When should I start?

[amyfitz100]

Okay, somebody please help me figure this out. I have 3 doz eggs I've collected since March 11. They've been sitting on my kitchen counter as I've gotten them, and I have been tilting them 3x day. I have never incubated before and I'd like to give it a try, but I can't figure out when to set them! Of course, I am a mom to more than chickens, so I'm having to work around two out of town volleyball tournaments -- one when we'll leave the afternoon of April 4th and be home by afternoon on the 6th, and for the other we leave afternoon of the 11th and come back on the 14th. How can I time it so I don't need to candle or do lockdown or (gasp!) have them hatch while I'm gone? Or leave tiny baby chicks??? (Maybe I would just have the brooder as an overnight bag? Surely the hotel wouldn't mind, lol.) Plus I don't want to have these eggs get much older, right?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMO, hatchability starts to drop off quickly after 10 days. A cooler storage space helps (about 50-60 F). Wrapping the egg in plastic will cut down on water loss and seems to improve hatch rates.
Rather than candling, you can weigh the eggs. They should lose 0.6-0.7 % weight each day during incubation so that will tell you how your humidity is.
Hatchlings can stay in the incubator a day or 2 in a pinch.

 

[CarolinaHen]

I traveled to FL with eggs hatching in the backseat! It can be done

 

[lazy gardener]

It sounds like you have the option of collecting more eggs? Is your schedule any more settled after the 14th? If so, you might want to wait, and set your eggs so they go into lock down after the 14th. Is your incubator reliable enough that you are comfortable leaving it alone for a few days, or is there a friend who you could take the incubator to for the days you'll be gone so it could be babysat? If you transport it after day 14, it should be ok if the eggs are wrapped in a blanket to keep them from bumping around during the ride.