Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[CSAchook]

Look what Day 21 brought!! My sweet little Sebright, Firefly, hatched that lone remaining Lemon Orpington egg from Papa's Poultry. I am totally delighted. All the anxiety over a poor hatch goes away when there is even one little fluffy cutie. So glad I gave that viable egg to my new broody. That would have been a lonely chick in an incubator.

But then again, Firefly herself was a sole hatchling, and lived as a house chicken for the first five weeks, riding on my shoulder and perching on my monitor. I think that's why she's let me hand feed her and check under her while she was brooding. We are very close, just because she was a lone chick. I think she'll be a great mama.
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Perfection. Absolute perfection. Congrats to you and Firefly!

 

[EastIndie]

So, today I set 15 eggs from Papa's Poultry. 5 Lavender Maran, and 8 assorted Orpington mixes. Now the wait begins.

I've always hatched my "own" eggs from my backyard flock before, but I wanted some new blood in the flock, and I couldn't find a seller I liked within driving distance. I settled on Papas Poultry because they had orpington and marans, and they were only 400 miles away, so I thought that would be less shipping stress.

I got them yesterday and unpacked them. They were really, really well packed and there were no broken or cracked eggs. Yay! I candled them and to be honest, it was rough. Four of the air sacs were quite large, which makes me think the might be old eggs. (3 of the eggs were free-bees, so I really can't complain). A couple more were detached. One yolk looked scrambled. I couldn't even find the air sacs on others. The maran eggs remain a deeply shrouded mystery, except that one was very porous.

Whelp, I knew I was taking some chances, so after letting them settle over night, I put them in the incubator this afternoon, point side down. My plan is not turn on the auto-turner until day 3, so they can settle some more. Then, I'm going to wait until day 5 before candling them. I don't want to introduce any more movement into these poor eggs then I have to. The humidity is set for 40, but it tends to bounce around between the high 30s to low 40s.

If I get 6 to hatch I will be THRILLED! Here is my set-up. I'll keep you posted. Any "hatching shipped eggs" stories would be greatly appreciated, as I'm going stir crazy right now!

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I tried to hatch two dozen Mille Fleur D’uccle eggs from an online seller. Out of 24 only 8 hatched-not great at all. We have had good results with our own eggs though.

 

[TotallyShellyTurtle]

Read this post by @lazy gardener

Thank you!!!!

 

[ronott1]

Hoping for a good hatch!

 

[Morrigan]

Look what Day 21 brought!! My sweet little Sebright, Firefly, hatched that lone remaining Lemon Orpington egg from Papa's Poultry. I am totally delighted. All the anxiety over a poor hatch goes away when there is even one little fluffy cutie. So glad I gave that viable egg to my new broody. That would have been a lonely chick in an incubator.

But then again, Firefly herself was a sole hatchling, and lived as a house chicken for the first five weeks, riding on my shoulder and perching on my monitor. I think that's why she's let me hand feed her and check under her while she was brooding. We are very close, just because she was a lone chick. I think she'll be a great mama.
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What a cutie!

So happy your Lemon hatched.

 

[Colly1470]

Goslings! That is such a fun word. Goslings, goslings. Now I'm impatient to see them, too! Please post gosling pics.

If I manage to have any of them hatch, I will.

 

[WVduckchick]

I know we discussed eggs from Papas earlier in the thread, but I would let him know about your experience. Especially if @Cerise1924 is having issues as well. The more people who let him know that they are having hatching issues the more likely he will be to do something about it. I guess it is entirely possible that his inventory is heavy but his reputation is going to go straight down the ol' flusher if hatching percentages drop significantly.

x2. I would have excess eggs right now too, but I have just been leaving some with broodies for a few days, then toss some of them a few days later. unless I have an order for eggs. But I would never ever sell old eggs. Do they date them with the day they were laid? Maybe a mixed up rotation?

Looks like this. It has several holes on the top for heat & humidity to rise/escape from, and for ventilation. The red plugs can be removed to help release humidity if needed.

Absolutely agree with @KikisGirls and the post from LG. Throw those little red things in the trash.

Look what Day 21 brought!! My sweet little Sebright, Firefly, hatched that lone remaining Lemon Orpington egg from Papa's Poultry. I am totally delighted. All the anxiety over a poor hatch goes away when there is even one little fluffy cutie. So glad I gave that viable egg to my new broody. That would have been a lonely chick in an incubator.

But then again, Firefly herself was a sole hatchling, and lived as a house chicken for the first five weeks, riding on my shoulder and perching on my monitor. I think that's why she's let me hand feed her and check under her while she was brooding. We are very close, just because she was a lone chick. I think she'll be a great mama.
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I remember Firefly from the sebright thread. (I no longer have my sebrights). Glad she is still doing well. Adorable baby!! Congrats

 

[WVduckchick]

I know this isn't a broody hatching thread, but we all love pics, right?
All taken today. Lots of new babies at my place, and still a few to go.
These are all seramas, still waiting on a few bantam cochins and a couple OEGBs.
Oh, i locked down my incubator eggs last night. See a little drawdown happening tonight.

I actually assisted the black chick in the first pic. It pipped but momma had left it. I opened it, head was above wing. It wouldn't have made it. But it hatched and I returned it to her.

 

[Cerise1924]

I know this isn't a broody hatching thread, but we all love pics, right?
All taken today. Lots of new babies at my place, and still a few to go.
These are all seramas, still waiting on a few bantam cochins and a couple OEGBs.
Oh, i locked down my incubator eggs last night. See a little drawdown happening tonight.
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I actually assisted the black chick in the first pic. It pipped but momma had left it. I opened it, head was above wing. It wouldn't have made it. But it hatched and I returned it to her.

Incredibly, amazingly cute!! Thank you for sharing those lovely pics.
You remember Firefly from over a year ago? WVduckchick, not only are you wonderfully well informed and supportive, you have an amazing memory.
-Cerise

 

[TotallyShellyTurtle]

Can't. Lol! I plan to incubate turtle eggs, and I will need those little guys!