Gathering eggs for the bator

[AccidentalFarm]

Just got a brand new Hova w/turner and fan

and am gonna try to hatch some Buff Orps, Ameraucanas, and WCB Polish. This will be our first attempt and my kids will be using it as part of their science project. I have a question regarding gathering eggs that I did not find a clear answer to in search.

I plan to gather eggs for 5 days- Can I just set them on the counter in an egg carton (fat end up) in a basic room temp of 72 degrees for this amount of time? I will also have shipped eggs, so other than letting them rest for 24 hrs, is there anything else I need to do with them?

Another question- does styrofoam or paper egg cartons have any difference to them that would affect storing for hatch?

Last, recommendations on candling lights would be appreciated. I see a lot of folks use a mag light...any other/better suggestions?

 

[nat2009]

You are supposed to store them from 40-60 degrees and Mag lights work just fine. Styrofoam is good if it is new if it is old it might have bacteria and junk on it. I heard that plastic is the best, but if it is new styrofaom it will probably be ok.

 

[jimnjay]

I keep my collected eggs for hatching in a styro cooler with a blue ice. I place the cooler on a book and rotate the book from side to side twice each day. They do fine. Some people leave them on the counter and they do fine to but they will maintain fertility better if kept cooler than room temp.

Remember the hen, she lays them goes about her business untill she gets 7-8 then sets. Unless you have Silkies, this usually occurs in the spring when temps are cooler. Now Silkies have a one tracked mind and that is BROODY, I have really not seen any decrease in the numbers they hatch at any time of the year so all the extra care may not be essential but it is probably best to keep them like all the books tell us we should.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Hmm.. do you think 60-65 degrees would be better? I have an empty wine cooler that I could use- it has an adjustable thermostat. Maybe I should experiment with cooler/warmer storage temps and see what works best.

 

[jimnjay]

A wine cooler sound like a perfect place. I would have it filled to the brim with wine tho.

 

[hooked2]

I kept mine in the regular egg cartons, big end up. I kept them at 55-60 degrees. I set one end of each box on a spare egg carton going the opposite direction and just switched which end was up twice a day (morning and night). I had to gather for five days to have enough to fill the incubator. I ended up with 47 of 48 eggs being fertile when I candled them after the were in the incubator for about a week.

 

[SamG347]

I dont think the cartons matter any. And everything you said you are doing to prepare them sounds great! And for candeling I just use a mag-light. It works great and is cheap.
Hope that helps