Old eggs and fertility?

[Susan Skylark]

It is commonly believed that storage age pre-incubation affects fertility, while I completely agree that you get decreased hatch rates, I will argue that it isn't fertility that is affect (an egg either can develop (fertile) or it can't (infertile), whatever you do to it afterwards, an fertile egg that is eaten is still a fertile egg it just never had the chance to develop) what actually is affected is embryo development. I've got some geriatric quail eggs in the incubator between 2-3 weeks of age at incubation and have been staggering the batches just to see what happens with time. Ten days is the standard commonly broached between chicken people, but my 2 week old eggs are all developing, my 2 week and 2 day eggs started to have issues (one infertile, one early embryonic death, other two seemingly fine), the 2 week and 4 day eggs (just Day 3 this morning) are really interesting, I pulled them all as questionable after candling, opened 2 and put the rest back in. Of the 2 I opened, both were apparently fertile (blood) but there is no embryo development:

There is absolutely no embryo development, a little blood or a jot of veins but no embryo! Obviously fertile but nothing develops. I'll keep you posted as the others come of age!

 

[Kiki]

It is commonly believed that storage age pre-incubation affects fertility, while I completely agree that you get decreased hatch rates, I will argue that it isn't fertility that is affect (an egg either can develop (fertile) or it can't (infertile), whatever you do to it afterwards, an fertile egg that is eaten is still a fertile egg it just never had the chance to develop) what actually is affected is embryo development. I've got some geriatric quail eggs in the incubator between 2-3 weeks of age at incubation and have been staggering the batches just to see what happens with time. Ten days is the standard commonly broached between chicken people, but my 2 week old eggs are all developing, my 2 week and 2 day eggs started to have issues (one infertile, one early embryonic death, other two seemingly fine), the 2 week and 4 day eggs (just Day 3 this morning) are really interesting, I pulled them all as questionable after candling, opened 2 and put the rest back in. Of the 2 I opened, both were apparently fertile (blood) but there is no embryo development:

View attachment 3979104
There is absolutely no embryo development, a little blood or a jot of veins but no embryo! Obviously fertile but nothing develops. I'll keep you posted as the others come of age!

This means it quit before day 3.

I think some people have no problem setting eggs that are a month old.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I cracked another egg today (day 4) and it has a barely day 3 embryo, the others are finally showing development as well, looking like day 3 on candling, development seems to be slower in these older eggs. Really interesting!

 

[Debbie292d]

This means it quit before day 3.

I think some people have no problem setting eggs that are a month old.

Like me!

I did it once, and the older ones were in the refrigerator to top it off. Granted, all the ones two weeks or fresher hatch 100% or close, whereas those old cold ones I got only about half.

I was behind on orders for chicks and had room in the incubator was the only reason. I wouldn't make it a practice.

 

[dannichols525]

The words for fertility and viability get confused. Fertility stays the same while eggs are less viable with age.

My serama eggs are definitely less viable after 2 weeks. Fertility, however, stays the same. Once fertile and egg cannot become less so.