Egg Quality Matters: Choosing and Handling Fertile Eggs

When it comes to incubation, success starts before the eggs ever enter your incubator. Poor-quality or improperly handled eggs are one of the top reasons hatching attempts fail. Understanding what makes a “good” egg — and how to store it correctly — gives your chicks the best possible chance.

1. Fertility First

Not every egg is fertile. Even if you have a rooster with your hens, fertility can vary:

• Healthy, well-fed breeding stock = better fertility.
• Older hens or roosters may produce fewer fertile eggs.
• Overcrowding or poor nutrition can reduce fertility rates.

Tip: Candle eggs at 7 days to check for development. Clear eggs usually mean they were never fertile.

2. Freshness Counts

Eggs are best set within 7–10 days of being laid. After that, hatch rates drop quickly:

• Each extra day in storage lowers the chance of a successful hatch.
• Hatchability after 14 days is often less than 50%.

Tip: Collect eggs daily and date-mark them in pencil to keep track of age.

3. Storage Conditions

Improper storage can kill embryos before incubation even begins:

• Temperature: Store between 10–15°C (not in the fridge).
• Position: Pointed end down, large end up.
• Rotation: Tilt or turn slightly once a day if storing more than 4 days.

Tip: Use an egg storage tray or rack that holds eggs at the correct angle.

4. Avoid Dirty or Damaged Eggs

Cracked, misshapen, or heavily soiled eggs are poor choices for hatching:

• Cracks = infection risk.
• Dirty shells = bacteria that can spread inside your incubator.
• Odd shapes = poor hatchability.

Tip: Resist the temptation to wash eggs — it can remove the natural protective “bloom” on the shell.

5. Transport with Care

If you’re bringing in hatching eggs from another farm:

• Ship/transport in padded cartons.
• Allow eggs to rest (pointed end down) for 12–24 hours before setting, to settle the air cell.

Quick Checklist for Hatching Eggs

• ✔️ Collected fresh (under 7 days old)
• ✔️ Stored cool (10–15°C), pointed end down
• ✔️ Clean, intact, and normally shaped
• ✔️ Handled gently, with minimal movement

Final Thoughts

The quality of your hatch begins long before the incubator is switched on. By choosing fresh, fertile, and well-handled eggs, you’ll dramatically increase your hatch rate and give your chicks the healthiest start possible.

This is Part 2 of our Incubation Troubleshooting Series. Next week, we’ll look at Temperature Troubles: Keeping Conditions Just Right.

🔧 Recommended Tools & Products

• Origin UV Candler – monitor egg development safely and easily.
• Health Products – supplements like breeding aids help improve fertility in hens and roosters.
• Nurture Right 360 – Australia’s favourite 22-egg incubator.
• Origin Series Incubators – designed and supported by Uneek Poultry.