collecting eggs for incubation
collecting eggs for incubation
This may seem a daft question but...
A broody chicken can hatch say 12 eggs. Now, given that a chicken lays 1 egg per day she must be waiting for 12 days before beginning incubating.
a) How long can I keep eggs before incubating?
b) Should the collected eggs be kept warm before incubating or at what temperature?
A broody chicken can hatch say 12 eggs. Now, given that a chicken lays 1 egg per day she must be waiting for 12 days before beginning incubating.
a) How long can I keep eggs before incubating?
b) Should the collected eggs be kept warm before incubating or at what temperature?
Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.
Blog http://fredarth.wordpress.com/
Die dulci fruere.
Blog http://fredarth.wordpress.com/
Die dulci fruere.
- little blue duck
- Barbara Good
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:39 pm
- Location: Derbyshire. England
Re: collecting eggs for incubation
yes, you can keep the eggs - store them broad-end-upwards in a large egg box, at cool room temperature.
If its too warm, the eggs may start developing (thats why mrs hen will lay & leave the eggs til she has her clutch of 12 or whatever, then sit on them)
you can keep them a week or two .. if the conditions are right.
Are you collecting from just one hen?
How big is your incubator? I'd personally not collect for more than a week/10 days, just to be sure they are fresh
Its only a three week til you can set the next lot!!
you can even add them in for a couple of days, if you mark them so you know which ones you'll be waiting for.
And don't forget to run your incubator for 24 hours before you set the eggs in
If its too warm, the eggs may start developing (thats why mrs hen will lay & leave the eggs til she has her clutch of 12 or whatever, then sit on them)
you can keep them a week or two .. if the conditions are right.
Are you collecting from just one hen?
How big is your incubator? I'd personally not collect for more than a week/10 days, just to be sure they are fresh
Its only a three week til you can set the next lot!!
you can even add them in for a couple of days, if you mark them so you know which ones you'll be waiting for.
And don't forget to run your incubator for 24 hours before you set the eggs in
Re: collecting eggs for incubation
No, I have 5 hens and 1 cockerel but the laying has reduced to 2 or 3 eggs per day and the Memsahib does want her eggs for breakfast. So it will be a small hatch.little blue duck wrote: Are you collecting from just one hen?
How big is your incubator? I'd personally not collect for more than a week/10 days, just to be sure they are fresh
Its only a three week til you can set the next lot!!
you can even add them in for a couple of days, if you mark them so you know which ones you'll be waiting for.
And don't forget to run your incubator for 24 hours before you set the eggs in
The incubator can take up to 24 hens eggs
Thanks for the advice fingers crossed will post on here they will be a cross between Lavender Auracana and (RIR x White Sussex) could be interesting
Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.
Blog http://fredarth.wordpress.com/
Die dulci fruere.
Blog http://fredarth.wordpress.com/
Die dulci fruere.
-
- Barbara Good
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:56 pm
- Location: Adamstown, Co. Wexford, Ireland
Re: collecting eggs for incubation
I may be wrong, but i'm sure when we incubatd eggs last year, the instructions with the incubator said to turn the eggs every day whilst holding them until tou hav the required amount. I can't find the instructions, but I believe the reasoning behind it was to prevent the yolk from sticking to the shell. (?)
Sorry to be so vague, will let you know if I find out for sure.
Lisa.
Sorry to be so vague, will let you know if I find out for sure.
Lisa.
Re: collecting eggs for incubation
Thanks Lisa makes sense
Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.
Blog http://fredarth.wordpress.com/
Die dulci fruere.
Blog http://fredarth.wordpress.com/
Die dulci fruere.
- little blue duck
- Barbara Good
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:39 pm
- Location: Derbyshire. England
Re: collecting eggs for incubation
It depends how long you are collecting them for;
if you get eggs through the post, its always recommened to let them "settle" for 24 hours or so, broad end up.
if you get eggs through the post, its always recommened to let them "settle" for 24 hours or so, broad end up.
Re: collecting eggs for incubation
To be honest I've not had much luck with eggs through the post 1 out of 24 and that was a cock. Using my own or rather my hens this time.
Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.
Blog http://fredarth.wordpress.com/
Die dulci fruere.
Blog http://fredarth.wordpress.com/
Die dulci fruere.
-
- Barbara Good
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 1:42 pm
- Location: Jersey CI
Re: collecting eggs for incubation
When we last incubated eggs (years ago) we had 24 and the only one to hatch was a cock too. We also turned the eggs over to stop the yolks sticking to the shell, but I don't remember if it was once or twice a day.Dr.Syn wrote:To be honest I've not had much luck with eggs through the post 1 out of 24 and that was a cock. Using my own or rather my hens this time.
Stop Animal Cruelty this Christmas- http://lost-in-the-day.blogspot.com/201 ... stmas.html