FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[FireflyNights]

Where do my fellow Floridians store their eggs they intend to hatch? The recommended storage temps are hard for me to achieve in our hot climate. Any suggestions? I use my pantry in winter since it stays cool but this time of year I have switched to the fridge but I'm wondering if anyone has a better idea. I have a produce fridge I was given that I can set an exact temp but I have not tried it yet since I don't really have room to set it up.

 

[Runawaylobster]

Where do my fellow Floridians store their eggs they intend to hatch? The recommended storage temps are hard for me to achieve in our hot climate. Any suggestions? I use my pantry in winter since it stays cool but this time of year I have switched to the fridge but I'm wondering if anyone has a better idea. I have a produce fridge I was given that I can set an exact temp but I have not tried it yet since I don't really have room to set it up.

I store them on the kitchen counter, temp is about 75 degrees.. I did think of putting them into my wine cooler as i can bump up the temperature to 55 degrees in there, but my family had a revolt and told me NO chicken eggs inbetween our drinks

. I have not seen terrible hatches going on because of this though, last hatch (this week) i had an 85% hatch rate with my own eggs.

 

[cpartist]

I have had good luck keeping eggs for up to 3 weeks in a cooler with an ice pack (just frozen large butter tubs) I switch out twice a day, but I set up to 300 eggs at a time. For most, room temps for up to 7-10 days is fine. In the cooler they stay at about 55 and at higher humidity, which I think helps as well. I also put a phone book under one side of the cooler and rotate once a day to tilt them.

 

[FireflyNights]

Did they hatch early being at such a warm temp and our humidity.

 

[cmom]

Quote:

I stored eggs right on top of my incubator. Now I only hatch in the spring. In the past I have hatched all year long when I was hatching in my styrofoam incubators and when I first got my cabinet incubator. My hatches have been very good too just storing the eggs at room temperature. One thing to remember it isn't always the temperature you store them at as most people have AC in their houses, but the longer the eggs sit (over 10 days is the rule of thumb) the less viable they become.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I have had good luck keeping eggs for up to 3 weeks in a cooler with an ice pack (just frozen large butter tubs) I switch out twice a day, but I set up to 300 eggs at a time. For most, room temps for up to 7-10 days is fine. In the cooler they stay at about 55 and at higher humidity, which I think helps as well. I also put a phone book under one side of the cooler and rotate once a day to tilt them.

Wow.... now how often do you hatch 300 at a time !!!

 

[Runawaylobster]

Did they hatch early being at such a warm temp and our humidity.

no, not really the biggest variation is that my Marans are always later than the others, and
they take forever to zip after they have pipped. Marans can go into day 22 without worrying
me too much.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I stored eggs right on top of my incubator. Now I only hatch in the spring. In the past I have hatched all year long when I was hatching in my styrofoam incubators and when I first got my cabinet incubator. My hatches have been very good too just storing the eggs at room temperature. One thing to remember it isn't always the temperature you store them at as most people have AC in their houses, but the longer the eggs sit (over 10 days is the rule of thumb) the less viable they become.

Yes getting the sportsman was life changing. do you think the auto filler is worth it, I didn't get one but i do have trouble refilling the tray through the hole when they are on
lockdown and i don't want to open. I taped a funnel to the end of one of those plastic bendy straws but it is still quite fiddly

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I don't hatch in my sportsman. I have hatchers the eggs go into. I like the bucket. It was a good investment besides converting my wafer thermostat to an electronic thermostat and the clear poly door. I had 2 sportsmans and sold one but the doors on one was the solid wood door and the other had a poly door and both were converted to electronic thermostats. I have hatched around 300 chicks in it but now do staggered hatches in the spring and early summer. I show birds and like the spring hatches ready for the fall shows.

 

[Brookhavens]

I keep mine in an egg tray on the counter. For turning the eggs before they are set, I use a book under one end of the carton to tilt it and just switch a couple a times a day.When I was hatching they would go in every 7 days. My house has central air and I had no problems with hatching.