Saving Eggs

[Suzierd]

I have a friend that wants me to save some Silkie eggs for her to hatch she won't be picking them up until April 20 if I start saving now will it be too long of a wait for them? If so how long can they sit and still be incubated? Thanks

 

[Basil G]

I've heard of holding them for a month (though it'd not recommended). Two weeks is a good rule

 

[pogmobum]

I've heard of holding them for a month (though it'd not recommended). Two weeks is a good rule

X2 early the better but I once had to keep three for 28 days before I could put them in a bator. Two survived and are now happy and healthy but they both pipped wrong end and had to be assisted this may have also been due to the fact that they were shipped eggs, and in Ireland no less were post men seem to really not bother with reading the boxs :/

 

[Joshua G]

You can store them for 1 week and expect about +70% hatch result but, for every extra day beyond one week, the hatch result will decrease by 1%.
(Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens)

 

[Suzierd]

Well darn, sounds like its to early to start saving them.

 

[Mommaw]

At what temperature should the eggs be when saving them for hatching later? I too have silky eggs waiting for one to pick up and put in her bator. I have them in an egg carton and it's about 74* and I turn them every day.

Thanks
s

 

[Mommaw]

My eggs are about 74...will that be ok and I turn them daily until she can pick them up this weekend. Is this ok?
Thanks
Sha

 

[Mommaw]

I too am saving Silkie eggs for a friend...

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Storing at 74 is fine. Ideal temp is 55-60F, about what a basement would be. I store mine on shelf at 65F as it's still heating season and store for 2 weeks and more sometimes without any problems. I've numbered eggs that were stored over 2 weeks and on hatch day an equal low numbers to high numbers hatched. Those that didn't hatch was random in age of collecting.