Everything about breeding-eggs
This post is also available in: Dutch, French, German
I often get questions about eggs, here this article. I will try to answer all the questions ever asked about eggs one by one.
How do I know if an egg is fertilized?
If you have a cockerel, you may have fertilized eggs. This depends on whether the cock has hit the mark.
Our cockerel enters full, but the eggs remain unfertilized, how is this possible?
Orpingtons have pretty much down/ feathers. Perhaps do both (the cockerel and the hens) have too much fluff around the cloaca. Than the cockerel is nog able to get his sperm into the cloaca of the hens. The solution may be to cut down a little path around the cloaca, at both (the cock and the hens).
How can I check if the eggs are fertile?
Please check from 3 days incubation with a chimney lamp in a dark room. You can read more about this on the page; Incubator & Chicks
How long can I store eggs?
Hatching eggs can be stored for 2 or 3 weeks, but the older the are, the less germination. Fresh eggs develop better than older eggs in the incubator. Older eggs die off sooner.
How should I store the eggs until they are not in the machine?
The best way to use egg cartons and put in a dark cool place such as the basement. You place the egg with the point down in the box. Teach yourself to top the egg with a pencil to write down the date and if you know of which hen it is, write it on it. According to many, the theory is that the eggs should be turned daily until they enter the machine. I myself never do this. I myself am putting eggs in the incubator twice a week, so that they are at least 3 days old.
Can Eggs be sent by post?
Yes, eggs can be sent by post. Make sure that the eggs are as fresh as possible and that they are properly packaged.
How do I have to pack eggs which I have to send by post?
In England they have special poly boxes available. I’ve used them myself, but I am not so fond of usin them when you are sending eggs to a foreign country. They will be mixed to much and than the airchamber breaks ( you can see the bubbles in the egg ). The embryo will develop than, but die just because the airchamber is missing. The best experiences I’ve so far by the eggs to be packed as follows:
Required for transmission of 18 eggs:
- 3 x eggbox-cartons that can handle 6 eggs each
- Box which is used for 6 wine bottles (available at supermarkets)
- Kitchenpaper
- Shredded paper
- Tape
In the empty eggboxes I first put a paper-towel on each side (for smaller eggs more) and than I put the eggs in the carton. Make sure your tissue / cottonwool will stop the possible spaces where the eggs could be pressed together. Not too tight, because then the eggs will break anyway.
Close the box and put tape around (crossed) so that there will not be any further movement in the boxes. Do this with all the 3 boxes.
Take the wine box. Make a layer of shredded paper in the bottom of the box. Than press it a little with your hands.
Put the first egg in the carton box. Put another layer of chips/ shredded paper over it and make sure you put enough papersnippets along the sides of the box:
Close the box. Pick up the box and shakes him carefully. If you still Feel movement in the box, you have to use more chips/snippets. Now close the box and tape it tightly, and don’t forget the corners.
Glue an envelope containing the addressee on the box (and also listed the sender data). Give the package to the post office.
A wine box with 3 egg cartons is usually just under 2kg. For shipment abroad are mostly other rules.
Can I send eggs to other countries?
Yes, you can send eggs to other countries. In Januari 2009, when it was -13 degrees, I sent a box of 18 eggs to Hungary. It arrived after 1 week. Out of the eggs hatched 8 chickens. According the cicumstances in that case, that’s a very good result.
Can I put the eggs which I have received by mail, directly add to the incubator?
It is recommended that you first let the eggs ‘settle’ or ‘rest’. Let them at least 24 hours with the point down in a box to rest. Especially when eggs have been traveling a long road and they have been shaken, it is advisable to do so.
