I lost my little silver duckwing OEGB hen (Anna) this week to a cat. In between beating myself up for not clipping her wings sooner and berating myself for being a bad chicken mom, I took the few eggs she laid this week (crossed with my mille fleur booted bantam rooster) back out of the fridge and placed them in the bator. Do I have any chance at all of having little Anna's? I know there is definately a chance they won't hatch, but is it worth the try? I've never candled. How soon should I try? It's been 3 days in the hovabator on the auto egg turner. I warmed them to room temp before putting them in. Thanks in advance.
If they were only refrigerated for a few days, then there is definitely a chance. If longer, then there is still a chance, but slimmer. I'm sorry to hear about your hen...I hope the eggs hatch for you! When my Silkie went broody, we gave her some eggs that had been laid by other hens that day, plus a couple of her eggs out of the fridge (she was broody and had already stopped laying). Her refrigerated eggs hatched!!!
A couple years ago I hatch eggs that had been in the fridge for 2 weeks. There is always a chance. Matt
Oh, I forgot to answer about candling...I think most people candle between 4 and 7 days. You need to be in a dark room with a small bright flashlight. You should be able to see some veins. Look up candling pics online so you know what you're looking for.
Well then here's hoping. She had an awesome personality and was beautiful. The roo is sweet so if he managed to fertilizer her the chicks, although crosses, should be decent birds. Both were good quality stock. That was my little girl. I miss her That's the roo standing behind her. He loved her (compared to his other girls) followed her around "dancing" as we jokingly call it.
She was beautiful. I think you'll be fine with the refrigerated eggs. I set 8 last spring that had been in the fridge for over a week and 7 hatched fine and healthy.
I'm so sorry for your loss, but thank you for sharing her pic with us. It's a beautiful photo of a lovely girl. What a pretty face she had!
How long do you need to set the refrigerated eggs out before putting them under a broody hen? I know its to room temp but do they need to be out 12 hours?
