will this egg hold?

[technodoll]

Has anyone hatched eggs that were kept in the fridge for 16 days before being set in the incubator?

Or eggs that were kept in a cool dry place (cupboard) for 16 days?

My brown leghorn, Sweetie, laid her first egg today - yay! - and I think there is a slight possibility that it may be fertile as she was with a leghorn roo up until February 4th and her bloodied comb indicates he mated with her. Roo sperm can be viable in a hen for up to 3 weeks, right?

I know it's a very, very slim chance but what do you think... should I try?

If yes, should her egg be in the fridge or in the cupboard?

My incubation starts March 3rd...

 

[debilorrah]

Even 16 days on the counter is a long time, but if you have others to hatch, you may as well try it - stranger things have happened!!!

 

[MuranoFarms]

16 days is a long time. Why not set it now? Or give her a few days and see how many see lays and set them all.

 

[technodoll]

The main purpose of the march 3rd incubation is to get olive eggers from my EE roo x sexlink hens, but since the girls were with a silkie roo up until Feb 7th I want to make sure their systems are "clear" to get the right cross. I also am getting some EE eggs from a friend for the March 3rd hatch.

I only have one incubator so I can't start a batch now... and my broody silkie hen has been sitting on 6 eggs for 8 days now, it's too late to slip another one under her at this point.

what to do?

Should I store the leghorn egg(s) in the fridge or in the cupboard to maximise my chances??