The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: twizzel on April 20, 2015, 10:35:30 am

Title: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: twizzel on April 20, 2015, 10:35:30 am

I'm planning on setting some Aylesbury eggs to incubate soon. How long can I keep them (at room temp in cool place obv) before putting in incubator? I only have 2 ducks so want to collect a few eggs before firing up the incubator (and it's gone out to someone to borrow- need to get it back as they had no luck with it!)

Thanks

Title: Re: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: mojocafa on April 20, 2015, 11:08:32 am

Last year another tas member found eggs, had no idea how old they were, I put them in incubator and had had excellent hatch rate,

Title: Re: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on April 20, 2015, 11:18:07 am

with ducks I would't keep them longer than a week

Title: Re: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: twizzel on April 20, 2015, 01:36:55 pm

Yes that's what I was thinking given their shorter shelf life. Great thanks, will get the incubator back this week  :fc:

Title: Re: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: milly molly on April 23, 2015, 05:55:01 pm

Twizzle if it helps any my Muscovy has just started sitting on her eggs, layed 11 then started sitting next day from the 11th so 12 days in total from first one layed, personally I collect for 10 days before setting


Mandy

Title: Re: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: Clansman on April 24, 2015, 02:54:53 pm

Fertility slowly starts to drop after 7 days so ideally don't keep any longer than than that if possible.

Some eggs will hatch even weeks old though, partridges regularly sit on clutches of 15-20 and hatch the lot out!  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: sokel on April 27, 2015, 07:17:01 pm

I always get confused by this.  I have had ducks geese and chickens lay away with as many as 18 eggs and had a 100% hatch from them , I have also kept eggs until I have enough to set, I saved 20 eggs from a 1 Dutch bantam and 19 of them hatched in the incubator

Title: Re: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: roddycm on April 27, 2015, 08:41:21 pm

Hello,

I have also found that my ducks will lay up to 20 eggs and then sit on them and the whole lot will hatch. As long as they don't get knocked about or get too hot/cold I think they keep for a good couple of weeks when using an artificial incubator and longer if you are going to set them under a duck or a hen!

Have a try, as long as your incubator is good and the humidity etc is right you will be surrounded by ducklings in not time at all!

Good luck :) Let us know how it goes!

Title: Re: How long to save hatching eggs before putting in incubator?
Post by: twizzel on April 27, 2015, 10:37:30 pm

Thanks. They currently have 14 in a very neat nest in their house. Normally the eggs are moved around a lot but these seem to be staying still and just added to. So going to see what they do with them. If no luck I'll save some up and put them in the incubator ????