I have shipped hundreds of eggs since I started shipping in June of 2011 My method has changed from time to time but this is how I ship large amounts of eggs:
Before Shipping:
It is very important to choose the best eggs to ship, as well as store these eggs correctly.
1. Choose eggs that are normal. Do not ship eggs that are odd shaped (torpedo eggs, double yolkers, round, ect.)
2. Choose eggs that are clean and free from debris. DO NOT wash eggs that will be shipped This removes the protective coating on the eggs that prevents the entry of bacteria. If the egg needs to be washed, it probably should not be shipped.
3. Only send fresh eggs Eggs that are 3 days old or fresher should be fine to ship. As the eggs get older, the less viable they become. Often eggs that are older become scrambled or the air cell breaks loose.
4. Store the eggs properly. Do not refrigerate them unless you have a special refrigerator set up that stays between 50 degrees and 60 degrees. The eggs should be turned several times a day. If I have an egg turner not being used, I put the eggs in there.
5 It doesn't hurt to candle the eggs before packing to make sure the eggs do not have weak spots in the shells, blood spots, or misplaced air cells.
Packing Eggs:
Before you even begin packing your eggs, you need to determine what size box you will need. You can get free Priority Boxes from USPS online. These will be shipped right to your door and you will usually have them in less than a week. The ONLY time I reuse a box is if I am am double boxing and I reuse it for the inside box. The outside box is beat around quite a bit so a new box is desired for the outside box.
Materials needed for packing
1. New Bubble Wrap
2. Shredded paper, crumpled newspaper, packing peanuts
3. Razor blade knire
4 Scotch Tape
5 Packing Tape
Packing
1. Start with NEW bubble wrap I get big rolls from Walmart for $15 per roll They also have small rolls for about $7. These are perforated so you get 12" by 12" sheets.
2. I am able to wrap 3 chicken eggs per sheet Tear of enough for the batch of eggs that you are shipping. Place them on a cutting board/piece of styrofoam that has lines on it 4 inches apart. I put 3 sheets on at a time and cut using the razor blade knife. I cut all the pieces that I will need at the same time.
3. Place an egg at the bottom of a strip and roll it. When I get to the end of the strip, I take a piece of scotch tape 2"-3" long and tape the bubble wrap so it doesn't come undone.
4. I usually roll several eggs at a time. Then I fold ober the ends of the eggs and tape them too.
5. This is a big shipment so I double box them. If I do not double box, I use a big priority box and put crumpled newspaper pr shredded paper in the bottom and then lay a sheet of newspaper on top of it forming a depression to make a nest. For double boxing, choose a box that will fit inside the outside box (medium flat rate boxes work well) and put shredded paper/big bubble wrap on the bottom.
6. Lay the eggs in the box. In the past I have stood the eggs up so the pointed end was down but have been getting better hatches when they are laid on their side. Do not put the eggs within 1" to 1 1/2 " of the narrow end of the box since these will be close to the sides of the outside box. Place some more shredded paper on this layer and place more eggs on top. Really pack the shredded paper into the ends as this is the part of the box most likely to receive damage.After all of your eggs are in the box, make sure you have plenty of shredded paper on the top and seal the box. I like it best if the boxes are bulging.
7. Get your outer box and write what ever you are going to write on it. Then tape the bottom with packing tape.
8. This box was getting an ice pack so I put a piece of styrofoam in the bottom. Otherwise I use Big Bubble Bubble Wrap of crumpled newspaper on the bottom. I like the styrofoam because it adds more support to the box. I also put a liece of styrofoam on each side of the box and cut a piece for the top, If not using the styrofoan, I put crumpled paper or shredded paper between the two boxes. I make suire to really pack the paper in the corners as that is where I see the most damage.
9. Seal the box and label it for shipping. Just a little hint, you save money on shipping if you print your shipping labels off the USPS web site or Pay Pal. You also get the delivery confirmation free. I have found that 95% of the time it is cheaper to use the priority box over the flat rate box. Notice this box is also bulging. There were 36 eggs in this shipment. One had a slight ding.
There are foam shippers that can be used but I have had the best luck with shipping this way I also have individually bubble wrapped eggs and put them in a cut apart egg carton and taped this shut.
No matter how well you pack, there will still occasionally be times that you get cracked eggs. Most sellers send extra eggs just in case this happens.
Getting your shipped eggs
1. Unpack your eggs and put them in an egg carton.
2. In hot weather, I put them directly in the incubator but they do not get turned for 3-4 days I have found that sitting longer than that causes a greater number of quitters. Sitting less than that causes poor development. In cool weather I may allow the eggs to sit for 48 hours before putting them in the incubator.
Good luck and happy hatching!
Before Shipping:
It is very important to choose the best eggs to ship, as well as store these eggs correctly.
1. Choose eggs that are normal. Do not ship eggs that are odd shaped (torpedo eggs, double yolkers, round, ect.)
2. Choose eggs that are clean and free from debris. DO NOT wash eggs that will be shipped This removes the protective coating on the eggs that prevents the entry of bacteria. If the egg needs to be washed, it probably should not be shipped.
3. Only send fresh eggs Eggs that are 3 days old or fresher should be fine to ship. As the eggs get older, the less viable they become. Often eggs that are older become scrambled or the air cell breaks loose.
4. Store the eggs properly. Do not refrigerate them unless you have a special refrigerator set up that stays between 50 degrees and 60 degrees. The eggs should be turned several times a day. If I have an egg turner not being used, I put the eggs in there.
5 It doesn't hurt to candle the eggs before packing to make sure the eggs do not have weak spots in the shells, blood spots, or misplaced air cells.
Packing Eggs:
Before you even begin packing your eggs, you need to determine what size box you will need. You can get free Priority Boxes from USPS online. These will be shipped right to your door and you will usually have them in less than a week. The ONLY time I reuse a box is if I am am double boxing and I reuse it for the inside box. The outside box is beat around quite a bit so a new box is desired for the outside box.
Materials needed for packing
1. New Bubble Wrap
2. Shredded paper, crumpled newspaper, packing peanuts
3. Razor blade knire
4 Scotch Tape
5 Packing Tape
Packing
1. Start with NEW bubble wrap I get big rolls from Walmart for $15 per roll They also have small rolls for about $7. These are perforated so you get 12" by 12" sheets.
2. I am able to wrap 3 chicken eggs per sheet Tear of enough for the batch of eggs that you are shipping. Place them on a cutting board/piece of styrofoam that has lines on it 4 inches apart. I put 3 sheets on at a time and cut using the razor blade knife. I cut all the pieces that I will need at the same time.
3. Place an egg at the bottom of a strip and roll it. When I get to the end of the strip, I take a piece of scotch tape 2"-3" long and tape the bubble wrap so it doesn't come undone.
4. I usually roll several eggs at a time. Then I fold ober the ends of the eggs and tape them too.
5. This is a big shipment so I double box them. If I do not double box, I use a big priority box and put crumpled newspaper pr shredded paper in the bottom and then lay a sheet of newspaper on top of it forming a depression to make a nest. For double boxing, choose a box that will fit inside the outside box (medium flat rate boxes work well) and put shredded paper/big bubble wrap on the bottom.
6. Lay the eggs in the box. In the past I have stood the eggs up so the pointed end was down but have been getting better hatches when they are laid on their side. Do not put the eggs within 1" to 1 1/2 " of the narrow end of the box since these will be close to the sides of the outside box. Place some more shredded paper on this layer and place more eggs on top. Really pack the shredded paper into the ends as this is the part of the box most likely to receive damage.After all of your eggs are in the box, make sure you have plenty of shredded paper on the top and seal the box. I like it best if the boxes are bulging.
7. Get your outer box and write what ever you are going to write on it. Then tape the bottom with packing tape.
8. This box was getting an ice pack so I put a piece of styrofoam in the bottom. Otherwise I use Big Bubble Bubble Wrap of crumpled newspaper on the bottom. I like the styrofoam because it adds more support to the box. I also put a liece of styrofoam on each side of the box and cut a piece for the top, If not using the styrofoan, I put crumpled paper or shredded paper between the two boxes. I make suire to really pack the paper in the corners as that is where I see the most damage.
9. Seal the box and label it for shipping. Just a little hint, you save money on shipping if you print your shipping labels off the USPS web site or Pay Pal. You also get the delivery confirmation free. I have found that 95% of the time it is cheaper to use the priority box over the flat rate box. Notice this box is also bulging. There were 36 eggs in this shipment. One had a slight ding.
There are foam shippers that can be used but I have had the best luck with shipping this way I also have individually bubble wrapped eggs and put them in a cut apart egg carton and taped this shut.
No matter how well you pack, there will still occasionally be times that you get cracked eggs. Most sellers send extra eggs just in case this happens.
Getting your shipped eggs
1. Unpack your eggs and put them in an egg carton.
2. In hot weather, I put them directly in the incubator but they do not get turned for 3-4 days I have found that sitting longer than that causes a greater number of quitters. Sitting less than that causes poor development. In cool weather I may allow the eggs to sit for 48 hours before putting them in the incubator.
Good luck and happy hatching!
