Leghorn Fertilized Eggs?
White Leghorn chickens are an egg laying breed that produces white eggs. At the University of Illinois Poultry Research Unit, we offer fertilized eggs from our White Leghorn flock. The white eggs these birds produce have high hatchability and allow for candling throughout the incubation period.
FAQ
Pickup is Monday to Friday from 9am-3:30pm at the Feed Technology Center. You will select a pickup date before confirming your order. The eggs will be in the tan building on the right side of the driveway.
Feed Technology Center
4495 S. Race St. Urbana, IL 61802
Eggs are purchased in increments of dozens (12 eggs). Orders over 30 dozen will be required to be placed at least 30 days prior to the desired pickup date so we can ensure we have enough eggs. Special request form like meat and egg sales site has?
No, payment must be received via credit card prior to picking up your order. A credit card fee will be added to your purchase.
Those associated with the University of Illinois system may pay via a university CFOP account number.
Illinois 4-H offers an embryology and incubation training program for teachers. For more information on this program, visit Embryology & Incubation.
There are many types of incubators available. It is recommended that you turn on your incubator and test it prior to incubating eggs to ensure the correct temperature and humidity can be maintained. Incubate the eggs at 99.5°F (37.5°C) and 60% humidity for 21 days. The eggs will need to be turned- if your incubator does not have an automatic turning mechanism, they will need to be manually turned over twice daily. You can mark on the egg with a pencil to keep track of which side of the egg should be up. Several days before the chicks are due to hatch, stop turning them and place them on a flat surface in the incubator so the chick can hatch from the egg. Leave the chicks in the incubator until they are dry and fluffy.
It is possible that eggs may not hatch. Here are some common reasons an egg may not hatch
- The egg did not get fertilized- there is no way to check if an egg is fertile without cracking it
- Incubation errors- The developing chick will be sensitive to temperature fluctuation. Keep your incubator away from windows, air vents, or other areas that may experience extreme temperatures. Minimize opening the incubator. In the case of a power outage, cover your incubator with blankets to insulate it and slow down the loss of heat. It is recommended to have at least two thermometers to monitor the temperature inside the incubator.
- Contamination inside the egg- sometimes an egg can get bacteria in through the shell and harm the developing embryo. Do not wash your eggs prior to incubating them. Do not incubate cracked eggs.
*Disclaimer: we do not offer refunds for unhatched eggs.
Eggs are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. They will do best if they are transported and stored in a cool, but not cold, place. Keep your eggs protected from extreme heat and cold. It is recommended to start incubating the eggs as soon as possible after picking them up. They can be stored at room temperature until they are placed in the incubator.
No. These eggs are not intended for human consumption. Please visit the Meat and Egg Sales website for flats of white and brown eggs for human consumption.