Age of eggs to put in incubator - hatch rate

[gabzhenz]

Hi, advice please???

How old or what is the oldest an egg can be for a good hatch rate to go in an incubator???

Obviously the fresher the better, but I have been told that eggs can be 16 days old and will be fine when incubated, then I read 14 days in various books, and was recommended 10 days over the weekend??

From now on I will stick to 10 days but would be useful to know what limits are??

(Eggs are stored in a cool room in the house and turned carefully daily)

Any thoughts appriciated!!

G x

 

[Tim]

I generally say 10 days but it's subjective really as the hatch rate decreases as the eggs age so if you had eggs that were 2 weeks old, as long as you were happy to have a lower hatch rate, there's no reason why you can't incubate them.

I find if you have eggs that are different ages in the incubator, you can get a hatch that is quite spread out.

 

[gabzhenz]

Brilliant! Thankyou, great answer as clears up another query re spead out hatchlings also!!

Thanyou!!
Gabz xx

 

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi, advice please???

How old or what is the oldest an egg can be for a good hatch rate to go in an incubator???

Obviously the fresher the better, but I have been told that eggs can be 16 days old and will be fine when incubated, then I read 14 days in various books, and was recommended 10 days over the weekend??

From now on I will stick to 10 days but would be useful to know what limits are??

(Eggs are stored in a cool room in the house and turned carefully daily)

Any thoughts appriciated!!

G x

As far as I understand it an egg which is less than 24 hours old is less likely to hatch - though I will be interested in other thoughts on this

All the best
Sue

 

[Rebelodicus]

As far as I understand it an egg which is less than 24 hours old is less likely to hatch - though I will be interested in other thoughts on this

I have been repeatedly told to leave them for a day before setting also. And 10 days as the optimum collection period.

jmho 05

 

[foxy]

Well if you think about how mother natures manages, the hen will lay only sit when she has laid a clutch, so the oldest egg could be up to 2 weeks old if she lays on alternate days.

 

[Frenchchickens123]

Hi, last time I hatched eggs I collected them over 7 days and then incubated. I stored them in a cool place but never turned daily. I set 26 eggs and hatched 20, hope this helps x

 

[Anonymous]

as soon as i've set a clutch in the bator (wether my own or ebay) i start collecting the next batch i turn them twice a day and date um. ebay eggs i rest for 24hours on tip then sit on side and turn till i need to put them in (last 12ebay only one infertile altho some have very strange air sacs!!)

just try it, at least with dated eggs you'll know which work and which don't

my mother in law said they used to do eggs and work on chicken farms. and sometimes they took a month to get to the shops and thats why the shelf life is so short!!!!!!!

 

[Rebelodicus]

Defra has it as a 28 days for the "Best before" date iirc.

 

[Tim]

I think most eggs these days are around a week old in the supermarkets because they have to be collected, stored, shipped to a packing station, candled, washed and stamped and then sent via distribution to the supermarkets.

 

[darkbrowneggs]

I think most eggs these days are around a week old in the supermarkets because they have to be collected, stored, shipped to a packing station, candled, washed and stamped and then sent via distribution to the supermarkets.

Yes - Its surprising how some people don't like the taste of a new laid egg, because they have only been used to the older ones sold in the shops. What a world eh !!!! 07 If I want a boiled egg, I always go to the barns and get one laid that morning.

All the best
Sue