Using incubator for storing chicken eggs for hatching

[Hawks]

I was wondering if any one has ever used there incubator for storing chicken eggs for hatching? I would leave the Incubator off of coarse until I had the amount of eggs that I want to hatch which would take 4-5 days. The incubator would be in the basement in which stays about 55-60 degrees in the winter and summer. I would like to use the Egg Turner so I wouldn't need to rotate by hand every day. So here is my question, has anyone tried this before and if so how did it turn out for them? I've tried other ways with about 65-75% hatch rate. thanks for anyone that replies. Matt.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I take the turner out of the incubator and set it on a dresser in a spare bedroom. That's the best place for me to store the eggs. Just plug it in and let it turn them while I get enough to put in the incubator.

 

[Mommaw]

My question is: What temp should the waiting eggs be kept to hatch at a later date? I turn them daily but am a little worried about the temperature they need to be to save for hatching later..

Thanks

 

[lazy gardener]

I think your basement is perfect. Warmer than a refrigerator, and there's a bit more humidity.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can read this. It has a pretty good section on storing eggs for hatch.

Texas A&M Incubation site
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/...e-Cartwright-Incubating-and-hatching-eggs.pdf

Realize that these are perfect conditions. A lot of us don’t follow all these guidelines and still get really good hatches. When he talks about hatchability, he does not mean that above 72 degrees or below 46 each and every embryo dies. He means it is possible that some won’t hatch because of storage conditions. Many of us, including me, have had great hatches when we are outside those boundaries. The further away from those ideal conditions and the longer we are away the more our odds drop, but that does not mean we always get lousy hatches. Just do the best you reasonably can and you will probably do OK. But this gives you something to shoot for. I don’t store them in airtight plastic bags to keep dust off them, but I don’t dust in the room where I’m keeping them, things like that.

55 to 60 is about perfect in case you don't follow the link.