Storing Fertile Eggs
Fertile eggs are alive. Each time a fertile egg is handled improperly, its chance of hatching is reduced. Before they are placed in the incubator, fertile eggs must be handled as described in this section. You must follow all steps and instructions precisely to avoid the disappointment of an unsuccessful or unhealthy hatch. |
General Care
Remember that each egg contains a living cell mass that develops into an embryo and finally into a chick. Be very careful to prevent damage to the eggshell. An egg with a cracked shell will not hatch and should be discarded to prevent contamination of other eggs. Also discard extremely dirty eggs. If a small area of an egg is soiled with dirt or fecal material, clean the egg by gently rubbing the soiled surface with fine sandpaper. Examine the egg carefully to make sure that what appears to be dirt is not a stain. Never wash an egg with water.
Storage Time
A good rule of thumb is to set the eggs in the incubator as soon as possible. Eggs that are set less than 7 to 10 days after they were laid yield the best hatchability results. But remember that chicken eggs hatch about 21 days after they are set in the incubator. For a classroom project, set chicken eggs on a Tuesday or Wednesday. This way, the chicks will be more likely to hatch during the week when school is in session. |
If a hatch progresses more quickly or more slowly than planned, your students still experience the fun and excitement of watching eggs hatch. Incubation times for species other than the chicken are included later in this publication.
Temperature and Humidity
Fertile eggs should be stored at temperatures between 55o and 65o F. Embryos will begin to develop abnormally and weaken if the temperature is too high. If the temperature is too low, embryos will die. In either case, hatchability decreases.