How important is temperature for storing fertile eggs?

[Fancychicken10]

I am planning on crossing my silkie roo to my Andalusian hen for some beautiful babies and started storing eggs to incubate! Multiple sources are saying its important to keep the temp low so development doesn’t start. It is hot here and the house has been getting into the low to mid 80’s. I have the eggs in the basement which is only marginally cooler than upstairs, but is more humid. We only really cool the bedroom and worst case I can store the eggs in there and leave the AC on 24/7 but if I can avoid that expense I would like to. Should I be worried about eggs being exposed to 80’s temps before going in the bator?

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

80 should be okay but I'd not want them any higher. I keep ours in the basement and it's in the 60's though. Maybe running a dehumidifier near yours would help?

You could always grab a big cooler and put a small gallon size bag of ice in there on one end too. I know someone who does that and keeps them in her garage. She just refills the ice every couple of days.

 

[Tex452]

I use to own a breeder farm, we had a big walk in cooler where we stored our eggs.
The company wanted us to keep the temperature close to 65*, and the humidity at 70-75%.
I hope this helps.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I’d also collect eggs multiple times daily if outside temps are above eighty to minimize heat stress to preincubated eggs.

 

[Tex452]

I’d also collect eggs multiple times daily if outside temps are above eighty to minimize heat stress to preincubated eggs.

We were told it was best to collect eggs every two hours, for better hatch ability, we got bonuses for feed conversion and hatch ability.
Our hatch rate was always in the mid 80% range and that was excellent with a farm with 22k hens.

 

[Fancychicken10]

Thanks everybody, this is great info! I went ahead and bought a styrofoam cooler to keep the eggs in. Even with just a large ziplock bag of frozen water the cooler is down to 66, even with it being 80 in the room!