How cold is to cold

[crooked stripe]

Done a bunch of searches and can't seem to find an answer. I am collecting my eggs every evening and they are in the 40's and 50's. Are they to cold to try to hatch. I wish I could collect them as soon as they where laid but just don't have the time to sit and wait. Any suggestions. rj

 

[RareBreedFancier]

They will be fine as long as they don't freeze, people have hatched eggs that have been sitting in their fridge.

Good luck and happy hatching!

 

[crooked stripe]

I have tried to hatch out a few a couple times with no luck. I have one of those foam forced air bators with a turner but always something seems to happen. Now that I have my own fertile eggs it will be just a matter of time not money. Thanks for the reply. rj

 

[Myles]

i thought the egg must be kept at a fairly warm temp in order to be hatchable? I know there are exceptions, but I have to think the ideal is a warm temp.

 

[cva34]

Quote:
Stored at 55-60 F and humid would be ideal..cva34

 

[free_loader]

I currently have a couple of Maran eggs in the incubator that were refrigerated for several days.. this will be my first attempt at hatching refrigerated chicken eggs, but I've done the same thing with quail eggs in the past and still had 80% hatch rates after being stored for a couple of weeks at 38 degrees

 

[Myles]

Quote:
That is awesome. i thought for sure that cold eggs would have a much less hatching rate.

 

[flgardengirl]

I hatched marans pullet eggs that were in the fridge for a week. I let them sit out until they were room temperature before I put them in the bator though..

 

[Chick Charm]

Many persons have posted on this site about hatching fertile eggs sold at Trader Joes. Even though these eggs were refrigerated for a long period of time the eggs still hatched. Not sure of the % rates but it does/can happen.

 

[Myles]

Quote:
I understand that, but i don't want to waste more eggs than i need to.

I have another question:
Do different chicken breeds mate?
I have 4 Rhode Island Reds, 2 White longhorns, 1 polish rooster, 1 polish hen, 1 Americana hen and 1 americana rooster.

These breeds would make great fun in the offspring.
Any worries?