Is there a way to keep a rooster with hens and to keep them from breeding?

[PirateGirl]

Fertilized eggs can be stored in the same manner as unfertilized eggs. Approximately 100 degrees F is incubation temperature for chicken eggs, as long as they are not stored at 100 degrees F they will not develop or taste any different or keep for any less time than unfertilized eggs.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

An egg requires temperatures over 90*F (ideally around 100*F but they will develop at slightly lower temperatures just more slowly) to develop. Now I admit, I have has some of my fertile eggs start to develop on my shelf - because they were in the sun during a hot week they easily hit over 90*. And sometimes we get air temps over 90*F during summer days, though my house usually stays a bit cooler.

But unless the egg is developing the shelflife remains about the same. You can fridge or not fridge. And eggs do keep just fine in a fridge, in fact they keep longer. I wash and fridge my eggs if I need them to keep for a long time (like once egg production slows down and I want eggs into the winter). Washed fresh eggs may keep in the fridge for many months. Otherwise I don't bother cause I like to cook with room temperature eggs for various reasons and I like to see them sitting out.

If the egg does develop, then stops, it tends to go bad very rapidly. So you should store fertile eggs under 90*F for results comparable to unfertilized eggs. But otherwise they're the same.

 

[arieldawn7]

An egg requires temperatures over 90*F (ideally around 100*F but they will develop at slightly lower temperatures just more slowly) to develop. Now I admit, I have has some of my fertile eggs start to develop on my shelf - because they were in the sun during a hot week they easily hit over 90*. And sometimes we get air temps over 90*F during summer days, though my house usually stays a bit cooler.

But unless the egg is developing the shelflife remains about the same. You can fridge or not fridge. And eggs do keep just fine in a fridge, in fact they keep longer. I wash and fridge my eggs if I need them to keep for a long time (like once egg production slows down and I want eggs into the winter). Washed fresh eggs may keep in the fridge for many months. Otherwise I don't bother cause I like to cook with room temperature eggs for various reasons and I like to see them sitting out.

If the egg does develop, then stops, it tends to go bad very rapidly. So you should store fertile eggs under 90*F for results comparable to unfertilized eggs. But otherwise they're the same.

I was under the impression once eggs were refrigerated, they didnt have very long before they went bad. So they can be refrigerated and kept for months and still be good?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I was under the impression once eggs were refrigerated, they didnt have very long before they went bad. So they can be refrigerated and kept for months and still be good?

They can. I don't know where you live but in general there's two systems of egg storage in the world. Washed and unwashed.
Eggs when laid have an antibacterial bloom on them that protects the egg from bacteria. This bloom isn't 100% perfect but it does a good job as long as the egg doesn't get too messy (especially wet). If you live in the UK, most eggs are sold unwashed with the bloom in tact and unrefrigerated. The problem is, if your eggs are unwashed storing them in the fridge can be unsafe. Because the bloom is only so effective, some bacteria can still get through. So if you have an unwashed egg the inside of the fridge the inside will shrink from the cold air (as liquids do) and can pull the bacteria in through the bloom. Additionally condensation on the egg can allow the bloom to get wet and useless and bacteria gets through anyhow. So UK eggs are sold unwashed and room temperature.
The safe way to fridge eggs is to wash em in warm water (to make the inside expand and push bacteria out, rather than contract and pull it in). Washed eggs no longer store safely on the countertop because the surface bacteria is gone but so is the antibacterial bloom. It's now much easier for the bacteria to get into the egg so any bacteria in the environment even just the air just goes right on in to a nutrient-rich bath and reproduces rapidly. But bacteria is largely dependent on temperatures for it's mobility growth and reproduction. The cold temperatures inside a fridge prevent the bacteria that's in the air from reproducing and making the egg go bad. This is how most eggs in the USA are produced and how you get them from stores - washed and cold.

Fertile eggs are just like every other egg. So if you wash them and store them in the fridge they will stay good for a very long time and have no chance of developing.

Having said that, if you don't wash them and store them in the fridge they may go bad faster or if you wash them and keep them on the countertop they will go bad very, very quickly.

Where you store your eggs is a personal choice. Either way is perfectly safe for a couple months. I would even hazard washed fridge eggs last longer.

 

[Criticalicious]

Maybe I have super eggs or we eat them before they go bad. I don't wash them before putting them directly in the fridge and so far, I haven't had any go bad. The longest they've gone uneaten is 2 to 3 months. I understand what you're saying about washed vs unwashed but so far I have not seen it happen.

Also, I keep the nest boxes very clean, only pine shavings or butt feathers have touched the egg before it's collected. I gently wipe off feathers or pine shavings. I can't vouch for eggs with poop on them which are more likely to contact bacteria.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I think you eat them faster than they can go bad. Counter eggs keep that long in all but the middle of summer here as well. Eggs keep for a very long time in the fridge and as you say, the cleanliness of the nest boxes makes a difference.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have eaten non washed refrigerated eggs at 5 months & there was nothing wrong with them.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I wouldn't eat any egg at 5 months but hey that's just me. D: I get enough eggs and I aint starving and winter isn't THAT long.....

And I'd like to point out... One anecdotal data point does not paint an accurate scientific picture of average bacterial growth in eggs.

 

[aart]

I was under the impression once eggs were refrigerated, they didnt have very long before they went bad. So they can be refrigerated and kept for months and still be good?

Not so good(if at all) for hatching.....but fine for eating.

But if you don't plan an hatching any chicks...no need for the male anyway.

 

[Xerocles]

if you don't plan an hatching any chicks...no need for the male anyway.

AART. I seem to agree with most things you post on here. But I have to question this quote. 2 points especially as they seem to relate to people on his forum. If you free range, a proper rooster will give some protection for the flock from predation.
Equally, for hobbyist/pet keepers. LOOKS. Just like with people (lol), roosters are generally more attractive than females of the species. So, if eye candy is as/more important as egg production, a rooster (s) can be a valuable addition to the flock. No?