How long are eggs viable for incubating?

[mondotomhead]

My chicken is laying 1 egg a day. I want to try incubating them. How long do I have before the egg is past being able to hatch? I have 5 eggs now and the oldest is 5 days. I was planning to buy an incubator tomorrow and give it a try!

 

[loanwizard]

Conventional wisdom is 7 days if properly stored. Use the learning center of this website as it has good information regarding this subject.

 

[mondotomhead]

Oh, Thanks! I didn't see The Learning Center up there.

Another question? What is "properly stored"?

 

[ladyomaha]

I get eggs daily from my hens, I leave them sit in an Egg Carton FAT end up, for no more than 7 days, at room temperature. You should be good to go after that. But if I want to incubate right away, I wait at least 24 hours before incubating. Good Luck.

 

[mondotomhead]

Thanks so much, you guys, for answering.

I am curious about what kind of chicks I would get with a plymouth barred rock mother and a polish father!

 

[loanwizard]

What I typically call a "mutt" lol!

Don't worry, mutts lay eggs. I have hatched close to 100 chicks and couldn't even tell you what the cross is.

Next year I am going to get some Rhode Island Reds eggs (RIR) and raise them exclusively.... well besides my 100 Freedom Rangers (Meat Chickens)