Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[AlleysChicks]

I had around 50 shipped eggs and only 1 hatched. Most made it to lockdown or right before lockdown.

It’s not my incubators because I currently have 6 chicks from my eggs in there now with more on the way.

 

[Morrigan]

I had around 50 shipped eggs and only 1 hatched. Most made it to lockdown or right before lockdown.

It’s not my incubators because I currently have 6 chicks from my eggs in there now with more on the way.

Seem like something was deeply wrong with the genetics. Where did you get your eggs?

 

[AlleysChicks]

Seem like something was deeply wrong with the genetics. Where did you get your eggs?

From 3 different breeders. Some came from Florida and the rest from Virginia.

 

[Morrigan]

From 3 different breeders. Some came from Florida and the rest from Virginia.

Maybe it was rough shipping then. I've heard people talk about 0% hatches where the eggs had to pass through certain postal hubs.

I'm very nervous for my upcoming hatch.

 

[Cerise1924]

I always hatch with eggs on their side. The one time I tried to hatch shipped eggs upright I lost 3/5 to them piping at the wrong end.

I always set them on their side at lockdown, and I make sure the 'dip' in the air cell is on top, as that is where they are likely to pip.

https://i2.wp.com/www.peelridgestud...6/01/7c9e82ef-2a04-4a89-841a-958d71b95e04.jpg

 

[Cerise1924]

Maybe it was rough shipping then. I've heard people talk about 0% hatches where the eggs had to pass through certain postal hubs.

I'm very nervous for my upcoming hatch.

I have a good feeling about your hatch.

When I had low hatch rates from shipped eggs, the eggs always quit fairly early, or never developed at all. On all my shipped eggs, I've had about a 90-100% hatch rate from eggs that make it to Day 14. Then again, I do assist stuck chicks, if needed.

The only 'defect' from my assisted birds is in a beloved Marans hen, Callisto, whose beak curves slightly to one side. It doesn't impede or bother her in the least.

This is where I part ways with advice from Texas A&M and other who say 'never assist a chick, because it will have problems and isn't worth saving.' I understand that those who are breeding for perfection may not want to save an imperfect chick, but I love this hen! She is a 'project' Marans from Papa's Poultry. The egg was labeled "LAV," but I'm told she is something else. Mottled/Spangled?

 

[Cerise1924]

I had around 50 shipped eggs and only 1 hatched. Most made it to lockdown or right before lockdown.

It’s not my incubators because I currently have 6 chicks from my eggs in there now with more on the way.

I am so sorry to hear this. How disappointing! I don't know if you do 'eggtopsies' (I don't), but perhaps this info can help figure out what happened: https://extension.illinois.edu/eggs/res24-00.html
Is there any chance there was a temporary power outtage that you were unaware of?

 

[adtillma1]

Here is some encouragement for shipped eggs.....don't give up when you think "well they haven't hatched yet!".......I had 13 shipped eggs and one hatched on day 21 (which was Tuesday) just on schedule. I though I might leave the others in for a few more days and I did. Yesterday I went home thinking I would probably turn off the incubator last night. Well I got home and one of the other eggs had pipped...so leave it on I did. I just stopped by the house to check on the egg that was in process of hatching (but taking its' own sweet time) and low and behold a total different egg that we hadn't even noticed had pipped had hatched in 3 hours. So I guess I just won't give up for another day or so.

 

[Cerise1924]

I also found this chart, which I find to be especially helpful, as it breaks down incubation troubleshooting by when the eggs fail. It's colour coded: yellow for infertile eggs, green for early quitters (1st 3 days), red for mid to late quitters (day 4-lockdown) and blue for losses during lockdown and hatching.

It does line up with my experience with shipped eggs, showing that rough handling results in early quitters rather than late.
http://animalsciencey.ucdavis.edu/avian/pfs33.htm


-Cerise

 

[Cerise1924]

Here is some encouragement for shipped eggs.....don't give up when you think "well they haven't hatched yet!".......I had 13 shipped eggs and one hatched on day 21 (which was Tuesday) just on schedule. I though I might leave the others in for a few more days and I did. Yesterday I went home thinking I would probably turn off the incubator last night. Well I got home and one of the other eggs had pipped...so leave it on I did. I just stopped by the house to check on the egg that was in process of hatching (but taking its' own sweet time) and low and behold a total different egg that we hadn't even noticed had pipped had hatched in 3 hours. So I guess I just won't give up for another day or so.

I have heard of eggs hatching on Day 25. Thanks for this important reminder!