Hatching Egg Storage
It may not be practical to place the eggs in an incubator immediately after collection. If holding eggs for several days, keep them in a cool, humid room. The best storage conditions are near 60oF. and 75 percent humidity. The temperature should not drop below 40oF. or hatchability will be reduced. The cool temperature delays embryonic growth until incubation begins, and the high humidity prevents moisture loss. Humidity is best measured with a device called a psychrometer. The table shows the relationship between wet bulb readings and relative humidity at storage temperatures.
Wet Bulb Reading for Storage Temperatures
Temperature, oF.
Rel. Humidity
55
60
65
70
55%
47.2
51.4
55.5
60.0
60%
48.1
52.4
56.7
61.2
65%
49.0
53.4
57.8
62.3
70%
50.0
54.5
59.0
63.5
75%
50.9
55.4
60.0
64.6
80%
51.7
56.4
61.0
65.8
Incubate eggs as soon as convenient. The hatchability of eggs stored for less than seven to ten days remains high with proper storage conditions. Eggs held longer experience reduced hatches. After three weeks of storage, the hatchability is near zero percent.
If the eggs are not incubated within three or four days, turn them daily. Turning the eggs prevents the yolks from touching the shell and injuring the embryo. Store the eggs with small ends down and slanted at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees. Large numbers of eggs can be stored on egg flats and in cases with one end of the case elevated to give the proper slant. Turn the eggs by elevating alternate ends of the case or flat each day.
The eggs should warm slowly before being placed in the incubator. The shock of warming the eggs too rapidly will cause moisture to condense on the shell. This may lead to disease problems.
It may not be practical to place the eggs in an incubator immediately after collection. If holding eggs for several days, keep them in a cool, humid room. The best storage conditions are near 60oF. and 75 percent humidity. The temperature should not drop below 40oF. or hatchability will be reduced. The cool temperature delays embryonic growth until incubation begins, and the high humidity prevents moisture loss. Humidity is best measured with a device called a psychrometer. The table shows the relationship between wet bulb readings and relative humidity at storage temperatures.
Wet Bulb Reading for Storage Temperatures
Temperature, oF.
Rel. Humidity
55
60
65
70
55%
47.2
51.4
55.5
60.0
60%
48.1
52.4
56.7
61.2
65%
49.0
53.4
57.8
62.3
70%
50.0
54.5
59.0
63.5
75%
50.9
55.4
60.0
64.6
80%
51.7
56.4
61.0
65.8
Incubate eggs as soon as convenient. The hatchability of eggs stored for less than seven to ten days remains high with proper storage conditions. Eggs held longer experience reduced hatches. After three weeks of storage, the hatchability is near zero percent.
If the eggs are not incubated within three or four days, turn them daily. Turning the eggs prevents the yolks from touching the shell and injuring the embryo. Store the eggs with small ends down and slanted at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees. Large numbers of eggs can be stored on egg flats and in cases with one end of the case elevated to give the proper slant. Turn the eggs by elevating alternate ends of the case or flat each day.
The eggs should warm slowly before being placed in the incubator. The shock of warming the eggs too rapidly will cause moisture to condense on the shell. This may lead to disease problems.
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