Fertility/ Embryo time questions

[jus10inla]

First; i encourage moms to be broody. I collect every 2-3 days, rite now in the heat its every day to day & half unless im stuck on callout at work.

This brings me to my question. I sell fertile eggs for hatching, as well as fresh eggs . Say i miss a day or two and a broody jumps on eggs . And i collect that pile for my fresh / regular egg sale. How many days or is there a way to know the embryo is forming and they wont be good to sell as fresh eggs anymore? Ive heard 3 days.. but with this south Louisiana heat it’s almost like they can self incubate without a broody

I have 9 boxes for 25 birds, and they never necessarily lays in same box. So if i see a chicken in a nest i dont think anything about it, especially next day when there on different box. So what is consensus ?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It only takes 24 hours of constant, proper heat, either from a broody or your Louisiana heat (we in Oregon have been in the 100s, so I feel your pain), to start the embryo growing. At that time, once it starts and stops, chances are great it will no longer be viable. The chick has died.

We who are farm direct (customers come to the "farm" to get the eggs, depending on your state's definition) and are small holders (less than 3,000 birds typically) do not have to meet federal inspections or laws, but it is good to know what they are. FDA's Egg Safety Rule requires those transporting eggs to maintain an ambient temperature of 45 °F beginning 36 hours after laying of the eggs.

At the very least, to sell fresh eggs farm direct, they need to be gathered daily, then kept at a reasonable room temperature if sold as fertile hatching eggs, rotating the air cells daily, and removing any eggs over 1 week old, when rate of hatchability begins to plummet.

If sold for eating, depending on your clientele, you need to gather daily, keep at no more than room temperature if unwashed but clean, however most prefer washed and refrigerated in the USA (Europe doesn't care about room temp eggs).

It would be good to have a look at your state's laws to see how they feel about small holders and distribution.

I have less worries about selling hatching eggs than I do about eating eggs. I can't and don't guarantee hatchability, and no one is eating them, so I have far less risk.

Most of us work small scale, keep things clean in the coops, gather eggs daily, and store at a cool room temperature (or fridge) and don't worry about it, however, if someone got really sick from your eggs, and your conditions were found to be egregious, then it is possible you might find yourself in a lawsuit. The risk is small but possible.

Personally, I would definitely gather those eggs daily. It keeps them safer in high heat.

LofMc

 

[jus10inla]

when i sell them as fertile, it is collected that morning or day before.

Fresh eggs once brought inside are gotten to room temp, any egg that looks sticky or icky I set to side for us, and the others go in a carton then to fridge until sale. I put collected date on eggs. I only get 8-12 a day rite now but i never sit on more than 4 dozen eggs at a time in the frige. Occasionally one will make it 8-10 days. The sticker i place on it states unwashed eggs.. yada yada.

Just a fine line this year with selling. I used to give away. But i have alot more layers & girls that go broody now so im capitalizing on what i have