Did anyone succeed in hatching a month old on-the-counter eggs?

[Kool-Kemp]

Hi all,

We will be on vacation for 2 weeks. I have fertilized eggs I've been collecting and keeping on the counter (house temp at 68F) since Nov 24 (1 to 2 eggs a day).
When we leave for vacation, I will have like 3 dozens on the counter.
By the time we get back home, the eggs will be between 15-36 days old (I do mark the date on them).
I don't have the rooster anymore (he is gone Nov 30) so that will be all fertilized eggs I have, and so I will put them all in the incubator by then anyway. But just wonder if anyone ever had luck hatching that old eggs, and what was your hatch rate?

No. of eggs: 3 dozens
Eggs age: 15-36 days old.
Planned start incubator date: Dec 29

Thank you.

 

[Percheron chick]

I had guinea eggs on the counter for about a month in the summer and had about a 40% hatch rate. First timer too.

 

[Kool-Kemp]

I had guinea eggs on the counter for about a month in the summer and had about a 40% hatch rate. First timer too.

Wow, 40% hatch rate is low. I do hope with the low room temperature in winter, the fertility rate won't drop that fast/much. I can't start the incubator now because no one will care for it when we are not home. I don't have the egg turner and it is too late to order one.

 

[Kool-Kemp]

I started my incubator today for 36 eggs I said above. I will do dry hatch this time (not add water until lockdown). Will update on how it turns out.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Good luck, Dry hatching would be fine, a bit of water would not be bad either since they have been drying out on the counter. You will be lucky to get 40% though if the eggs are old.
I went on vaca and hatched eggs while I was gone, in a homemade incubator in the past. (I have 2 I like now that are store incubators)
As far as the vaca eggs, I had 7/11 hatch in the home made incubator, and there was food and water also in the homemade incubator. We got home 3 days after they hatched, the 4 eggs that didn't hatch got rolled out from under the light. (Chicks playing soccer.)

Now I hatch with rope in incubator and the eggs don't roll about.

 

[Kool-Kemp]

Good luck, Dry hatching would be fine, a bit of water would not be bad either since they have been drying out on the counter. You will be lucky to get 40% though if the eggs are old.
I went on vaca and hatched eggs while I was gone, in a homemade incubator in the past. (I have 2 I like now that are store incubators)
As far as the vaca eggs, I had 7/11 hatch in the home made incubator, and there was food and water also in the homemade incubator. We got home 3 days after they hatched, the 4 eggs that didn't hatch got rolled out from under the light. (Chicks playing soccer.)

Now I hatch with rope in incubator and the eggs don't roll about.
View attachment 3363678

The rope is a brilliant idea!!

 

[Kool-Kemp]

Candled today at day 7 and eliminated half of them (cracked open and nothing developed). I don’t have much hope on the rest but leave them (the newer eggs) in there until day 10 and see.

 

[Kool-Kemp]

Updates: Out of 36 old eggs, I candled and removed down to only 4 eggs. All of the removed eggs were clear, no veins. Some got some weird dark spots but no veins. I need to add that I found out my incubator got some cool spots, and the built in thermometer and hygrometer just went banana. So, I think that added to the reasons why I have such low rate of development. I did buy a small hygro-thermometer to have better control of temperature and humidity but I guess it was a bit late for some eggs.
Anyway, down to lock-down date, I eliminated 2 more, because they look dark as if there were some developments, but no clear veins, and the eggs weren't fully dark by lock-down date. Also, one of the 2 got a line in it, which indicates the chick (if it ever made to that stage) has died. So, I don't want a "K-boom" in the incubator.

Now, we are down to 2 good eggs out of 36, and one pips this morning on day 23, and she chirps so loud. I think the other one will follow soon.
Will post some pictures after they zip and get dry.

 

[Kool-Kemp]

Update: One hatched out with my help, I thought I lost her. She is strong except having a hard time fluffing up.
The other could not make it, even though she pipped internally and I made a safe hole for her. I opened the egg and saw she got her wing over her head and I guess that was why she could not make it out by herself.

I remember seeing someone said hatching old eggs could be troublesome, as the chicks may have a lot of problems. I believe it now.

 

[DebAnneDigi]

Update: One hatched out with my help, I thought I lost her. She is strong except having a hard time fluffing up.
The other could not make it, even though she pipped internally and I made a safe hole for her. I opened the egg and saw she got her wing over her head and I guess that was why she could not make it out by herself.

I remember seeing someone said hatching old eggs could be troublesome, as the chicks may have a lot of problems. I believe it now.

How old is old? My rooster died last Saturday. I have 7 eggs in an incubator since Mon, rest were on counter, unwashed, I put them in incubator this morning. This is all experimental. When if ever shall I see something inside?