egg viability

[happymorrows]

How long can an egg be "uncovered" and still be ok? Does that make sense? If I have a broody hen in one box, and a chicken lays an egg in another, how long is that egg viable, or, how long do I have to get it under the broody?

 

[lauralou]

Quite a while. The issue is to get all the eggs under the broody hen at the same time, so they all hatch at approximately the same time. You don't want the eggs hatching over a period of days and days. The hen will either abandon unhatched eggs, or fail to care for the early hatching chicks. Not good either way.

I generally save eggs for a few days, up to a week, and then put them all under the hen at once.

 

[suzettex5]

You can collect for about a week, bring them in the house, and keep them pointy side down, turn 1/4 turn every 4-6 hours to keep them viable. You do want to put them all under the broody at the same time, like the previous poster said. A staggered hatch almost never works with broody hens. A day ot 2 may be ok, but after that she will go foraging with her new chciks and abandon any unhatched eggs.

That said, I have had eggs in the fridge almost 13 days that still hatched in my incubator, so eggs are pretty tough!

Good luck and keep us posted!!!

 

[happymorrows]

1/4 turn keeping pointy side down? Or rotate pointy end 1/4 turn from the floor each time? Sorry, SUCH a newbie when it comes to hatching. I haven't started this yet, I had a barred rock start to get broody, but I didn't let her as I don't want babies from my current (mean) rooster. He is going, I'm getting a new roo, and I'm hoping my barred will get broody again. At which point I like to know what to do BEFORE the process starts to I don't make mistakes!

 

[lauralou]

I don't do anything special to my eggs while I'm collecting them. I just put them in a wicker basket on my kitchen counter. On their sides. I imagine they may get rolled around a little as I add new eggs... They really are pretty tough!