How quickly can shipped eggs be put in the incubator?

[Glendaroost]

I just received orpington eggs in the post. How long do they need to settle before I can place them in the incubator?

Also, my incubator has automatic turning - do I still need to turn the eggs manually in any way (I.e. on their long axis) or the incubator turning them is enough?

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I just received orpington eggs in the post. How long do they need to settle before I can place them in the incubator?

Also, my incubator has automatic turning - do I still need to turn the eggs manually in any way (I.e. on their long axis) or the incubator turning them is enough?

Eggs should settle for a full 24 hours before placing into the incubator. This is because they need to reach room temperature, and to keep the air sac from becoming saddled.

 

[Tankueray]

You also need to candle them to see if any air sacs are detached, because then you'll leave them in the incubator without turning for a few days.
See here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...gs-no-problem.1046313/page-5385#post-16540512

 

[Sierra G]

Other factors are how long the eggs were in transit and what type of eggs. Larger eggs like goose definitely need a full 24 hours. They also need candled to check for air cell displacement. Although if you can't get an egg to settle, don't delay incubation. A saddled air cell make a hatch harder, but if you wait too long to set the egg it's going to be less likely to develop.

Duck eggs need at least 12 hours to settle and chicken eggs 6. I say six for hen's eggs for a couple reasons. First, more time won't help badly shaken chicken eggs settle. Chicken eggs, in my experience, are more likely to be poorly packed. If they take more than a few days to arrive I'm more worried about getting incubation started than I am in making sure every egg has settled. Finally, if you're using an automatic turner saddled sir cells are less of a concern than they would be for eggs that will be incubated on their side. Your chicken eggs will continue settling while the incubate. You should still candle to check for cracks though.