Hello from Pennsdale, PA

[ederrick]

Hi all,
We purchased 23 chickens last spring, and we are now getting ready to hatch our first batch of eggs. My boyfriend has hatched chickens before, but this is my first time. I'm very excited to be doing this! We have a question...How long can we keep the eggs, to gather 40 or so, before they have to be incubated? I'm very interested in reading other's experiences in hatching chickens.
Erica Derrick
Danny Sauers
Pennsdale, PA

 

[GoldenSparrow]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Erica and Danny, and

! Great to have you here! Interesting that you are asking about incubating - I put my first eggs ever into an incubator today - I feel completely without control now - just a babe in the woods on this. However, BYC has a great hatching forum - see below. And a GREAT thing to read about incubating is linked below that it is an article by BYC member Sally Sunshine - it is awesome. I have read it more times than I can remember. Good luck to you and happy hatching!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/5/incubating-hatching-eggs

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

10 days seems to be about the longest eggs can be held without reduced hatchability. Eggs should be stored in a cool location but not refrigerated, and turned twice daily.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

X2 the above advice. I try not to go longer than a week with mine though. Also don't wash the eggs you want to hatch as this removes the protective "bloom" on the shell that keeps bacteria out. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[Kevin565]