Hello,

I can understand that you would enjoy hatching these eggs, but I must first tell you that the chances of success are very slim, unless you have a broody hen who would be willing to set on them. First of all, eggs that are being stored to be incubated later are usually kept at 55*F. Lower temperatures, such as in a refrigerator, decrease the viability of the eggs. Not that it's impossible for them to hatch, just less likely.

The requirements are pretty exact. Some people have managed to incubate eggs using a heat lamp. The temperature can be adjusted by raising or lowering the lamp. You should set up the lamp ahead of time and not put the eggs under it until you have it adjusted to the proper temperature. The night before beginning incubation, you should set the eggs out to reach room temperature. The next morning, they can go under the lamp. On days 1 through 25, the eggs should be kept at 99.5*F. Every four hours, around the clock, they must be turned 1/4 turn. Humidity levels must be kept right, around 86%, as well. This is perhaps the most difficult part to get right because there are no definite guidelines to use. If the mother or a hen is setting on the eggs, the moisture from her body takes care of this. Commercial incubators also provide proper humidity. Without either of those, all you can do is mist the eggs a few times a day with water at around the incubation temperature.

On day 26, the hatching period begins. The temperature should be lowered to 98.5*F. Humidity should be increased to 94%. You should stop turning the eggs. Most eggs will hatch between days 26 and 28. Any that haven't hatched by 35 days will not hatch. Even under the mother or in a commercial incubator, up to 30% of eggs won't hatch.
     
If you have additional questions, just let me know by clicking on REPLY. I hope you're able to successfully hatch some eggs.

Anna

(If you find my answer helpful, please click on ACCEPT. Thank you.)