Adventures in Incubating Shipped Eggs

[Knighstar679]

I should be hatching eggs in July if all goes well. I got 10 nice eggs shipped to me I think they looked nice to me. I could sure use a second set of eyes on it.

I set them in an incubator with no turner today because they seemed to be more developed than planned. I did let them settle for about 7 or 8 hours before putting them in the incubator.

These are my first real set of eggs that I am hoping to have a clue on.
Thoughts?

 

[Cerise1924]

I should be hatching eggs in July if all goes well. I got 10 nice eggs shipped to me I think they looked nice to me. I could sure use a second set of eyes on it.

I set them in an incubator with no turner today because they seemed to be more developed than planned. I did let them settle for about 7 or 8 hours before putting them in the incubator.

These are my first real set of eggs that I am hoping to have a clue on.
Thoughts?

Great photos! Thanks for sharing. So far, it looks like you are off to a fine start. The air cells are a moderate size and nicely shaped.

Question: did the air cells stay fairly stable at the big end of the egg, or were any of them 'detached,' sliding along the side of the egg freely when the egg is tipped?

Good luck with your incubation, and keep us posted! Happy to be hatching with you.

 

[Knighstar679]

Great photos! Thanks for sharing. So far, it looks like you are off to a fine start. The air cells are a moderate size and nicely shaped.

Question: did the air cells stay fairly stable at the big end of the egg, or were any of them 'detached,' sliding along the side of the egg freely when the egg is tipped?

Good luck with your incubation, and keep us posted! Happy to be hatching with you.

Only one or two had air sacs that where not positioned right at the top part of the egg when i did the first candle looking for cracks. They had only a slightly oblong shape to one or two of them as well. I was surprised to see that all of them had gone to a nice top position and looked non oblong or saddle shape by the time I candled late last night. So i am hopeful with this set. I have one more set coming. Last time I did have some saddle shaped from this person and detached cells but they too had started developing in shipment. So I didn't get to rest them as long as I wanted.

 

[Morrigan]

Shipped eggs are set:
-Four Buff Brahmas
-Four Speckled Sussex
-Four Dominiques
-Two Isabella Leghorns (lavender!)

They arrived in pretty good shape, with small air cells - indicating they are fresh. No cells are detached, and just one shows a slight saddle shape. Half of the eggs are porous, but I've hatched porous eggs without a problem.

I let them sit upright in an egg carton for about six hours, then set them upright in the incubator with the turner disengaged. I'll lay them down and start the turner in a few days.

One egg has no visible air cell and is completely symmetrical - no big end detected. Have you had eggs like that? I just lay that one on its side.

Hatch date is July 11. Anyone else hatching shipped eggs in July?

How exciting! I'm looking forward to hearing how your hatch goes this time around.

I wish I was hatching in July! But no more hatching for me, unless I have a hen go broody to raise them for me. As much fun as it's been to watch the little guys (and hopefully some gals) in the brooder, it's a fairly time-intensive commitment and I would like to be able to take a camping trip some point this summer. Can't quite figure out a way to bring the chicks with me.

 

[Morrigan]

Only one or two had air sacs that where not positioned right at the top part of the egg when i did the first candle looking for cracks. They had only a slightly oblong shape to one or two of them as well. I was surprised to see that all of them had gone to a nice top position and looked non oblong or saddle shape by the time I candled late last night. So i am hopeful with this set. I have one more set coming. Last time I did have some saddle shaped from this person and detached cells but they too had started developing in shipment. So I didn't get to rest them as long as I wanted.

That sounds promising.

 

[Morrigan]

Here are my wee one's this morning. Yes, one of the "leftover" marans is a runt. It's really bonded to the Blue/buff columbian orpington. The biggest and littlest ones.

 

[Sara L]

Here are my wee one's this morning. Yes, one of the "leftover" marans is a runt. It's really bonded to the Blue/buff columbian orpington. The biggest and littlest ones.

View attachment 1439101

Such cuties!

 

[NNYchick]

Why would a seller tell someone not to candle eggs before or during incubation?

 

[Cerise1924]

How exciting! I'm looking forward to hearing how your hatch goes this time around.

I wish I was hatching in July! But no more hatching for me, unless I have a hen go broody to raise them for me. As much fun as it's been to watch the little guys (and hopefully some gals) in the brooder, it's a fairly time-intensive commitment and I would like to be able to take a camping trip some point this summer. Can't quite figure out a way to bring the chicks with me.

lol, I took chickens with me when I relocated from California to Washington. The hens were in crates at the back of the car, and I took them out to forage at rest stops. It was a four day trip, and each they each laid an egg a day in the car! I can't imagine taking crazy little chicks camping, though.

 

[Cerise1924]

Here are my wee one's this morning. Yes, one of the "leftover" marans is a runt. It's really bonded to the Blue/buff columbian orpington. The biggest and littlest ones.

View attachment 1439101

Cuuuute!