I'm glad I wasn't able to set eggs. We have a really nasty storm coming in with wind gusts predicted up to 80mph. My power is probably going to go out. :idunno
I wouldn't incubate the three worst. Bacteria risk would be a little too high for me. You might be able to gentle rub some of the dirt off if it's dry, though. Just don't use too much pressure so the bloom stays in place.
I'm officially out. Neighbors don't have enough to sell right now and I won't have nearly enough eggs to hatch. :hmm Good luck to everyone, though! I'll probably stick around and follow the thread.
I'm honestly thinking about buying eggs from my neighbors. :lol: They have this tiny little bantam hen I'd kill to have chicks from. She's about the size of an OEGB and her tail is almost twice the length of her body. She's adorable. :love But they also have some really nice LF.
For anyone wondering, I really wouldn't try to hatch anything older than 15 days at the most. Like others have said, within one week old is the sweet spot. I've hatched eggs from 15 days to nearly 2 months old in previous years and fresher really is better.
Not only does the hatch rate drop...
I may have to drop out. I'm not 100% sure yet. I left the eggs on the porch and one of the hens pecked all but 2 and cracked them. :barnie I don't know if they'll lay enough in time to make it worth it. I don't have much hope it'll work out.
There's a pretty bad storm going on right now and I know I'm going to lose out on today's eggs because of it. :barnie
Not all of them, mind you. Just the ones I needed because they weren't giving me any eggs. :rolleyes: I guess on the bright side I'll have plenty of green and blue-green eggs in...