Author Topic: Hatching eggs (Read 2915 times)

harefarm · « **on:** June 05, 2013, 05:54:32 pm »

Just thought I would ask

What is the longest time anyone has kept their own fertile chicken eggs prior to placing in the incubator?

I have 2 bantams hens normally with a cockerel, one of which has a brood of 8 day old chicks so I have been collecting the other ones for the past 17 days not expecting much from the older ones. I put them in the incubator 3 days ago. Just thought I would check them before putting some others in and they are all growing. I thought after 10 days they wouldn't be much good.

Bodger · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2013, 07:30:48 pm »

I've successfully hatched eggs that were three or four weeks old.

HelenVF · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2013, 07:33:14 pm »

I have hatched turkey eggs that were 3 or 4 weeks old as well.

Helen

chrismahon · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2013, 02:28:20 am »

Success hatching old eggs depends on how they are stored. We used to keep ours in the cellar in trays -12 degrees and 80% humidity. After 10 days there was a noticeable reduction in hatching rates. So I guess our storage conditions were not quite right. I was told by a poultry breeder that she hatched eggs to 14 days, but after that the hatch rates were too low to bother.

sokel · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2013, 06:59:41 am »

I have also had 100% hatch with eggs that where a month old
If you think of a goose laying every other day by the time it has a full clutch the oldest is easy a month old

landroverroy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2013, 06:55:32 pm »

I would not sell eggs for hatching that were over 10 days old, but have found them ok for myself at least up to 18 days. After that I've found the hatching rate drops dramatically, so would be really interested to know how you kept them them viable for 3 or 4 weeks. Were these hen eggs or water fowl?

harefarm · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2013, 10:10:28 pm »

These were from a Gold Partridge Pekin Bantam. I use a store type room for incubators and just had them on the side (incubator were not plugged in at the time). I wouldn't sell fertile eggs more than a week old but as you say for my own use is ok.

All the eggs are growing nicely. Due to hatch next week.

I am interested in how and where people store their fertile eggs as it is something that I now need to sort out.