How long can eggs survive until incubation?

[ih66series]

I ordered fertile eggs online and they have been delayed so they may not get here until 7 days after they were layed. How long can they sit around until they are incubated?

 

[MjChickens]

Why are they delayed and won't make it to you until 7 days after being laid? Shipping eggs should be mailed Priority mail which takes 2-3 days at most.

 

[ih66series]

They were mailed priority and I don't know why they were delayed but they are. I just need to know if they would be fertile after a week.

 

[Threecritters]

Mine were not shipped...just some I collected and got started late but- I started a bunch 5-7+ days after laying and they are hatching now. I got about a 75% hatch rate (if the pipped eggs hatch) out of 50 eggs.

 

[teresa-78]

I set 12 eggs, some layed 2 days apart... all these were from the same hen... I got 100% fertility... Yours should be fine, as I would say it took me 3 weeks to gather these eggs

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
I just finished a really good hatch where I saved eggs for 15 days before I started. You can read about it here https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6702982#p6702982
If the shipping went well you should be fine. I think I heard, you should let them settle for a day before incubating.

 

[ih66series]

They arrived on Saturday, I let them sit overnight and put them under a broody on Sunday.