How to set eggs? Still confused

[rahmis4ri1]

Hi All, so I want to hatch some eggs. And originally I thought I'll get those eggs from my hens. But they're NOT laying inconsistently, and would only give max 2 eggs per day at this point. My questions:

1. Can I collect eggs daily, keep them somewhere inside until I have a total of 10-15 eggs, then put them in a brooder area for my broody to sit on? Will they get cold and die, while I wait? I somehow thought if I handle the fertile eggs they won't hatch? That I have to leave those eggs in the next boxes undisturbed?
2. But this doesn't make sense as people buy eggs for hatching and those have been handled by human hands in some way. So maybe it's better for me to get some fertile eggs from a farmer I know?

Thanks!

 

[Gray Farms]

Collect the eggs for 6 to 7 days. Then give them to a broody hen. After 7 days hatchability drops drastically. Store them pointed end down in an egg carton in a cool room of the house. Preferably around 60 degree with good humidity. Handling them won't hurt them just don't wash them.

 

[Kiki]

Do you have an incubator?

 

[Ebony Rose]

Do you have an incubator?

Having an incubator as a backup plan in case something should go wrong would be ideal. Just in case your girl decides that motherhood isn't such a great idea after all

 

[Gray Farms]

Having an incubator as a backup plan in case something should go wrong would be ideal. Just in case your girl decides that motherhood isn't such a great idea after all

Agreed. It's not uncommon for hens to abandon nest after setting a week or two.

 

[Kiki]

Having an incubator as a backup plan in case something should go wrong would be ideal. Just in case your girl decides that motherhood isn't such a great idea after all

This is exactly what I was thinking.