how long can you hold chicken eggs before setting

[medan]

I read 4 days a few years ago never gave it much thought had plenty of laying hens now I have 8 not all lay every day any insight would be helpful

 

[Ridgerunner]

This site might help you. You certainly have longer than 4 days.

Texas A&M Incubation site
http://gallus.tamu.edu/library/extpublications/b6092.pdf

 

[Lynn_Farm]

I kept mine 8 days before incubating. Started out with 8 eggs, only 4 took. I've heard up to 12 days, but you need to make sure the storage conditions are right. Keept them pointed end down in an egg carton, raising one side about 30 degrees (place a book, etc. under the bottom). Rotate the side that is raised periodically. Also, make sure that they are stored at around 52 degrees.

 

[CelticMoon1]

I usually store mine up to 14 days, I have 18 eggs in the bator ATM and one of them was 18 days before it was put in and is coming along just fine. (All 18 were fertilized and have started developping). A woman I know store hers up to a month in cool conditions (appr 10 degrees Celsius), turning the eggs twice a day, and has great success rates.

 

[pgpoultry]

They can last for quite a while, and certainly two weeks is fine.
A friend of mine lost her hen (had one cock and one hen).
The hen reappeared after 3-4 weeks with 14 chicks in tow! (Now I couldn't have done that if I had tried),
Sandie