Viability of eggs

[fur-mum]

I lost my favorite hen today, my roommate's dog broke through the electric fence and caught her. I'm heartbroken as she was the best little girl. She'd follow me around the yard and help me with gardening. I do have some of her eggs as she's the only one who's still laying, and she laid through the winter last year too. If I were to try to set them, what kind of viability would I have? They've been on the counter in my kitchen, unwashed since she laid them. The most recent would be from last week before the temps dropped below freezing outside, but it was by no means warm before then. The temp inside has been about 65 F. Is there any hope to incubating them?

 

[fur-mum]

I know that we typically say a week to 10 days, but I'm concerned since they were outdoors before being collected for a day or two. Temps between 40-70.

 

[Xarinn]

If you collected them fairly quickly after they were laid you might have some luck with viability and really worse case scenario you candle them in a week and there is no development. I think the chance of getting some babies from your favorite chicken is worth trying to incubate!

 

[HuffleClaw]

I say, go for it! There’s no reason why you shouldn’t try.

 

[aart]

I think they have a great chance...go for it!
'10 days' is not carved in stone.

 

[fur-mum]

I say, go for it! There’s no reason why you shouldn’t try.

True, and I thought of this, I just didn't want little deformed suffering babies because of the way I handled them.

 

[aart]

I just didn't want little deformed suffering babies because of the way I handled them.

Either they'll develop.... or not.
Have you incubated before?

 

[fur-mum]

We tried once and the incubator had a heat spike and cooked them all on day 2. Every other time I gave eggs to my broody, except it was the broody that died.