So here's an interesting thing about quality and storing of incubated eggs.
[BTW--I am NOT saying this is ideal and that the other proven/suggested ways to collect and store eggs aren't valid. I'm just sharing some curious observations.]
As I just posted, I've just set some of my own flock's eggs. Now I only have 3 pullets laying so far. They just started about 6 weeks ago. Kind of a goofy group to cross with an Ameraucana cockerel, but said cockerel was sexed a girl! This wasn't planned.
Nevertheless, to get a decent batch to incubate, I had to stretch things.
I had 3 groups:
* One that were eggs that were freshly laid and collected in nice enough weather.
* A second group of older eggs---some close to 2 weeks old.
* A third group were eggs that were collected when I got home from work after the eggs were in temperatures in the lower 30's all day. Cold.
None of the eggs were stored in 50 degree temp once collected, but stored in the kitchen at about 65 - 70 degrees.
I marked the eggs with "C" for cold and "O" for old.
Well, of the eggs with viable chicks inside, there are lots marked "O" and "C". Only one of the eggs that was a dud was one of these "O" eggs.
Curious???