Egg handling and storage

The embryo of a fertile egg starts the cell-division process as the egg passes through the warm oviduct of the hen that lays it. The embryo is alive. This development is suspended when the egg cools. For this reason it is important to cool hatching eggs to a temperature between 45 and 55 degrees F as soon as possible after they are laid. Humidity should be about 70 to 75 percent. Common household refrigerators are far too cold for storing fertile eggs. Refrigerators are usually set at between 40 and 45 degrees, and eggs will hatch poorly if placed in these conditions.

Question:
Which set of eggs will produce more healthy chicks;  the fresh eggs or the refrigerated eggs?



 

Hypothesis:
Eggs that have been in cold storage for one week have a lower hatching rate, and increased incidence of bacteria infections, and a higher mortality rate than freshly laid eggs that have been kept warm naturally.  Refrigeration of aging eggs retards the growth of the embryo making it more susceptible to disease and death.