How long does it take for a chicken egg to die after it gets cold?

Answer 1

Some breeders discard the unhatched eggs 24 hours after the first hatch is out and dry. This prevents the runts/late hatch from maturing a day or two behind the rest. This usually happens for breeder birds. I wait 3 days for eggs showing no pipping or those started but not complete. It does cause a few problems as the weaker birds are often killed by the one's two days older if not separated.

Answer 2

An unfertilized chicken egg will not "die" if it gets cold, but it will stop developing if exposed to temperatures outside the optimal range (around 99-102 degrees Fahrenheit) for an extended period. The length of time it takes for the embryo to stop developing can vary, but if the egg has not been incubated for more than a few hours in the cold, it may still be viable.