Setting eggs

[Sefirothe]

My egg order shipped from MyShire on Dec 30th and is due to deliver today.

How long can I let my eggs sit on the counter before they start losing viability?

I’d like to set them to have hatch day be a Saturday but that would mean waiting to next…..Wednesday? and I feel like that’s too long.

 

[DemeterAD9]

With shipped eggs the viability is already compromised to some extent. Sooner is always better. Let them sit overnight or up to a day and then pop them in.

 

[Sefirothe]

With shipped eggs the viability is already compromised to some extent. Sooner is always better. Let them sit overnight or up to a day and then pop them in.

That’s what I figured. Firing up the incubator now and will set them in tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Nabiki]

You don't want them to be more than 7 days old max before putting them in the incubator.

 

[Sefirothe]

You don't want them to be more than 7 days old max before putting them in the incubator.

If I put them in tomorrow, that's 4 days old. I'll take the better chance for viability over the enjoyment of getting to watch them hatch.

 

[Nabiki]

If I put them in tomorrow, that's 4 days old. I'll take the better chance for viability over the enjoyment of getting to watch them hatch.

Good idea. They don't all immediately die at 7 days, but fertility begins to drop sharply at that point.

 

[007Sean]

I have forgotten what the percentage rate is but fertility declines dramatically after 7 days but there are still a few of those eggs that will develop...doesn't mean they will hatch but that they will develop.
Good luck with your hatch.

 

[CliftonQuail]

If I put them in tomorrow, that's 4 days old. I'll take the better chance for viability over the enjoyment of getting to watch them hatch.

If your incubator decent view windows, you might be able to get a cheap web cam and at least be able to check on the eggs while you're not there. With a large enough SD card, you could probably even record the hatch. It's not as good as seeing it live, but it's better than nothing.

 

[Sefirothe]

I have a spare cam I used to keep an eye on chicken chicks in the brooder in the past. I’m just waiting for a tripod assembly I ordered for it to arrive and will set it up to watch the incubator. It’s got very nice open views.