Chook Me!

how long does an fertile chicken egg last before incubator?

Public Comments

1. For best results, you want it in the incubator after it has had 24 to 48hrs setting time. From day 4 the fertility starts to reduce drastically, after day 7 the chances of it hatching are low, day 10 rare. If the eggs have been sent from a breeder via the mail system, this itself can deteriorate the fertility in an egg a vast amount.
2. I have had many successful clutches hatch with eggs as old as 30 days. For an almost 100% hatch rate, 2 to 3 weeks tops.