Im curious as to how everyone does this... how and what do you do to collect your eggs? Where do you and how do you store them and what temp to you use before they go into the incubator... how do you sent them in your incubator?
texas a&m u. has a great publication on this in the third sticky above. you prolly know this and already read it. kewl. i got that response on so many of my posts i'm now doing it to others.
I did the following:
* - collected eggs after they were laid. as quickly as i found them. mine haven't shown any sign of wanting to sit on the egg after they've laid them otherwise i'd have let the hen do the work.
* - i stored them 55-65F in plastic bags (i saw somewhere this would help retain moisture in the egg). they were in a carton w/ thermometer and tilted ~35 degrees every day. more "turning" may have been better. dunno about that though. i stored my eggs ~10 days which is the maximum. i think you loose 10% hatch rate everyday, but could be wrong.
* - I just took them from 60F storage temp held them at room temp, 70F for 15minutes and then stuck them in incubator. i'm not sure if the eggs should be stepped up from 60F to 100F slowly or not. Good Question!
* - i've them in an egg carton with bottoms of egg cups cut out and that is placed in a basket. i've three wires tied to the basket that pass through lid of styrofoam cooler. they are tied to a paint can stirrer on the outside. the paint stirrer is held up to take the eggs from a resting 35 degrees down to a 35 degrees up position. i hope that is the right way to do it.
in answer to your ealier post. under natural conditions, hens wash their eggs in warm soapy water before sitting on them. nah, kidding... the thought passed through my mind, as well. if anything, just take a damp cloth to remove clods that might impede air diffusion through egg shell. i've read its not recommended.
i'm on my first hatch at day 18. i don't think i started with fertile eggs. my hens were away from a rooster, one hen was just coming out of molt, two were pullets and another i believe to be a pullet. three first time layers and one in molt. not the best suppliers, eh? its the only chance i'll have, so said the boss. this operation is pretty much against the rules to begin with. HA! i hope by some miracle just one hatches!
Great luck to you!
