Incubating questions

[Daddy rooster]

If freshly laid eggs chill before the embryo forms will they incubate?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

As long as the egg doesn't freeze.
Ideally an egg should go through two temperature changes. The cool down after being laid and again when brought up to temperature for incubation but since hens come and go in a nest, it can handle several temporary rises in temperature.

 

[Daddy rooster]

Thanks.i had a egg bomb split in the bator.a and had a dozen in the nest waiting for me start all over after I disinfected it an threw out the others.so they have been at ambient temp for 4 days.new at incubating so I'm concerned.i also have a home made Bater.is playing a bowl of water on or does it have to be wet sponge.i could not keep sponge wt enough an dried all of my first bath out.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Try a container with a sponge.
Surface area rather than water volume matters.
However, weight loss over the duration of incubation is the most important thing. I don't even use a hygrometer. Just a scale.
Eggs should lose an average of 0.65% weight per day. More one day and less another doesn't really matter.

 

[Daddy rooster]

OK thanks.i will keep posted there progress

 

[Daddy rooster]

New question,if all the eggs were laid over a period of 4 days an remained in the nest,i put them all in the incubator at the same time,being they come from different days will all the embryos form at relatively the same time?

 

[venymae]

yes, as long as they were kept at room temp they will all be the same stage

 

[Daddy rooster]

No.ambient temp.between 40an60degrees.theyve Been in the nest box.i have 3 pullets whou've only been laying not even 2 months.got them in may ,1week old.3 Roo's an 3hens now.

 

[Ridgerunner]

55 F is considered the perfect temperature to store eggs for incubation but in reality as long as they don't get into the 80's and start developing or get too cold they should be fine. You don't have anything to worry about as far as temperature goes.