how long will eggs stay viable during power outage?

[tjb]

Here in SE Texas and watching the storm. at the very least it looks like we are on the dirty side and anticipate power outage. We have a generator if we don't leave home, but if we do and I take the eggs, how long can I expect to have before the temp drop is too long? I was going to see if I had an adapter for a heating pad for our vehicle. Not sure I have one. 12 eggs and I hate to lose them. they will only be at 4-5 days.

 

[Pyxis]

They're pretty resilient to temp drops. You have at least an hour at that age, and probably longer. This year I have twice rescued eggs from a broody's nest after she's gotten up and abandoned them for who knows how long, put them in the incubator, and they still hatched. One was without heat for at least 24 hours. However, it was pretty far along.

I would, just in case, add heat sinks to your incubator which will keep the temperature up longer should you lose power. Things such as a bottle of water or river rocks act as good heat sinks.

Also, if you have hand warmers, like you would use in your gloves in the winter, those can be helpful. They generate heat when activated, so adding them to the incubator can actually keep the temperature up if you put in enough of them. I used them once when we had a long power outage in January and it kept the incubator warm enough that my eggs made it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The eggs will remain viable longer if you will cover up your incubator in the event of a power outage. Removing the eggs will shorten the length of viability.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Here in SE Texas and watching the storm. at the very least it looks like we are on the dirty side and anticipate power outage. We have a generator if we don't leave home, but if we do and I take the eggs, how long can I expect to have before the temp drop is too long? I was going to see if I had an adapter for a heating pad for our vehicle. Not sure I have one. 12 eggs and I hate to lose them. they will only be at 4-5 days.

How long is the storm expected to last?

 

[tjb]

How long is the storm expected to last?

they will know within the next 12 hours for sure. heavy rain will start late thurs early am Friday. Supposed to last thru Sunday. In a rural area so when the electricity goes out, we never know how long. If its not too bad and we stay, I anticipate the power being out 12-24 hours at least. but if we stay, I'm not worried, I will run the incubator of our generator! I guess if we have to leave and go north in the car a few hours, I will have to face possibly losing them

 

[tjb]

They're pretty resilient to temp drops. You have at least an hour at that age, and probably longer. This year I have twice rescued eggs from a broody's nest after she's gotten up and abandoned them for who knows how long, put them in the incubator, and they still hatched. One was without heat for at least 24 hours. However, it was pretty far along.

I would, just in case, add heat sinks to your incubator which will keep the temperature up longer should you lose power. Things such as a bottle of water or river rocks act as good heat sinks.

Also, if you have hand warmers, like you would use in your gloves in the winter, those can be helpful. They generate heat when activated, so adding them to the incubator can actually keep the temperature up if you put in enough of them. I used them once when we had a long power outage in January and it kept the incubator warm enough that my eggs made it.

Good idea hand-warmers. I know my hunting boys have them and WM always has them in stock around here... Definitely on my emergency shopping list!!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

they will know within the next 12 hours for sure. heavy rain will start late thurs early am Friday. Supposed to last thru Sunday. In a rural area so when the electricity goes out, we never know how long. If its not too bad and we stay, I anticipate the power being out 12-24 hours at least. but if we stay, I'm not worried, I will run the incubator of our generator! I guess if we have to leave and go north in the car a few hours, I will have to face possibly losing them

That's definitely a while without power...I hope you luck out and don't have an outage. But we live in a rural area...and I know how that goes!

I'm sure it's better to be able to keep the eggs at perfect temps. But I've had a hen get on the wrong nest and her eggs were left cold for approximately 11 hours in 6C (48F) temperature and all the eggs hatched fine. The embryos don't move when they're cold so it looks like the egg is dead...but I stayed up that night I put her back on her nest. In two hours all the embryos were visibly alive and active.

I've also forgotten my incubator off twice with the lid open for most of the day. It was the same hatch of eggs for both times...and I didn't experience any different results than a regular hatch. This spring when cleaning the coop I gathered eggs; some eggs had been sat on for 5 days. I left those eggs out all day in the wind and the sun and then in the draft by the window. I set them in the incubator after being out 12 hours and the majority of the chicks hatched. I also had an 2 eggs from this batch that were left cold in the pail for 2.5 days, I incubated them and one hatched.

Below in the row are some the chicks from the eggs I left out for 12 hours.

And then my husband brought me four cold duck eggs from the field from a nest where that had been destroyed and I forgot to put them in the incubator until later the next day. We think may have been out for a few days. All four hatched.

Embryos are incredibly resilient. I wouldn't believe the above if it hadn't happened to me. Prepare for the worst to keep your eggs safe. But unless you have a very delicate breed of chicken that you're hatching...your eggs will likely be alright.

 

[tjb]

that is so good to know! I'm sure all will be well.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

that is so good to know! I'm sure all will be well.

If I can manage to mosh my way through the strange things with setting eggs and cold eggs and hatchings and still end up with all the chickens I have (and some I didn't even really want to have)...I think you will most likely be fine.
Which is a very good thing!