Viability of Fertile eggs

dadsbill · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:35 pm

Hi, I was wondering if anyone is able to tell me how long does a fertile egg stay viable at room temperature.
Hubby misread set up instructions on our inubator (yes we are newbies at breeding) and have had it running for a week on 21 degrees...............instead of 37.5 :oops:

. Should I throw them all out?? Or is there a chance that any may hatch???
Would really appreciate your advice, thanks in advance for any help.
Cheers O

greenaus · **Posted:** Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:19 pm

While 21 degrees "seems" like room temperature, most people rarely store pre-incubated eggs at such a high temp. A cool, dry place -- I use a cupboard backing onto an inside wall -- seems to be ideal.

But, that wasn't your question.

My opinion is that 21 degrees is not necessarily a death sentence. Candle ALL eggs. (If it was me I would...) discard any that have developed at all. Increase the temp to 37.7 and restart the day count (Day 0).

As for how long they remain viable...I've just candled all my eggs tonight. They were set last Tuesday (25/08) and included a dozen from 03/08 - 08/08, 17-22 days old when set. Five of the dozen were fertile, including one from the 03/08 (3 from 03/08 were not).

(Edited to improve my math [smilie=a_doh.gif]

)

dadsbill · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:27 am

Thanks Greenaus, you have given me some hope, I feel like a murderer, I knew I should have rechecked the directions. He read a temp and thats were he set it, but the temp he read was the "ideal place to set up the incubator". :roll:

My hubby lives by the principle that "if all else fails, then read the directions!"

greenaus · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:07 am

We bought the $299 LCD TV from Coles last week and I still haven't read the instructions. FWIW, don't buy one.

dadsbill · **Posted:** Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:33 pm

They certainly were a lot easier when they had an on/off switch, and you got up to change the channel.

Ann@Nanango · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:10 pm

Hi Dadsbill

How did you go with your incubator mishap? They should be due to hatch soon.

Cheers for now

Ann

dadsbill · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:45 pm

No, no signs of anything happening, but the ones put in when it was set right are about due.........I guess you could class me as a broody old chook, I am so excited.

Ann@Nanango · **Posted:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:39 pm

I bet you are so excited. I've got 42 eggs in my home made incubator, and the powers going off between 10am and 4pm tomorrow, so I might be committing mass "chookicide" - I have some more eggs waiting to go in just incase the one's in the incubator stop developing after tomorrow. I'm getting hubby to get out the gas stove so I can keep up the hot water bottles to keep them warm - hope it works! ! ! !

Have a broody hen waiting in the back docks just incase the temp gets a bit erratic.

Cheers for now and pleeeease keep us posted, we're all just as excited as you are. :-D

See ya

Ann

thepoultrypartners · **Joined:** Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:10 pm **Posts:** 1

Don't feel too bad we all make mistakes I know I have made many with the incubator. I once opened the incubator to check the eggs and forgot to close it didn't find it until the next day, but to my delight they all hatched still, go figure

All the best with your latest batch

dadsbill · **Posted:** Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:20 pm

Nothing happening yet.......I watched for so long that I thought I seen an egg move. [smilie=a_chuckle.gif]

How long past due date can they go???? Does anyone know.

I am stressing over these eggs, it was easier when the only choice was scrambled or poached. AAAAAAArrrrrrggggghhhhhh, wish something would happen soon.
Sorry over broody old chooky here.

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