Starting incubation without an icubator (dum question)

Quote:You could put them in the fridge (top shelf)? I've heard hatch rates go up after you've gone past the average date. But also, as long as they are in a cool place, they should be fine.

 

I think optimally they are best after 7 days. But, I have had okay luck up to 14 days, if you keep them in a cool place pointy-end down and turn them twice a day. I don't know how you would start an incubation without an incubator, unless you have a broody chicken....

 

With chicken eggs, hatchability is pretty for about seven days, even without perfect storage conditions. That includes turning. But if you store them in a relatively cool place and turn them like you are doing, they should stay pretty good for two weeks. Under good storage conditions, hatchability really does not drop that much until after two weeks. My real worries in that are that if they are stored too warm they can start to develop a bit, so they may be a bit early. Also, if storage humidity is too low, they can lose a lot of moisture and again may hatch a bit early or lose some hatchability. But this does not doom each egg. You can still get pretty good hatches with these eggs; just maybe not as perfect as you would have initially.

Bottom line. I think you will be OK. Good luck!

 

I have read somewhere where someone put their eggs on a heating pad. The eggs did hatch early. I guess it would work. If you were using a broody she can only heat one side of her eggs and turns them.