The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Ryan1990 on January 12, 2013, 06:20:14 pm

Title: How long Do fertile eggs last?
Post by: Ryan1990 on January 12, 2013, 06:20:14 pm

Hi all

I ordered some fertile eggs that got posted yesterday but i wont be able to put them in an incubator until Monday/Tuesday.  Will they still hatch or is that too long to have them sitting around?

Thanks

Title: Re: How long Do fertile eggs last?
Post by: hughesy on January 12, 2013, 06:52:03 pm

They should be fine. Notwithstanding the conditions they might have to endure in the post, so long as they're not exposed to extremes of temperature they should be ok for a week or more. I think I read somewhere that hatchability declines after seven days.

Title: Re: How long Do fertile eggs last?
Post by: Beeducked on January 12, 2013, 07:01:32 pm

They do better if they have been left to rest for a day so should be ok.

Title: Re: How long Do fertile eggs last?
Post by: Ryan1990 on January 12, 2013, 08:23:28 pm

Thanks for the info.

Title: Re: How long Do fertile eggs last?
Post by: ZacB on January 13, 2013, 06:39:06 am

Think about broody hens.....not unknown for them to sit on quite a pile and they will only lay at most 1 a day  ;)

Title: Re: How long Do fertile eggs last?
Post by: chrismahon on January 13, 2013, 07:48:49 am

After 7 days hatchability drops significantly Ryan. After 10 days I wouldn't bother. They need to stand for 24 hours after transport, the severity of which also affects hatchability. Depends how old they are in the first place and also the conditions of the parents and their diet. So basically every moment counts. I'd start the incubator the moment they arrive and get them in 24 hours later.


Hens will lay a large pile but probably only half will hatch. If more it's possible another hen is laying there as well.

Title: Re: How long Do fertile eggs last?
Post by: Ryan1990 on January 14, 2013, 11:31:36 am

The eggs have been sitting in the local royal mail office all weekend.  I just picked them up and the journey home was only 5 mins.  The eggs have been sitting with the small end downwards.  Do i still need to leave them sitting like that for another 24 hours even though the journey home with them was only 5 mins?

Thanks 

Title: Re: How long Do fertile eggs last?
Post by: chrismahon on January 14, 2013, 07:54:25 pm

See other post reply Ryan.