Setting Shipped Eggs

Does everyone agree it's best to set eggs for 12-24hrs before putting them in the incubator? And why is that? I just got my first batch of shipped eggs with no breaks or cracks and I'm wondering when I should put them in my incubator.

This is to allow the air cell to stabilize. I also did not turn for the first 5 days. I had detached air cells. I am currently on day 21.

Shipping can scramble eggs and expose them to extreme temperatures. You may not see breaks or cracks on the outside but whats going on, on the inside of the eggs? Have you candled and checked your air cells? I let mine sit for 12 hours before putting them in the incubator, fat end up, in individual cut down cartons. No turning for the first 5 days.

RubyNala97 said:

Shipping can scramble eggs and expose them to extreme temperatures. You may not see breaks or cracks on the outside but whats going on, on the inside of the eggs? Have you candled and checked your air cells? I let mine sit for 12 hours before putting them in the incubator, fat end up, in individual cut down cartons. No turning for the first 5 days.

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Thank you thank you I checked and 90% had detached air cells I let them rest, and didn't turn for 7 days and almost all were reattached, but 50% candled clear, still now that we are at 10 days having 50% moving I'm happy!

Brytsss said:

Thank you thank you I checked and 90% had detached air cells I let them rest, and didn't turn for 7 days and almost all were reattached, but 50% candled clear, still now that we are at 10 days having 50% moving I'm happy!

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Good job getting those air cells to reattach!! Good luck! How many eggs look good?

I didn't know about the non-turning thing for shipped eggs. Just hatched six eggs from 18 but turned from day one so I suspect that why I got the poor hatch rate. Thanks for mentioning it!

GreenRunner said:

I didn't know about the non-turning thing for shipped eggs. Just hatched six eggs from 18 but turned from day one so I suspect that why I got the poor hatch rate. Thanks for mentioning it!

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I love posting the article for anyone who does shipped eggs. It helped me tremendously.
https://mbasic.facebook.com/notes/f...beth-white-via-cheryl-shires/548615281826504/

Thank you! Off to read it now

Update -

REALLY great post. Also makes me feel better that I got a 33% hatch rate from the shipped eggs without knowing ANY of that! They got put in incubator almost immediately, turned almost immediately AND laid on their side at lockdown. OOPS. Now I'll have to give it another go.

GreenRunner said:

Thank you! Off to read it now   

Update - 

REALLY great post. Also makes me feel better that I got a 33% hatch rate from the shipped eggs without knowing ANY of that! They got put in incubator almost immediately, turned almost immediately AND laid on their side at lockdown. OOPS. Now I'll have to give it another go. 

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Yeah that sounds like exactly what happened to me my first time with shipped eggs! I'm glad you liked the article!! I tried to follow it as close as possible. Instead of not turning for 7 days, I did 5 days (I literally didnt touch them for the first 5 days) then I tilted at a 45 degree angle for day 6 and when I checked my air cells they were solid. I did lay them down on their sides because of how good the air cells looked. I had 12 shipped eggs and all 12 made it to lockdown alive. But only 7 hatched. I don't know why. They were fully formed chicks in the eggs but they were covered in a sticky amber substance. An experienced hatcher told me that means old eggs. Which is another thing with shipped, you really don't know how old they are. It could have been a humidity issue too. What do you run humidity at during days 1-18 & then at lockdown?

RubyNala97 said:

It could have been a humidity issue too. What do you run humidity at during days 1-18 & then at lockdown?

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I had the humidity about 60, and then increased to 65/70 for lockdown. I was trying to get it a little lower for day 1-18 but I just couldn't keep it at 55....it either plummeted quickly or rose and stablised at the 60 mark so I left it. The trials of a newbie hatcher, eh?!