Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Cerise1924]

Day 8 update.

I carefully inspected my 5 maybe eggs and took a very quick peek at the others.

3 of the maybe eggs were removed. Of those 2 were clears, one was a blood ring. Egg-topsy showed they were all no-gos. All 3 were the Lemon Orp. eggs (kind of an fitting name for them, as it turns out) that I thought were quite old based on the air sacs. I fear the seller was just clearing inventory on these Next time I'm going to ask how old the eggs were.

1, I left in the maybe group. 90% sure I'm seeing a blood ring, but it didn't smell, so it gets another couple of day.

The last one was tentatively moved to the "good" pile -- My last of the Lemons. There is something that looks like a blood ring, but on close inspection, I could see a black dot with veining, so I think it still may be OK.

I took a very quick look at the rest. Sadly, I'm pretty sure I saw another blood ring, so that got moved to the maybe pile to check in a couple of days.

So that leaves me with 10 hopeful eggs left -- 5 orp. eggs and 5 maran eggs. The maran eggs I am still taking largely on faith, although in a couple of them I was able to see some clear movement.

This is a very different experience than hatching backyard eggs, where finding a clear or a quitter is very uncommon.

Are these the Papa's Poultry eggs? I think I got a bad lot from him this time, too. I also had Lemon Orps, and only one looked like it might be viable. I put that one under my broody. The eggs from him all had really big air cells on arrival. I've had great hatches from Papa's in the past, but only one egg from this lot had anything possibly going.

So sorry that you're having such middling to poor results. My eggs that shipped from the farthest breeder (in Missouri) are at 100% success right now, so I am reassured about shipped eggs and having some doubts about Papa's.

-Cerise

 

[Morrigan]

Are these the Papa's Poultry eggs?

Yes they are. I read some really good things about Papas, and the eggs were packaged really well, but I'm thinking he's not turning over inventory fast enough, or willing enough to take eggs off the market when they are over a few days old.

If I get 6 to hatch, I will still be satisfied, as I was planning for a 50% hatch rate when I ordered (if all 15 I received hatched, I'd be in trouble, lol). Still don't like being sold old eggs, however.

 

[Jayellebee]

Day 5 of incubating my shipped eggs. 7 in, 6 having veining! 1 has nothing. I’m pretty happy with the results so far.. but my husband keeps telling me not to count my ducks before they hatch I’ll check again on day 10 and see how it’s going.

 

[Colly1470]

24 days down. I'm going to die of impatience.

The air cells have started to dip down a bit. But these last couple of days have been sooooooo slooooooooooow......

I just want to see my goslings lol.

 

[oregonkat]

Yes they are. I read some really good things about Papas, and the eggs were packaged really well, but I'm thinking he's not turning over inventory fast enough, or willing enough to take eggs off the market when they are over a few days old.

If I get 6 to hatch, I will still be satisfied, as I was planning for a 50% hatch rate when I ordered (if all 15 I received hatched, I'd be in trouble, lol). Still don't like being sold old eggs, however.

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.

 

[Morrigan]

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.

I will give him a report at the conclusion of the the hatch, and let him know about the Lemon's in particular.

 

[Morrigan]

That'a a beautiful looking "spider" you've got there @Jayellebee !

 

[Cerise1924]

24 days down. I'm going to die of impatience.

The air cells have started to dip down a bit. But these last couple of days have been sooooooo slooooooooooow......

I just want to see my goslings lol.

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

 

[oregonkat]

@Jeyellebee, great photo. Text book, well done!

 

[Cerise1924]

That'a a beautiful looking "spider" you've got there @Jayellebee !

Agreed!