How long can a chicken egg be in temps of 30 degrees f?

Question

The hens layed eggs in the morning and i gathered them in the afternoon but it was around 30 degrees f outside are these eggs still hatchable? in cold for probably 5 hours

Answer 1

Birds have been hatching eggs that have suffered a far worse temperature fate since before there were chickens.

Chickens will ordinarily lay about a dozen eggs, leaving them without her body heat until the last of them is layed. This allows her to have them all hatch out at about the same time instead of over 10 to 14 days.

Actual freezing to the point of causing cracking will risk entry of bacteria and risk death during the hatching period.