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question about letting eggs rest before incubating

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by chkinut, Dec 16, 2010.

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  1. Dec 16, 2010 #1
    chkinut

    chkinut Chillin' With My Peeps

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    i received 12 beautiful eggs in the mail yesterday. i'm pretty sure (hopefully) that i'll receive over 2 more dozen eggs in the mail today......(a total from 2 different shippers). my question is.....i know you're suppose to let shipped eggs "rest" for 24 hours before incubating......could i set my eggs tonight or tomorrow morning? if i set them tonight, that would give my newest egg shipments only 8 hours of rest. if i set them tomorrow, that would give them 16 hours of rest. i just don't want my 1st shipment waiting around too long. or, is it ok for them to rest 2 days instead of one? i just don't want them to get old.
     
  3. Dec 16, 2010 #2
    JustAChickenLittle&More

    JustAChickenLittle&More Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Nov 25, 2010
    Florida
    Actually, I have done both. Some have rested (only because I was waiting for more eggs the next day), and some got to room temperature and were put in the bator. I haven't really seen a difference in hatch rates.
     
  5. Dec 16, 2010 #3
    math ace

    math ace Overrun With Chickens

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    Dec 17, 2009
    Jacksonville, FL
    It is better (IMO) to let them rest longer (2 days) rather than shorter ( 8 hours).

    Shipping does a number on hatching eggs. It is BEST if they are placed in the incubator within 1 week of laying. The hatching rate drops after the first week, but is still a good rate if set before 2 weeks passes. The shipping part of the transaction causes MORE problems than the actual age of the eggs.
     
  7. Dec 16, 2010 #4
    1mommahen

    1mommahen Love My Cluckin' Coop

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    I never let mine rest more than 4 hours. Never had a problem.[​IMG]
     

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