SPIDES for Stored Hatching Eggs: What the Research Actually Shows
The Short Version
SPIDES means Short Periods of Incubation During Egg Storage. It is a hatchery management method: eggs held for an extended time are warmed for brief, planned periods during storage. Research suggests it can reduce some storage-related losses in chickens, but it is not a one-size-fits-all home-incubation recipe.
Why Would It Help?
Extended cool storage can leave very early embryos more vulnerable. Brief warming periods may move development to a stage that is more resilient during storage. The details matter: storage length, breeder age, storage temperature, and the number and timing of warming periods all influence results.
What Did One Large Study Find?
A 2023 study used 18,900 Ross 308 broiler breeder eggs stored for 5, 10, or 15 days. For the SPIDES group, shell temperature was raised from 18°C storage temperature and held at 100°F for 3.5 hours. Compared with controls, SPIDES was associated with lower embryo mortality, higher hatchability, a shorter hatch window, and better chick-quality measures in that study.
What It Does Not Prove
This does not prove that keepers should warm every stored egg or copy one hatchery schedule at home. The evidence is primarily from commercial chicken breeding systems. In other research, the benefit has changed with the storage duration and protocol. SPIDES has not been validated as a universal practice for Coturnix quail, shipped eggs, or every incubator.
Practical Takeaway
For typical small batches stored only a few days, good collection, storage, and incubation basics come first. SPIDES is most relevant when extended storage cannot be avoided—and should be approached as a measured trial with records, not as a guaranteed fix.
Study Details
Study type: Controlled broiler-breeder experiment
Species: Chicken (Ross 308)
Source: Okasha, El-Gendi, & Eid (2023), Tropical Animal Health and Production. Read the open-access paper.