Chances aren't good when they drop them like that, without digging a nest, but you never know! Incubate them and see what happens. Good luck!