Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Pyxis]

I'm just wondering, how long can u store fertile eggs, before incubation?

Up to about ten days before fertility starts to decrease.

 

[randerson846]

Ok thanks

 

[Faraday40]

Just on a lark, I have set eggs that have been in my refrigerator for 4 days. All hatched and went on to do just fine!

Yes, I too discovered that fridge eggs will hatch. My DD added this HUGE egg to the incubator after it was stored in our fridge for 3 days. I was thinking it might be a double yolker & saving the egg for my fry pan. I didn't expect it to hatch, but that chick was a strong one. So instead of a delicious breakfast treat, I got an ugly, funny-looking chick. We named her Omelet for her intended fate. She's a sweety but lays ugly olive green eggs. Thankfully, she got prettier with age & we got used to the green eggs.









Omelet as adult

 

[fisherlady]

Yes, I too discovered that fridge eggs will hatch. My DD added this HUGE egg to the incubator after it was stored in our fridge for 3 days. I was thinking it might be a double yolker & saving the egg for my fry pan. I didn't expect it to hatch, but that chick was a strong one. So instead of a delicious breakfast treat, I got an ugly, funny-looking chick. We named her Omelet for her intended fate. She's a sweety but lays ugly olive green eggs. Thankfully, she got prettier with age & we got used to the green eggs.









Omelet as adult

She turned into a very pretty bird.... and there are people who spend ages trying to breed birds who lay that color of egg! I would try to find her a roo who is known to be an olive egger, breed her and hatch out some of their chicks. Olive eggers are pretty popular and if their color is like hers folks would be very happy to have the chicks!

 

[Faraday40]

She turned into a very pretty bird.... and there are people who spend ages trying to breed birds who lay that color of egg! I would try to find her a roo who is known to be an olive egger, breed her and hatch out some of their chicks. Olive eggers are pretty popular and if their color is like hers folks would be very happy to have the chicks!

Omelet's mom is a complete mutt that lays brown shiny, sometimes speckled eggs. Her dad hatched from a pink egg, but he had the typical golden brown EE look. (I'm guessing that's where the blue-green gene came from.) I was expecting pinkish brown to brown eggs from Omelet, so the weird dark green eggs took me by surprise.

Omelet's appearance is also very unlike her beautiful parents, but we love her anyway.
Mom & Dad

 

[Johnn]

I have a broody chicken sitting on 3 Call Duck eggs. She's in a shed which is quite poorly ventilated and doesn't let light in, so today I thought I would be nice and shove a bit of wood side ways in the pop hole to hold it open but make it so none of the hens could get into disturb her. Well when I went back up to see them later on, she had pushed her way through the wood and got locked out the shed! The eggs were cold. They could have been left from anytime between 9.15AM and 5.15PM. Do yous think they still have a chance to hatch? She's now sitting tight on them again. I candled them yesterday and all 3 were fertile. She has been on them for about a week.

 

[fisherlady]

I have a broody chicken sitting on 3 Call Duck eggs. She's in a shed which is quite poorly ventilated and doesn't let light in, so today I thought I would be nice and shove a bit of wood side ways in the pop hole to hold it open but make it so none of the hens could get into disturb her. Well when I went back up to see them later on, she had pushed her way through the wood and got locked out the shed! The eggs were cold. They could have been left from anytime between 9.15AM and 5.15PM. Do yous think they still have a chance to hatch? She's now sitting tight on them again. I candled them yesterday and all 3 were fertile. She has been on them for about a week.

There is a good chance they will be fine... wait a few days and candle again for motion.

 

[Johnn]

There is a good chance they will be fine... wait a few days and candle again for motion.

I really hope so as I don't have any access to anymore and wouldn't be fair making her sit longer either. What should I be looking for when I next candle? When I candled yesterday there was like one side of the egg was a bit darker and had veins??

 

[fisherlady]

I really hope so as I don't have any access to anymore and wouldn't be fair making her sit longer either. What should I be looking for when I next candle? When I candled yesterday there was like one side of the egg was a bit darker and had veins??

I am not positive on he duck eggs, for chicken eggs it would be veins and possibly movement of the embryo.... I would expect the same for duck eggs. There is a thread with pictures

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/304863/duck-egg-candling-photo-diary

 

[Pyxis]

 
I really hope so as I don't have any access to anymore and wouldn't be fair making her sit longer either. What should I be looking for when I next candle? When I candled yesterday there was like one side of the egg was a bit darker and had veins??

I am not positive on he duck eggs, for chicken eggs it would be veins and possibly movement of the embryo.... I would expect the same for duck eggs.  There is a thread with pictures

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/304863/duck-egg-candling-photo-diary

Also try here: http://www.metzerfarms.com/Candling.cfm?CustID=4298582