My Silkie decided to go broody, so I raided the fridge. I found 3 eggs that I thought were hers amongst the Cochin eggs. They hatched!
Nearly all of the eggs that I hatch spend time in the refrigerator as I accumulate enough for a batch. And they are washed to boot. Age, more than anything, is what I am finding to be the critical factor. Over a week old and the hatch rate begins to sag. Over ten days old and it really starts to go downhill.
i also hatched some, 3 or 4, last hatch. they are running around outside in my yard or maybe i sold them. i wanted to fill that bator! my refrigerated eggs were all 7-10 days old, from before i had decided to incubate.
the fridge is the best place to store your eggs, i have hatched eggs 2 weeks old from the fridge, just keep them turned once a day.
That's AWESOME! Congratulations! I have about 6 fridge babies in lockdown and today is hatch day. I also have layers that are 1, 2 and 2.5 years old that are happy and healthy girls, I get some of the prettiest eggs from these birds. DH just can't believe that everytime I set eggs I always raid the fridge to see if I can get some to hatch.
me too pink...seems such a shame to waste what in actuality are two or three or four more chances at hens! especially as i am trying to add to my black java flock so that i can actually MEET the orders i currently have...4 eggs from the fridge means 4 50% shots at more layers... i don't sell refrigerated eggs of course, but for me, why not give it a shot! those hovabators sure are big and a week's worth of eggs just look lonely.
