How to Store Chicken Eggs Prior to Incubation | How to Get a More Successful Hatch Rate

In this video we will talk about how to improve our hatch rates when incubating fertile chicken eggs. We'll talk about temperatures to store hatching eggs and the environment to get the best hatch rates. Also we'll be learning how often to rotate eggs for incubation and how long you should store your fertilized eggs before incubating.
Top tips for storing fertile chicken eggs:
* Keep your nest box clean. One of the most critical issues for hatching is to avoid contamination with bacteria.
* Store fertile eggs round end up.
* Turn them at least twice each day.
* Keep them cool and dry.
* Make sure fertile eggs are out of direct sunlight.
* Incubate fertile eggs as soon as possible.
* Enjoy your baby chicks!
Check out my hatching series!
• How to Hatch Chicken Eggs
Products I frequently use for my hatching videos, chicks, and chickens.
Little Giant Incubator with Egg Turner: amzn.to/3qk8x1d
Little Giant Incubator: amzn.to/3nPJim4
Egg Turner: amzn.to/3nJ6kLc
Little Giant Egg Candler: amzn.to/3bASok5
Incubator Thermometer: amzn.to/2XEv6S7
Digital Incubator Thermometer: amzn.to/38JRAHE
Egg Candler: amzn.to/3nJJdAj

[@zaviahopethomas-woundedsou9848]

Great info! I have not seen anyone do a video on how to store the eggs before hatching and I have watched a lot of videos!

[@farmmom7140]

Awesome! Thanks for watching Zavia.

[@ahenseda]

Thank you and your assistants for all that good info!

[@lucy8025]

This is extremely helpful. And your little helper is adorable!

[@hsrudy1]

I love this video! So much information. Thank you!

[@skincrx]

Thanks for explaining the why and not just the how to. Details is what teaches success and not lead to failure.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@phuthishore9237]

I used this method from here and it worked ! Thank you 🙂🙏🏼

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@wildchook745]

Great info! You have a nice and clear teaching voice. I just learned something new.

[@farmmom7140]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks Mary!

[@n0tofthisw0rld]

You did a really great job on this video. Very helpful!

[@farmmom7140]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@carminepetracca7518]

wow. i learned a lot about hatching eggs. i never knew about the leveling so the embryos would not stick to the shell. that sounds very important. i knew that moma chickens would roll them in in the nest but didn't understand why. a vert instructional video shelli. thanks, cp.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Carmine!

[@zuzannazuz3541]

Thank you so much for this video! Your videos are the best!

[@farmmom7140]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching Zuzanna.

[@floridaflash]

Thanks for describing the entire process. This will be our first time incubating eggs and we had no clue about how long you could store the eggs before incubation, maintaining humidity levels or that you need to rotate the eggs during storage.

[@tobywalden]

So you said not to store in refrigerator but you didn't say where you would store the eggs beyond 5 days for it to be cold enough with the right humidity for the eggs?

[@Speedcubing8]

This is super helpful thank you!!!!

[@jessiebabineaux9297]

Great video. Thank you!

[@mawg7598]

Great video. Thanks!

[@teri7219]

Thank you! I was looking for this exact info! 😀

[@farmmom7140]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@johnlordcasipe5065]

Thank You for some ideas maam..i love them.

[@OhiominkCoates]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@farmmom7140]

Thank you for watching!

[@michellejones8482]

Thank you for sharing this video also was very helpful

[@ronfacehoohaha3524]

Thank you so much for explaining this so well

[@farmmom7140]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@nataliehessler6463]

I’m getting ready to incubate. Thank you !

[@farmmom7140]

Good luck Natalie! How'd your hatch go?

[@emily-lorene]

thanks for the video!! we are incubating eggs for the first time

[@farmmom7140]

Good luck!

[@annekennedy7356]

Thanks for the video great info !

[@farmmom7140]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@petracreser]

Lovely clean eggs, I'm going to work on that.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@MINDY77777]

This is fascinating!! Love you nighty night

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks, nighty night to you as well!

[@allykincaid3362]

Nice video,mom. I learned something new today. :) :) I cant wait to see that turkey video!!!!!!

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Ally! Soon!!!

[@temsumongbajamir1582]

Very helpful and informative 👍

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@ThyChickenWhoStares]

Thanks a lot for this, I’ve always let my chickens hatch out under a mama so this is my first year incubating and I wasn’t sure what little habits I needed to do PRIOR to incubation when I was getting a good clutch. I am not letting natural hatching this year because the mamas do take good care of the chicks sure BUT we dont get to handle said chicks much sense mama hen is always protective over them. Basically this is just so they can be friendly like our older hens.

[@michaelscalmato1960]

Excellent video! Very clear, very informative! I am just starting out and am waiting for my incubator to arrive. My chickens are good about hatching their own eggs but we are now ready to go big :)

[@sallyeblen7032]

Good helper, you have.

[@farmmom7140]

Yes, they both are! Thanks for watching Sally.

[@jamesgoodman8289]

Real informative video

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching James!

[@Joe_Bob_Trucking]

Thanks for the info, I have 7 laying hens and an incubator that holds 12 eggs and was curious about how I would go about filling the incubator up instead of putting just the eggs collected from one day in it, which might only be 3 or 4.

[@leogrant3197]

❤ great help

[@camicri4263]

Thank you for the info! What great helpers you have! Hugs 🤗💜🤗

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Cami! Hugs too you as well!!

[@camicri4263]

@@farmmom7140 oh, thank you sweetie! God bless🤗

[@urbangardeningandchickenke1018]

Beautiful setup and chicken

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@abdulwahideid9860]

Good information thanks

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

Have to say I'm really eggxcited to see how this turns out.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Mark!

[@MikeKincaid79]

LOL, there he goes, hahaha

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

@@MikeKincaid79 yes if I say anything without a pun no One believes it's me.

[@markbullock3741]

Thank you.

[@Criscmg2011]

Great info! You have a good daughter too!

[@farmmom7140]

Thank you! Thanks for watching.

[@r3s3t73]

Good information thanks.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@marthaeggel5152]

This was great, thank you. So if I don't have a humidifier, do you think adding eggs to an incubator in small batches work?

[@marvinmulford2536]

Good video!

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks Marvin!

[@ateeqmehar553]

Beautiful farm and beautiful pepal nice chicken I like this

[@farmmom7140]

Thank you so much! Thanks for watching.

[@offgridDAVID]

This is awesome thank you

[@farmmom7140]

Glad you like it! Thanks for watching!

[@lucyzawisla6870]

May I just say how cute your daughter is 😻🥰

[@kevinsloan3019]

On day 12 fingers crossed i used your info on storing the eggs at a lower temp now to see how consistent the hatch is looking good at frirst candeling

[@marioncurtis3709]

thank you so much

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@ekocolumbus2062]

I love that video

[@dexterking7662]

New to your channel I like good job farm mom

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for subscribing! Welcome to my channel.

[@417plasma6]

Well this was very educational, and great advice on this subject since really know one speaks about it, i just ordered 50 buff orpingtons & road island red roosters, ,and building a super large enough (covered) on the property for the new arrivals. can't wait to get started, and hear plus watch more of your videos..Thank you so much ..Missouri here, and where would you be located ?

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching and welcome to my channel! We're in Washington State.

[@louislascelles1846]

thank you

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@jbid9999]

Thanks

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@_nelson_1958]

Thanks a lot for, it really helps. Let your girl talk next time, she is lovely! Best regards from Brazil ! 🇧🇷

[@Jimbob-zn6bl]

Nice chickens

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@emilykincaid9689]

nice video. That was the best video ever!!!!!! (: (:

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks Emily! I appreciate all your help as well!

[@SuzanneSturgill]

Where are you storing AT 55 degrees ?

[@waynewalker9107]

Man my girls produce good,,I pulled eggs off last night and by 3 pm today they had 16 eggs and that's just off one coop I have 4 and that one has 15 chickens in there,,oh yeah I love your content plus you look good while doing it

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@hauoleguyify]

I’ve wondered about this for a while now. Thanks for the info. Do you know if that would be the same for quail eggs?

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching! Quail eggs can be stored up to seven days if kept at the right humidity and temps. Almost like chicken eggs, but with a higher humidity. Store quail eggs with the small end facing down. Temperature should be between 55-65 degrees. Try to keep the quail eggs at the correct humidity prior to incubation which is a humidity of 84-88%. Make sure the stored quail eggs are turned twice daily before they are incubated. Keep the stored quail eggs in an egg carton and prop up one end at a 35 degree angle.

[@jeremiahdominguez35]

If it’s been a week before incubation time do I still have time to incubate them? My hens are 5 months old and has not sat on them yet.

[@chicha7880]

Good video. Daughter is adorable Thank you

[@virginiabird3447]

Great VDO - thank you for doing this! I have a few questions. All eggs are from my own chickens and ducks. After storing them for let's say 5-7 days - should I candle them first to make sure they are fertile before putting them in the incubator? If any are not fertile, I can eat them? Can I incubate chicken eggs and duck eggs together in 1 incubator? I also have geese but I'm letting the mama geese do the work - and they have been successful 100% of the time so far :-)

[@milkamuyeu1341]

I'm staying in house we vy I don't have ciling nd some time is hot, what can I do for me to use my incubator

[@rayyanvlaanderen8992]

goed bezig meid

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@magnoliaridgephotography3719]

So I have had issues with keeping my humidity up both in and out of the incubator. I see your suggestion of a humidifier outside the incubator but how about in the incubator? I constantly add water but can not get it above 45%-65%. someone suggested putting a wet sponge in there. Do you have other suggestions? I have only incubated once and it was not successful. I have a hovabator very similar to yours.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Magnolia. Just curious are you going off of what your incubator says (it's own thermometer and humidity reading)? If so, try putting a second thermometer in there with a humidity reading and see if it says something different. Are you hatching turkeys or chicks? The wet sponge helps when lockdown happens. Fill your trays and set either one medium sponge or several small sponges around the incubator and this will definitely help with humidity. For incubating (until you get to lockdown) you want the humidity to hang between 55-60%. Good luck.

[@janellemin1799]

💙

[@Porschesvideos]

how do you tell if t hey are fertile before putting them in the incubator or do you wait to see later?

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching. I would get them going in your incubator and wait at least 7-10 days before candling them to see if they're fertile. At that point you should know which ones to keep or not. Good luck!

[@VenomousGoat01]

Very cool series. Thank you for putting it together. The only question that I have left is "If I am not planing on incubating yet. However, I do have a rooster. will there be an issue with the eggs that I collect daily to eat- maturing by themselves, un-benonce to me?" because they may have been fertilized? I don't think anybody wants to crack that egg into the fry pan... Just saying.

[@JoseGarcia-kw2cc]

No they are the same If not better

[@leighannehammons9710]

So are you saying it’s ok and a better tasting egg after fertilization?… That’s the number 1 issue I have with eating fresh eggs actually I just can’t stomach eating eggs period anymore idk what the problem is with eggs lately but there’s just so much of the white clumps in them once you get all of it out there’s not much left …

[@michellejones8482]

What degree does your incubator have to be on .I'm getting 6 eggs through Amazon on wed .I will turn incubator on on Tues I was thinking so I leave eggs out at room temperature like you said but the degree I'm not positive about cuz I tried before once with this company and none hatched .how many days does it take to hatch ? I had chicks before long time ago use to hatch quails ducks chicks but forgotten how for been many years .I appreciate your help .

[@ciphercode2298]

Tryin keep your temperature around 99.5 and humidity in the upper 50% range until around day 18,and after that keep the humidity in the mid to upper 60% range. They should hatch around day 21,give or take a few days. Candle your eggs around day 8 to make sure they're developing and remove any that arent. Candle them again when they're going into lockdown and you should see alot of dark mass in them with an air pocket. Remove any that haven't developed or if they stink

[@ekocolumbus2062]

Can eggs be stored in a refrigerator

[@Gabriellllllllllllll]

So we prop them up for about 6 hours?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Man, that was a good omelet.............Oops!

[@farmmom7140]

HaHa!! Thanks for watching Mike. Time to hatch some turkeys!

[@camicri4263]

Hahaha, don't you wish?

[@kamranmanzoor1732]

@@camicri4263 hey

[@404mo9]

How many chickens do you have to produce that many eggs a day?

[@happytosee1]

question.... so if I collect my two daily eggs for three days I will have 6 eggs and then I can put them straight into the incubator... after putting them at room temp for 6 hours Correct?

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching! Make sure you keep the eggs cool between 55-60 degrees while storing them ( refrigerator is not recommended). Yes, 6 hours would be good enough. Good luck!

[@mikedan297]

How do you achieve the right humidity?

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Mike! If necessary a humidifier should be set in the room or area with the fertile eggs. The ultimate goal is not to go below 65% humidity while storing them. (Ideal humidity is between 70-80%).

[@beyondblessed8261]

Which chicken do you have that lay the blue eggs?

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching! Ameraucanas, they're the ladies laying the blueish green eggs. They're super friendly, lay about 150 eggs per year. These chickens can also range in color, but will always have puffy cheeks. (There distinctive trait).

[@urbangardeningandchickenke1018]

How you are managing flock of different breeds in a single coop? Do you hatch eggs?

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching. Yes, when hatching our chicken eggs there is a variety of barnyard mix. Unless I was strictly looking for a certain breed to hatch I would half to separate them. I love seeing the mixture and colors at hatch day. It's always exciting and interesting!

[@urbangardeningandchickenke1018]

@@farmmom7140 do you have roosters from each breed?

[@Porschesvideos]

so in factory farming, they not only disinfect the eggs but sterilize them in like a water/bleach solution. Many folks wash the eggs first but everyone has their own way to do it. Last year all my eggs were sadly dirty but they did hatch so that is good lol

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching! Yes, that is true. Instead of washing, preclean the nest boxes and only gather the cleaner eggs for incubating.

[@HS-ix5se]

Can anyone answer this for me? It seems silly to me that you would be so concerned with bacteria. Are momma hens picky during the natural brooding process? I’m just starting out so still lots to learn.

[@candyfaber8469]

I'm no expert. I wouldn't think it wouldn't be that serious. My family has hatched chicks for generations. I think she is giving good advice and covering all the bases. Chickens are filthy but everyone and everything has its habitat that its immune to. It may be my dirty home but I'm immune to my own dirty environment. 😉

[@HS-ix5se]

@@candyfaber8469 thank you! I took the extra precaution anyway. Just hatched a dozen for the first time last week!

[@farmmom7140]

Great job H S!!

[@hamidseifi9540]

I collect eggs for my incubator from 8 or 9 hens of different breeds and sizes. These eggs hatch anywhere from 19 to 24 days in the incubator. Today is day 21 and I already have 10 chicks walking around and 35 eggs in the incubator. My dilemma is, how to get these chicks out before they starve to death without violating the “LOCKDOWN” rule. Last month, I had a similar situation, and I opened the incubator on day 21 to get 6 chicks out and I ended up with 21 “SHRINK WRAPPED” dead chicks stuck in their eggs. Any suggestions?

[@lifeonmockingbirdhill]

The newly hatched chicks can survive up to three days without food or water. Do not open the incubator before you hit the latest day mark. I’d also suggest maybe just hatch one type or breed at a time so your hatch window isn’t so wide.

[@hamidseifi9540]

@@lifeonmockingbirdhill Thanks for taking the tine to reply

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching! I agree with Life on Mockingbird Hill. Leave them in the incubator, make sure you're putting all the eggs in on the same day as well, not over a few days period. Good luck!

[@keith43068]

Where are you storing the eggs at 55 degrees?? Somebody asked earlier but no response.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching! We have a pole barn shop that stays cool even in the summer. I just put a thermometer in the shop for a couple of weeks prior to storing my eggs and made sure the temperature stayed right around the desired degrees that I was looking for. Good luck!

[@robertbush7290]

Holy crap. Apparently nobody told my hens they had to keep their eggs pointy end down while they are sitting on them.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Robert!

[@reginalitiya7703]

My mum's chickens usually produce 1-3 chicks. Whenever a chicken starts to lay eggs, she collects them and puts them back once the chicken starts incubating. Is that a good thing .......or should she just leave the eggs in the nest?

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Regina. Are you incubating the eggs or having the hen hatch them? If your incubating there is a way to store them prior to incubating. If the hen is going to hatch the eggs I would leave them in the nest box (only if she is broody at that time). If she isn't broody the eggs will be no good after a certain amount of time passes. Good luck.

[@reginalitiya7703]

@@farmmom7140 thank you ....we will do that

[@jodiebasye9798]

Why do they need to be clean?

[@straightupandforward7494]

Question: Since a hen doesn't have her eggs laying pointed end down, and yet she hatches them, eggs on the sides. . .why put them them on their ends ? I understand that is how most incubators are designed for eggs to be put with the pointed ends down. But why does one put them in incubators that way ? Hens that are brooders, doesn't do it, so why should we ? No, I am not being a smart-butt. Just wondering.

[@debbiemarler8722]

I think it's so you'll have 100% hatch rate. Often hens don't have that good a hatch rate. It forces the air bubble to be in the round in where the chicks head will be.

[@jadeeastwood4482]

I’ve been collecting eggs for the last couple of days and I can’t find any places in my house below 70 degrees. Any tips on where I could store them??

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Jade. Do you have a well house or garage?

[@SuzanneSturgill]

I guess I could wear a jacket in my office for a few days. And hills the AC down.

[@DryRoastedNutz]

lol, It doesn't matter if the eggs are dirty. Some really funny advice all through out the video. What is your hatch percentage? I get 90% or better and don't follow any of this advice. Just watched to see if there was anything I was missing.

[@terrymorrison7263]

I've been raising chickens for years, rule of thumb: the more pointed the egg is it will more than likely be a ROSTER. the rounder the egg tip is the better of a chance it will be a HEN.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching! Interesting fact!

[@brendasmith5937]

You don’t need to have the humidity that high until you move the eggs to lockdown prior to hatch. If you have an egg turner you can put your eggs in the egg turner to keep the embryo from sticking.

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching Brenda!

[@guineapig2629]

;-)

[@rosap.5461]

Holy moly to many rules lol

[@zeenathsultana1139]

Chonky hens

[@farmmom7140]

Thanks for watching!

[@gildow1031]

well done and vidio thank you and ou doughtr is you r beutiful twin

[@farmmom7140]

😊 thank you. Thanks for watching!