Fertile eggs in mail: let rest? Disease problem? Vaccinate??

[Stef in Davis CA]

Hi BYC, wondering if I should let eggs from the mail (2-3day delivery) rest for a day before setting them under my broody? Or should I put them under her right away?

Also, are fertile eggs a disease risk for my current flock? Is there anything I can do to reduce this risk?

Which vaccines would you suggest for when the new chicks hatch out? Marek's?

THANKS!!! Very excited to hatch my first chicks with my broody!

 

[jenjscott]

A little wait is supposed to be a good thing. There are diseases that can be carried in the eggs. It`s a little late but if you are concerned about that always buy from npip certified or tested flock. That still won`t eliminate all the risks, but its a start. A lot of us don`t worry about that and hatch anything that comes along. SO FAR I haven`t brought in anything, but its a risk I always know I am taking.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is an incubation site but the info on getting the eggs ready for a broody would be the same.

http://gallus.tamu.edu/Extension publications/b6092.pdf

You can do a search on here for Marek's and get a lot of information. I'd suggest talking to your county extension agent about diseases in your area and see what they recommend. That conversation could go a long way beyond innoculations and into biosecurioty. Also question him about fowlpox in addition to Marek's.

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

Ridgerunner,
Thanks for linking to the great info on incubating eggs. I had a lot of questions that I was about to ask and this looks like it will answer them all.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
Glad I could help. There is a lot of great information on this forum and a lot of really nice people. There is also a lot of good information at the state land grant university sites, but be careful with that. It is often pointed at the commercial operations which are different from us "hobby flockers".