So this probably is a really dumb question, but....

[GemmaGA]

My beloved rooster, Scuba, who was like a pet to me (he was awesome!) was killed by a predator about 2 weeks ago. I am pretty sure I had collected fertile eggs before he was taken, but they have been in the refrigerator.

Even if I did have fertilized eggs, it's probably been too long for them to be viable to hatch, correct?

Sorry if it's a dumb question - was just thinking maybe I could hatch a little half-Scuba

 

[jher77]

I've heard of refrigerated eggs hatching but not always successful. Either you are going to eat the eggs or incubate them. Worth a try?

 

[MysteryChicken]

My beloved rooster, Scuba, who was like a pet to me (he was awesome!) was killed by a predator about 2 weeks ago. I am pretty sure I had collected fertile eggs before he was taken, but they have been in the refrigerator.

Even if I did have fertilized eggs, it's probably been too long for them to be viable to hatch, correct?

Sorry if it's a dumb question - was just thinking maybe I could hatch a little half-Scuba

Nope, you can still hatch them. Oldest refrigerated eggs I've incubated, & hatched successfully were 3 weeks old. Viability maybe reduced slightly.

 

[GemmaGA]

@MysteryChicken & @jher77
Wow, not what I expected to hear! Maybe I will give it a shot and just see...won't hurt anything and my 7 hens are laying pretty consistently now so we have no shortage of eggs for eating

Thank you!

 

[MysteryChicken]

@MysteryChicken & @jher77
Wow, not what I expected to hear! Maybe I will give it a shot and just see...won't hurt anything and my 7 hens are laying pretty consistently now so we have no shortage of eggs for eating

Thank you!

You're welcome.

The world of chickens is amazing sometimes.

 

[Iluveggers]

His sperm should be alive in the hens for another week or so. You could set any eggs laid this week as well as they could be fertilized.

 

[Tonyroo]

Just make sure the eggs you use weren't washed, they need to have the bloom on them. But your good to incubate.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Just make sure the eggs you use weren't washed, they need to have the bloom on them. But your good to incubate.

Washed, or not washed doesn't matter much. All my refrigerated eggs are washed, & hatching them was successful.

 

[MysteryChicken]

His sperm should be alive in the hens for another week or so. You could set any eggs laid this week as well as they could be fertilized.

That's also true.

 

[GemmaGA]

@Tonyroo I don't wash my eggs, they go straight in a carton and into the fridge.

I just put 3 eggs that may be fertile/may not into the incubator - I will update the progress on my GemmaGA hatch-a-long thread!!!