I have someone who just contacted me looking for fertile eggs. They are looking for a specific breed, so I would have to hold those eggs aside. Can they be refrigerated or will that reduce their chances of hatching?
hatching egg question
Hi janastasio--The best storage temp is 55 degrees F. Which is just above the usual frig temp. So don't refrigerate them unless you can move the temp up. You can store them for at least a week--the embryos are dormant until you start incubating so even longer is possible--I've been told they've even hatched after 30 days--but supposedly there is a 1% decrease in hatchability for every day after 6 days. Can you keep them in a cooler or cold basement--you don't want it too damp or too dry.
Thank you for the information. I will store them in the basement. He wants 20 of my aracauna eggs, and I only get between 1-3 a day, so it will take some time to get that many. I let him know about the hatchability with waiting, so maybe he'll opt for some of my other eggs too.
Sounds like you will be just about right. The hen doesn't start incubating until she has a clutch and that takes at least a week. Some books stress humidity as high as 75% for storing--but if you are only storing for a week I think you should be fine. One book said make sure it is not so humid that mold spores will start to grow on the eggs! Are you shipping eggs or are they local?
local. Dont think I ready for the adventure of shipping yet! I believe this will be his first try using an incubator as well, so I want to try and make it a possitive one with good eggs!
Well, a couple years ago I had a friend buy some fertile eggs from me and had to keep them for a few days to get enough for him. I kept them at room temperature and out of the 23 eggs he bought he got a hatch of 16. So, if you keep them in a cool room, you should be fine.
I think you have to add the shipping time to the storage time too.
MollyD
Oh, janastasio--Handle them very gently so you don't give him the infamous TAC eggs lol! Actually they are suppose to be stored with the big end straight up so the air cell can settle and the yolk will be centered and not stick to the sides. If you store them for longer than 6 days you are suppose to gently tilt the whole carton one way one day and the other the next again to keep the yolk centered. I think this is something the Post Office generally does for you when you ship--free of charge!:0)
i lean the cartons at a 45 degree angle and switch it every 12 hours... but first i let them sit for a half day or so after first collecting them...
temp is the MOST important, higher than 68 and the blastoderm begins to grow!
Wow, so much! I have them in an egg carton, so that means I have them the wrong way. I have them in the basement. I figured that would keep them cool and also help with the humidity part. I will go downstairs and put the large part up.
LOL, you think THIS is complicated, wait until you decide to hatch your own!
Ohhh I know!!! Of course after reading all of these threads, I want to! I definitely see an incubator in my future!! I have to give my husband another year to get used to what we have. He's a slow mover! Oh, today we got such a steal! The people accross the sheet had 2 huge rolls of fencing and a small dog kennell for free! We were going to have to buy alot of fencing when we redid the chicken yard. Prob saved us couple hundred dollars. Yeah!!!
cool! free is great!
janastasio that is a wonderful find! Wish I could find something that good here!!!
MollyD
Good luck with your first offer of hatching eggs,
Jana. Let us know how long you store them before
your friend starts to incubate, and also how his hatch
goes.