I am confused...

[chelseachook]

Hi, I am hoping with to incubate chicken eggs soon. I incubated recently for the first time, but none hatched. I just heard that you have to leave your eggs at room temperature for 12 hours before placing them in the incubator. Is this true, or can I just put them straight in the incubator? I didn't leave them for 12 hours last time, was that the reason most of them didn't develop? Thank you.

 

[ANightPerson]

I just take eggs from my egg basket and plop them right in the incubator with no prior preparation besides a gentle washing with special egg-washing solution. Not letting them sit for a few hours isn't the reason that your eggs didn't hatch. How many did you incubate? Where did you get your eggs? What was the temperature and humidity of your incubator? How often did you turn your eggs?

 

[chelseachook]

I just take eggs from my egg basket and plop them right in the incubator with no prior preparation besides a gentle washing with special egg-washing solution. Not letting them sit for a few hours isn't the reason that your eggs didn't hatch. How many did you incubate? Where did you get your eggs? What was the temperature and humidity of your incubator? How often did you turn your eggs?

I had a homemade incubator up until day 5, then I bought one because I couldn't control the temperature. There were quiet a few bumps and challenges throughout the incubation, but I'm still not sure why one nearly fully developed and the rest (four eggs) didn't at all. The temperature was a little lower ( 37.5 C in a still - air incubator), but not low enough to harm the embryo. I got the eggs from my chickens and I turned them at least four times a day. To be honest, there were many things I didn't know about incubation when I started, so I feel a bit guilty for not doing my research properly. Oh, well! Hopefully I'll get at least one chick this time.

 

[RoosterML]

I had a homemade incubator up until day 5, then I bought one because I couldn't control the temperature. There were quiet a few bumps and challenges throughout the incubation, but I'm still not sure why one nearly fully developed and the rest (four eggs) didn't at all. The temperature was a little lower ( 37.5 C in a still - air incubator), but not low enough to harm the embryo. I got the eggs from my chickens and I turned them at least four times a day. To be honest, there were many things I didn't know about incubation when I started, so I feel a bit guilty for not doing my research properly. Oh, well! Hopefully I'll get at least one chick this time.

I think you just answered your question. Good incubators make for good results.

 

[MLG1900]

Definitely, try again with the new incubator!
Do you refrigerate your eggs? or were they cold or freezing in the coop? All my eggs are typically sitting at room temperature for the week while I am collecting the eggs. I try and collect them before they get chilled or frozen in the coop. That is, if you are collecting eggs in winter or early spring. I use a small book to raise one side of the egg carton and then alternate a few times a day while I am waiting to place in the incubator. I don't have the best hatch rates but I always get several chicks hatch. I don't have separate thermometers and hygrometers inside the incubator, just what comes with incubator. I am doing a group now that is due to hatch on sunday / monday. This is my first time doing a "dry" incubation before lock down. I am going to see if I get more success with that.

Good luck to you, and keep us posted on your results!

 

[chelseachook]

It is the afternoon and I just collected three eggs. Is it OK to put these eggs in the incubator now and put in some eggs tomorrow or do I have to leave these eggs at room temperature?

 

[MLG1900]

It is the afternoon and I just collected three eggs. Is it OK to put these eggs in the incubator now and put in some eggs tomorrow or do I have to leave these eggs at room temperature?

Leave them all in an egg carton at room temperature until you collect enough eggs to fill your incubator. You want to add all of your eggs at the same time.

 

[chelseachook]

Leave them all in an egg carton at room temperature until you collect enough eggs to fill your incubator. You want to add all of your eggs at the same time.

Thank you!

 

[chelseachook]

I added two more eggs from today and am still storing them because I want to get more tomorrow. I just checked the temperature and they were at 26 C. Do I have to put them in the incubator now that they are warmer, or can I continue to leave them out?

 

[MLG1900]

I added two more eggs from today and am still storing them because I want to get more tomorrow. I just checked the temperature and they were at 26 C. Do I have to put them in the incubator now that they are warmer, or can I continue to leave them out?

I would leave them out.