How long do fertilized eggs last

[mystus808]

My hen has been laying eggs but at a very slow rate, so i was wondering how long the eggs will remain fertile.

 

[magicpigeon]

I'd say 14 days or more. Because that's how long it takes a hen to lay her clutch right?

 

[TheWaddler]

I believe I have read that it takes 21 days for a chick to hatch but I believe I read on hear that eggs can sorta just "sit" without much going on till the hen starts to sit on them all the time. Kind of like hibernation for a week or so but I could be remembering the whole thing wrong...maybe more will chime in soon.

 

[stampntam]

I have heard 10 days and then the hatch rate after that starts to go down, I am new to this so I am not sure.

 

[Baralak]

Read this from the Mississippi State Univ AG... Care and Hatching of Eggs.

http://www.poultry.msstate.edu/extension/pdf/incubation.pdf

 

[mystus808]

thank you for all the help i guess i have less time than i was hoping for... only 7 days according to the website for the best outcome.

 

[Baralak]

Now remember that is Ideal conditions... I have seen hatches from a few week old eggs before.. It all depends on how they are treated, as well as the condition of the egg.

 

[mystus808]

yup thanks for the help

 

[pkw]

I butchered one of my roos in November. I incubated some eggs 10 days after I butchered him and I had a lot of eggs that he fertilized hatch with excellent fertility rates.