Refrigerated eggs viability?

[Chirehe]

So I’m almost positive I have a broody hen, she’s fluffed up at me when ever I get near the boxes, she gets all fluffy and sleeps in there at night. So I really want to try and hatch some chicks. I got two eggs yesterday (almost positive they’re fertile) but I put them in the fridge when I found them, they were in there maybe 4-5 hours before I gave them to the hen. Will they hatch? I’m planning on putting the eggs I get today in there with her but should I take out the fridge eggs?

 

[Al Capon]

I hatched one that had been in the fridge in the garage for a couple of weeks. Viability assuredly goes down as the eggs spend time in the fridge, but it is possible.

I started with 7 fertile eggs out of that carton. 2 made it to day 15 alive, 1 hatched.

 

[Shadrach]

So I’m almost positive I have a broody hen, she’s fluffed up at me when ever I get near the boxes, she gets all fluffy and sleeps in there at night. So I really want to try and hatch some chicks. I got two eggs yesterday (almost positive they’re fertile) but I put them in the fridge when I found them, they were in there maybe 4-5 hours before I gave them to the hen. Will they hatch? I’m planning on putting the eggs I get today in there with her but should I take out the fridge eggs?

Provided they are kept at 5 degrees centigrade or a little above they should be fine.

 

[50-45-1]

I would say give them a try, and add the eggs from today.
Also if she is a standard size hen, she can easily cover 8-10 eggs easily.
If you know someone else with fertle eggs, go pick up some more for her.
It would be a shame for her to sit 3 weeks and only end up with 2 or less. Unless you only want certain breeds. You could check your local sources for farm eggs, ask if they are fertle, and requst to pick up some unrefrigerated ones.
Good luck! keep us updated on your hatch.

 

[Chirehe]

*Update*
This hen is so confusing sometimes she acts like she wants to be up there being all broody and yelling at me and then the next minute she’ll be out eating or drinkin and leave the eggs all day and only sit at night. Is this normal, is she waiting for more eggs? I haven’t seen her lay anything but she’s really light and poops (a lot) so I don’t think she’s egg bound. She’s very confusing and none of the eggs had any development occurring.

 

[50-45-1]

Well she is clearly is not comitted to being broody. At this point and late in the season i would probably just break her from broodiness and try next year.
The eggs are likely ka-put.
Next time just keep a few golf balls in the nest box and wait until your broody is not budging from them for 2 or 3 full days before you give her eggs. You can save the eggs for a week ( not washed or refrigerated).