First timer

[Chickiebabyfluff]

My first hatching eggs will arrive this week as will my new bator!! Am excited and nervous all at the same time!! Question....how long should or can the eggs remain at room temp before bein put in the bator? Just wondering in case my eggs arrive before the bator does...

Is it ok to let them set out or should they go into the bator immediately?

Lover of all things Silkie, Frizzled, Barred, Mottled and Feathered 2 kids one Grandson, 70lb lap dog, 3 kitties, Bluecrown conure, a ferret and gerbil. 15 Silkies, blue, Splash, Black, white and 4 Japenese Buff Bantams! And my hubby who puts up with us all with a smile on his face!!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

For best results set them before 7 days from the date they were layed.

 

[tia]

I know that you want them to be room temperature before putting them in the incubator. Don't store them in the refrigerator.. it is too cold, but you need to have them a little colder than room temperature. I think around 60 degrees. You have to turn them about three times a day while you are storing them. I think it is better if they are not over a week old. There are others on here with more experience then me, maybe they will answer soon. It is best to have your incubator set up for a day or so to make sure the temp and humidity are steady. Good luck with your first hatch!!!

 

[Muggsmagee]

Quote:

Lover of all things Silkie, Frizzled, Barred, Mottled and Feathered 2 kids one Grandson, 70lb lap dog, 3 kitties, Bluecrown conure, a ferret and gerbil. 15 Silkies, blue, Splash, Black, white and 4 Japenese Buff Bantams! And my hubby who puts up with us all with a smile on his face!!

You can set eggs up to 10 days after they are layed. I have had a successful hatch (100% hatch) on eggs that were shipped, and layed 2 weeks prior to set AND that were resting on a shelf at room temperature for a few days. (Keep in mind the fresher the egg, the better.) I never rotate/turn eggs that are not in a bator.

Edited to add...if you have your bator ready (arrived, plugged in, brought to temp and regulated) and your eggs are shipped after...allow your eggs to "rest" for 8 to 24 hours before setting them. Place them fat side up in an egg carton.

 

[ChestnutRidge]

If they are being shipped, let them sit for at least six hours to "settle." Overnight would be good. Ideally, people say to keep them at about 50-60 degrees, but many just set them on the countertop. (I set mine in the bathtub.

)

If they rest for a day or so, they will need to be turned a bit so that the yolks don't stick to the shell. Put them in an egg carton and prop one end up on a book or something. Then, three times a day or so, move the prop to the other end.

If you've stored them in a cool location, let them come up to room temperature for an hour or two before putting them into the incubator. If they are too cool, water will condensate on the eggs which may allow bacteria into the egg.

 

[Chickiebabyfluff]

Thank you so much for the info I am sooooooooo thankful for you all and this site!!!! It helps so much when one has no experience learning from those tht have losts of experience i sooooo apreciate you!!

 

[HollywoodHillsHens]

Make sure that you let your incubator run empty for a full day, at least, to calibrate the temperature before you add the eggs.

Also, depending on the 'bator you use, make sure to read the directions. You may not need this advice, but personally I never read directions on anything, but others have advised this. We are getting ready to put a batch in the 'bator.

Before this I only incubated and hatched 4 eggs from a homemade 'bator about 25 years ago...corningware holder, pie tin lid with adjustable light bulb, moist sponge and meat thermometer...but we had a 100% hatch rate.

 

[Chickiebabyfluff]

Got a still air hovabator but hubby is gonna install a fan in the top gonna attempt a 24 egg hatch woot!!