How long to hold eggs?

[Sherry]

I'm thinking of taking some eggs from my RIR's to hatch in my incubator. How long can I hold the eggs? And how do I store them until they go in?

I've hatched guineas and button quail but not chickens.

 

[beekybuzzard]

I don't keep mine for more than a week before putting in the bator and just leave them in a couple of cartons on the counter at room temp.

 

[Mahonri]

Good advise. You want eggs that have been laid with in the week if at all possible, I kept my mutt EE eggs at room temp before putting them in the bator..

 

[Laskaland]

I have heard from others on BYC that up to 10 days and you are safe. But I also believe they are more fertile the fresher they are.
GOOD LUCK
Christina

 

[Akane]

Preferably not more than 10days but if you have a reason to and don't care that the hatch rate might go down a little you can set eggs weeks old and they still have a fair chance of hatching. I wanted so many eggs from a certain hen that decided not to lay the first few days I was collected so I have some 2week old eggs. I end up collecting more in that time so if fewer hatch I'll still come out the same. Storage will also impact how long they last. There was a thread talking about how eggs actually last longer if stored in plastic so they don't lose moisture.

 

[pips&peeps]

After about 10 days the fertility starts to drop, it's about the longest I will keep my eggs for setting.

I also keep mine in a room that is around 60-65 degrees and tilt the carton twice a day.

 

[Chic-n-farmer]

But, if you think about a broody hen... she waits until she has a large clutch of eggs. My ol' broody would hatch as many as 17 at a time. I think I'd try eggs 2 weeks old.

 

[Bamaman]

I have successfully hached eggs that were 3 weeks old. They stayed at room temp for 3 weeks and I turned them 2 to 3 times a day during storage. Of course this was a one time thing and it was only 3 eggs, but every one of them hatched. However, I will say fresher is better.