How long can eggs sit before they aren't able to be incubated?

[piccolini]

I am getting ready to set some eggs but would like to accumulate as many eggs as possible. I have 8 hens but only recieved 5 eggs today due to the weather. My question is, how many days do I have to collect eggs before some of them are no longer viable?
Sorry if this does not make sense,
Thanks

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Recommended is about a week.
Think about a hen. She lays one a day til she gets about 10-12 then she sets.
Scientifically, fertility is supposed to go down the longer the egg sits around.

 

[debilorrah]

10 days before they start to lose fertility, however many have set older eggs with success.

 

[piccolini]

Thank you! I guess I'll just collect until its full and if they don't hatch oh well.
Thanks again

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
X2

I have had a few hatch that were older though. I set eggs once a week, but a few times I've skipped a week and set eggs when a few eggs were 14 days old and still had good hatches. The trick is keeping the eggs cool and turning them a couple of times a day until you are ready to put them in the incubator.

 

[Jx2inNC]

Hmm...I've got some eggs that are within a week or so old, some no more than 10-14 days that I would like to incubate.
BUT...they have sat and not been turned or anything.

Wonder if I should pass on these and start collecting the newer eggs that they lay this week or if these eggs may still be worth a try?

 

[Sumatra55]

Quote:
I would set them, the turning doesn't have any effect on fertility, just keeps the membranes from sticking, and make sure the humidity is correct at hatching .

 

[Jx2inNC]

Quote:
I would set them, the turning doesn't have any effect on fertility, just keeps the membranes from sticking, and make sure the humidity is correct at hatching .

What do I need to watch numerically for humidity and what happens if it varies?
And how much play do I have before problems are caused?

Sorry, new to incubating!

 

[Sumatra55]

There are many views on the "correct" humidity, I aim for 45-53% Relative Humidity during incubation and 55-60% for hatching.

 

[Jx2inNC]

Quote:
At the moment, I don't have means of measuring humidity in my little incubator. Hmm...