How does one "set" eggs?

[henpeckedmuch]

I have purchased a new GQF 1502 incubator, and am getting ready to incubate this early spring. I've read alot about candleing eggs to see if they are fertile, and I think I understand that part. But have several other questions.
Does "set" mean to place the clutch of eggs in an incubator?
How does one keep the eggs at 50 degrees or so until one is ready to place them in the incubator?
How long can one save up the eggs before "setting" them?

 

[TinyChickenLady]

You are correct in your definition of "setting."
And yes, they must (normally) be at least 50*. Normally, any temps lower than that will null fertility.

I've heard of people keeping them for up to 2 weeks before setting them.
If they were shipped eggs, most people like to let them set out on a counter or somewhere to settle down for a while (a day?) before being put in the bator.

 

[dickhorstman]

We store our eggs in the cool part of the basement, but this is not a constant 50. You are safe holding eggs for 7 days. Fertility tends to go down after that. I have set eggs that were 2 weeks old and had a reasonable hatch.