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Storage Before Incubation ( How Long ? )

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by SilkiePuff, Sep 27, 2010.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Sep 27, 2010 #1
    SilkiePuff

    SilkiePuff Out Of The Brooder

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    Sep 25, 2010
    I've been doing some research online, with a wide assortment of mixed reports.

    how long can a chicken egg sit after being collected from the hen, before it has to go into the incubator so it doesn't become un-viable.

    i'm asking because i've found online it will either say for chickens anywhere from 4-5 weeks at room temp no lower then 50degrees and no higher then 60 degrees.. as long as the egg is rotated to prevent the yolk from sticking to the sides of the shell

    then other sites say just a week.

    so i'm a wee bit confused. how long can I let my eggs sit before they have to go into the incubator.. right now i just stick them in when I have the room, which of course doesn't make sense since I have chicks hatching at random times:rolleyes:..and would like to stop that so I can have them all hatch at the same time

    thanks in advance.
     
  3. Sep 27, 2010 #2
    cbbantams

    cbbantams Chillin' With My Peeps

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    May 11, 2009
    South
    We keep our eggs 7 days.We set the eggs that we collect all week every Sunday evening.That way after a month we have chicks hatching every week.Sometimes when we first turn our lights on in the winter to get the pullets started laying we will save the eggs for 14 days just because there will not be enough eggs that early in the year to set in just 7 days.This is the way we have done things for years and it has worked well.
     
  5. Sep 27, 2010 #3
    flgardengirl

    flgardengirl Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Dec 2, 2009
    Sunny side up :)
    I shoot for 7 days sometimes I will sneak a few more in the 8th day if a special hen lays them lol.
     
  7. Sep 27, 2010 #4
    rebelcowboysnb

    rebelcowboysnb Confederate Money Farm Premium Member

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    Independent State of Dade NWGa
    From memory cause I don't have my chart anymore.

    Unrefrigerated
    90% or better the first 7 days
    80% or better by day 14
    40% on day 22
    10% by day 29

    Refrigerated
    80% on day 3
    75% on day 7
    70% on day 14
    65% on day 22
    60% on day 29
    55% on day 36
    .......
    ........

    Anyway a week is best, 2 weeks is ok an refrigerate any ya want to try to keep for longer.
     

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