I was reading in my book Storey's Guide to Chickens that you should save up fertile eggs throughout the week until you have enough to put under a broody hen. I also read that they should be stored at 55 degrees (not put in the fridge). Where is a good place to store the eggs for a few days at the right temperature? Any ideas? Or what do you do?

Just thinking ahead as I ordered my silkie bantams today, along with another batch of broilers.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), October 08, 2001

Answers

Storeys Guides are such a waste of money. I dont like most of their books either,, too incomplete. After reading them you have to go someplace else to get the whole story.

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 08, 2001.

My MIL keeps them in the basement where it's cool. It's not exactly 55 degrees, but it's cool. I think she keeps them tilted at an angle, but I'm not sure - hopefully someone can give you more information!

Best of luck with your bantams!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), October 08, 2001.

I've kept eggs in an egg carton at room temps for up to 2 wks. or so and had a good hatch (75% or more). I don't think a hen is too concerned about proper temps for her eggs when she lays them :-)! I think that not too warm and not too cool works best, at least for me.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), October 08, 2001.

Store all your eggs in the fridge (doesn't matter which end is pointing up). When you see that 1 of your hens has gone broody, retrieve however many refrigerated eggs you think she can handle; set them out til they're no longer chilled and slip them under her that evening. I pencil on my eggs the date gathered, so that i can put under my broody the most recent layed eggs.

All my refrigerated eggs hatch at 20-21 days!

Good luck!

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), October 08, 2001.

I keep mine in a basket at room temp until needed..up to 2 weeks.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), October 08, 2001.

When I plan ahead for the hens to hatch chicks, I let them build a clutch and set. All the other eggs I collect go into the fridge 'cause I plan to eat them. But spur of the moment decisions to hatch eggs....well, like Buk Buk, they come out of the fridge. Consequently, they haven't been turned.

I leave the eggs out until they reach room temperature and then stick them under a broody. My hens take them even when I give them the eggs during the day. And they've all hatched. The humidity of the fridge must be why the eggs hatch even tho not turned.

Many folks store the eggs in the fridge. A friend who uses an incubator says that her hatches have greatly improved with eggs kept in the fridge. She's hatched just about every kind of fowl there is!

Just be more careful than a friend was....she had some special breed of eggs in the fridge to hatch and some members of her family ate them! -LOL-

My hens have hatched both chooks and guineas with fridge eggs. The girls lay and hatch all year around.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), October 09, 2001.

Anita, Well, I learn something new every day and keeping hatching eggs in the refrigerator is a new one for me! I keep mine at room temperature and lay them sideways(pointy side to the left or right) and turn them several times a day. My hatchery says to not keep eggs over 7 days as the hatchability goes down after that. I have my banties hatch out my eggs for me and they not only hatch the chicks, they take care of them and teach them how to eat and drink and forage. I love my banties and eat their little eggs too! My mother would butcher all the extra roosters and have mini fried and roasted chicken. Have fun!

-- karen in kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), October 09, 2001.

I agree with Karen. Keep them in an egg carton in a warm place, but not too warm. Just turn the egg carton over a couple times a day (this rotates them just like the hen does) I wouldn't try eggs more than a week old either. I've hatched alot of chicks in an old wooden incubator that I bought from the local Cooperative Extension Service that some kid made in the 1940's for $10.00. It is so neat, because it works with 2/100 watt light bulbs.

-- Harmony Bullington (harmonyfarm57@hotmail.com), October 09, 2001.