Do refridgerated eggs have a higher rate of birth defects?

[just2rosey]

I have hatched out two small batches of chicks this winter, and both times I had set a few of my own eggs which had been refridgerated. The first hatch none of the refridgerated eggs hatched; one was a clear and the other died around day 18. The second batch three eggs had been refridgerated and all hatched, but two chicks hatched with leg/foot deformities. One was severe and I had to cull it, the other is minor. I did not have any temp spikes during either hatch. Do you think that refridgerating the eggs could cause defects or deformities? What experiences have others had?

 

[just2rosey]

Any thoughts? Anyone?

 

[pawtraitart]

I haven't noticed any difference. If they start to develop in the first place after being in the fridge, they hatch out just fine with no abnormalities in my experience.

 

[just2rosey]

Thanks. I was just trying to find a reason for the defects. I am leaning towards genetics, but have no way of proving or disproving that. My flock nutrition is excellent, I offer them free choice organic layer mash and they free range all day. I know I haven't had any temp spikes which could have caused it, so I wondered about colder temps.

I guess I may never know.

 

[gina4animals]

just curious - why would you even use eggs that had been refrigerated? I thought that stopped them from developing.

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

just curious - why would you even use eggs that had been refrigerated? I thought that stopped them from developing.

I've had people want eggs to hatch when all I had was eggs in the fridge. I gave them to them and they had no problems. I've hatched them that way, too. Though I can't remember why... maybe that was when I first got an incubator.. who knows?

 

[thebanthams]

I dont know about birth defects, but I have heard people buying store bought eggs and had successful hatching ! I will like to try next time..

 

[just2rosey]

The first hatch I did it because the dog killed my daughter's favorite pullet.

It had been the first chick she/we ever hatched, and she was heart broken. I only had four of her eggs, two in the fridge and two fresh, so I put them all in. One was a blank, one died around lockdown, one pipped a vein and died, and the other hatched fine. My next batch was also unplanned and the day after the other's hatched.

They are bantam eggs so I figured I had nothing to lose by putting the ones from the fridge in, too. Two weeks after the defects the cold struck me as being a possible factor. I am not sure that those two chicks came from the fridgerated eggs. It was just a thought.