First time incubating eggs Urgent help needed

Vikchic · **Joined:** Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 14

Hi everyone,

Just need a little help. A friend of ours has a broody hen and wanted to get some fertile eggs from us (we've got a rooster, but haven't done anything but eat any eggs so far) What I want to know is, she wants to come over tomorrow and pick some eggs up. What would I need to do to make sure of the viability of the eggs so that her broody can sit and hopefully produce something worthwhile? Would the eggs be Ok from today's layings and keep 'til tomorrow and be Ok for her to pick up? Or would they need to be kept warm? And if they need to be kept warm straight out of the chickens bum, how can I keep them warm overnight?

Also, we got some new chickens yesterday and the rooster has been jumping all over them, how long until those eggs will be fertile from him?

Any and all help and advice welcome.

nevit · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:56 pm

Vik, my understanding of eggs viability is that as long as the egg is fertile to start with and your girls haven't been sitting on them and given up, they will be fine to give to your friend as the embryo doesn't start to develop until it is triggered by high temperatures, ie broodies body temp. As far as whether your Boy has done the deed, that's something one of the more experienced members might be able to help you with. Must say I envy you, being able to keep a Roo and all, wish we could have one in the suburbs.

menil · **Joined:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:31 pm **Posts:** 46

My understanding is so long as eggs are storred in a cool place they should still be ok for a week or a little longer .I think it usually takes about ten days after the rooster has been with hens before the eggs are fertile .

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

give your friend eggs that are fresh - no more than 4 days old and that have been kept in a cool spot - the recommended temp for storing eggs to be incubated is 12-14 degrees - do not put them in a dry place - they need the natural humidity - the eggs should be turned end to end 5-6 times a day while they are being stored to stop the yolk adhering and stoping a chick from developing

allow 10 days for fertile eggs

fertile eggs can be stored for up to 14 days before putting them under a broody or in an incubator but 10 days is preferred

Vikchic · **Joined:** Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 14

Many thanks for this. Incredibly helpful. I will be giving her eggs that are probably around 24 hours or so old. Just need to find a nice place to keep them that isn't too cold or too hot.

That's great, hopefully two things will happen, the broody will hatch the eggs that I give her (at the moment she said just three as she's a bantam and she's been steeling two of the other chickens eggs to sit on, so figure three would be Ok) and she'll also then come out of being broody.

Anyway, many thanks for the advice, it's been very helpful.

Will let you know how it all goes.

Vikky

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

if she is a reasonably sized bantam give 4 eggs 2 for each side - if quite small 2 eggs - keep her balanced out - get your friend to enclose her somehow so none of the other birds can get in and annoy her or lay more eggs in with her - if she has a cat carry basket with a closing door all the better - if she is stealing eggs she should be able to be tempted into a carry basket by the eggs you supply = just put her in it after dark and close the door - she will feel the eggs under her and should just keep sitting
also give small water and feed containers attached to something so they dont fall over - she may nibble and drink a bit during the sitting process. but tell your friend to leave her to do her thing - not to keep moving her to check on the eggs etc [as tempting as it may be!]

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