Egg Question

[chiknhurder]

I wanted to start hatching out some French Copper Marans so I purchased a cockerel and 3 pullets and they all grew up and were laying nicely when the neighbors dog put an end to my plan by killing 2 of the hens and the rooster. Now I have one hen that is laying and 2 pullets that are old enough to lay but haven't started yet. My questions are about storing the eggs until I have enough to incubate.

How long can I store them in my house (usually around 72 to 73 degrees and how important is it to store them with the large end up? On many of the eggs, they look symmetrical to me and I can't tell the large end from the small end.

 

[AmericanMom]

I wanted to start hatching out some French Copper Marans so I purchased a cockerel and 3 pullets and they all grew up and were laying nicely when the neighbors dog put an end to my plan by killing 2 of the hens and the rooster. Now I have one hen that is laying and 2 pullets that are old enough to lay but haven't started yet. My questions are about storing the eggs until I have enough to incubate.

How long can I store them in my house (usually around 72 to 73 degrees and how important is it to store them with the large end up? On many of the eggs, they look symmetrical to me and I can't tell the large end from the small end.

How long since the dog killed the rooster? I have heard hens can stay fertile for about 2 weeks...
I usually don't go over 7 days on storing eggs for incubation, some would say more some would say less.. The first time I incubated I had the same problem with the symmetrical eggs, laid them on there sides, the bigger end is usually a tad bit higher than the small end, but I believe you can candle for the air cell , it should be at the fatter end and be about dime size. It is very important that they get stored with fat end up ( air cell) and my house usually stays around the same temp, I find the coolest spot away from the heat source (our wood stove) and don't forget the eggs need to be turned at least twice a day. I do mine at 6am and 6pm

 

[azelgin]

I've heard of eggs being stored a month, or more, before going into the incubator. You need to store them at cooler a temperature though. 55~60, would be better. I've stored for about three weeks, before incubating. If the eggs aren't too dark shelled, you can candle them, to find the air cell. I'm not sure about how long after the rooster has mated with a hen, how long she will lay fertile eggs. I think two weeks.
I usually separate the hens from the rooster I don't want to be the sire for two weeks and introduce in the preferred rooster for a week, before collecting eggs for hatching.

 

[chiknhurder]

I have a new rooster who's taking care of business. The other one was killed last summer. I'm really just trying to find out how long and an easy way to determine the large end. I've never candled and egg so I'm guessing a flashlight will work? I live in an earth contact and getting the temp cooler would be a problem. I'll have to scout out a cooler location.

If I'm supposed to turn them twice a day while gathering enough to incubate, then how is the large end going to remain up?

 

[chiknhurder]

I've heard of eggs being stored a month, or more, before going into the incubator. You need to store them at cooler a temperature though. 55~60, would be better. I've stored for about three weeks, before incubating. If the eggs aren't too dark shelled, you can candle them, to find the air cell. I'm not sure about how long after the rooster has mated with a hen, how long she will lay fertile eggs. I think two weeks.
I usually separate the hens from the rooster I don't want to be the sire for two weeks and introduce in the preferred rooster for a week, before collecting eggs for hatching.

I recently purchase 5 BR pullets from a breeder and 3 of them turned out to be roosters. They're running with the Marans but I don't know if they're old enough to breed them yet. I haven't seen them doing it but I do see the Marans rooster on them all the time. He may be keeping them away since he's the older of the bunch.

 

[azelgin]

If I'm supposed to turn them twice a day while gathering enough to incubate, then how is the large end going to remain up?

They don't need to be turned until they go into the incubator.

 

[chiknhurder]

Now that makes sense to me.

 

[AmericanMom]

They don't need to be turned until they go into the incubator.

I would beg to differ, if I am spending a week gathering eggs I have to make sure they are not laying in the same position for that week... I place them in an egg carton, fat side up, I place a good sized book at one end of the egg carton and twice a day I move the book to the other end of the carton... That's considered turning (rotating) an egg

 

[AmericanMom]

I have a new rooster who's taking care of business. The other one was killed last summer. I'm really just trying to find out how long and an easy way to determine the large end. I've never candled and egg so I'm guessing a flashlight will work? I live in an earth contact and getting the temp cooler would be a problem. I'll have to scout out a cooler location.

If I'm supposed to turn them twice a day while gathering enough to incubate, then how is the large end going to remain up?

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you...


I responded to this in the above post..

 

[azelgin]

I would beg to differ, if I am spending a week gathering eggs I have to make sure they are not laying in the same position for that week... I place them in an egg carton, fat side up, I place a good sized book at one end of the egg carton and twice a day I move the book to the other end of the carton... That's considered turning (rotating) an egg

I've never turned them and never had any problems. I've heard tell of people that have incubated and hatched eggs from Trader Joes and I would doubt they turn them in the supermarket refer case.