Tips for storing fertile eggs

[JonathanL23]

How do you store fertile eggs. i was going to but them in a container in my basement with a lid i guess cause my basement can get damp. also do you have to turn the eggs if so how often.

 

[rapturecidal]

you said "store them" do you want them to hatch, or do you want them to eat them?

 

[JonathanL23]

Fertile. i wanna hatch them, i ordered a incubator and should be here in about 8 days. so i wanna have a good clutch by the time it gets here.

 

[rapturecidal]

then you can just store then in an egg carton or even in your refrigerator. if your incubator is going to be there in 8 days they will be good for at least 30.

 

[Toddrick]

I think the basement sounds fine. As long as they don't freeze or get warm enough to prematurely incubate then you should be in real good shape. I had mine in the fridge for 2-4 weeks without ever turning them (I didn't plan on hatching them, I only decided to after the hen died), and they still hatched good in a cheapo homemade bator contraption.

 

[JonathanL23]

i heard not to use the fridge as its to cold.

 

[Toddrick]

i heard not to use the fridge as its to cold.

That's why the basement is probably better. The fridge may make the eggs last weeks longer, but the cold reportedly can reduce hatch rate. Based on my experience though, I don't think it reduces hatch rate much at all (10%?), nor did not turning the eggs reduce my hatch rate much. May as well go for the ideal conditions though if you can plan it in advance.

 

[JonathanL23]

Ok. thx for the tips