Advice for hatching shipped eggs?

[PioneerChicks]

A Faverolle breeder is shipping me a dozen eggs tomorrow. They should arrive in a couple days. Looking for advice!

I have only one incubator (circulated air Hovabator 1588), and an automatic turner that takes up all the bottom space (of course, I take it out for lockdown). If absolutely necessary, I could hire one of my broody hens, but they have already been trying to brood for a while and I don't want them to hurt themselves by trying to hard for too long.

At the same time, I'd like to incubate some eggs from my own yard. Would that work out?

Anyways, I'm a newbie to shipped eggs. Looking for advice and would love step-by-step guidance!

 

[MysteryChicken]

A Faverolle breeder is shipping me a dozen eggs tomorrow. They should arrive in a couple days. Looking for advice!

I have only one incubator (circulated air Hovabator 1588), and an automatic turner that takes up all the bottom space (of course, I take it out for lockdown). If absolutely necessary, I could hire one of my broody hens, but they have already been trying to brood for a while and I don't want them to hurt themselves by trying to hard for too long.

At the same time, I'd like to incubate some eggs from my own yard. Would that work out?

Anyways, I'm a newbie to shipped eggs. Looking for advice and would love step-by-step guidance!

First of all when your eggs arrive, you gotta candle them for cracks, & check for Aircell Damage, jiggly/detached aircells.
After the check up, set them up right with fat end up, in an egg carton for 6-12 hours, or 24hrs to let them settle.

After the resting period you can place them in the incubator. A turner would be useful if the aircells are just jiggly. If they're detached, turn off the turner, & don't turn for a few days. Check after three days. If the aircells are still detached go for a few more days. If you really want to turn the eggs, do gentle rockings, back, & forth for about a week. After this you should be able to use the Turner.

 

[PioneerChicks]

First of all when your eggs arrive, you gotta candle them for cracks, & check for Aircell Damage, jiggly/detached aircells.
After the check up, set them up right with fat end up, in an egg carton for 6-12 hours, or 24hrs to let them settle.

After the resting period you can place them in the incubator. A turner would be useful if the aircells are just jiggly. If they're detached, turn off the turner, & don't turn for a few days. Check after three days. If the aircells are still detached go for a few more days. If you really want to turn the eggs, do gentle rockings, back, & forth for about a week. After this you should be able to use the Turner.

This is super helpful MysteryChicken!

How do I identify aircell damage? If I do have detached aircell problems and don't use the turner for a few days, will the rest of the eggs be fine?

 

[MysteryChicken]

This is super helpful MysteryChicken!

How do I identify aircell damage? If I do have detached aircell problems and don't use the turner for a few days, will the rest of the eggs be fine?

Detached Air cells are free floating, & moves everywhere.

Jiggly aircells jiggle in place, & don't travel.

Ruptured Aircells will be little bubbles floating in the egg. These may, or not make it.


Yes, the eggs will be fine. You can gently rock all the eggs, it won't hurt.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Detached Air cells are free floating, & moves everywhere.

Jiggly aircells jiggle in place, & don't travel.

Ruptured Aircells will be little bubbles floating in the egg. These may, or not make it.


Yes, the eggs will be fine. You can gently rock all the eggs, it won't hurt.

Thank you so much! You make it seem so much simpler than I thought it would be!
I'm glad to be prepared!

 

[Kiki]

I'd recommend setting the eggs the minute they arrive.
It's hot everywhere and the eggs could have already started to develop.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you so much! You make it seem so much simpler than I thought it would be!
I'm glad to be prepared!

You're welcome. Been doing this for years, so having the experience is good for helping those, who are doing this for the first time.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'd recommend setting the eggs the minute they arrive.
It's hot everywhere and the eggs could have already started to develop.

If they have an Air Conditioner, that wouldn't be much of an issue.

 

[007Sean]

If they have an Air Conditioner, that wouldn't be much of an issue.

After traveling in a hot postal truck, the chances of the eggs already starting to develop is great. Letting them 'rest' in an air conditioned environment will kill the developing embryos. It would be best to set the eggs in the incubator, that has been running and has stable temperature, with the turner, 'turned off' for the purposes of resting the eggs.

Living in South Texas, this is the only way to handle shipped eggs due to the heat, even spring can reach into the 90's, in an enclosed postal trailer, the temps can easily reach 110° or 140°F or higher. Even if it only reaches 90°F, inside the trailer for 3 to 4 days (priority mail) while being shipped those eggs will have started to develop.

 

[MysteryChicken]

After traveling in a hot postal truck, the chances of the eggs already starting to develop is great. Letting them 'rest' in an air conditioned environment will kill the developing embryos. It would be best to set the eggs in the incubator, that has been running and has stable temperature, with the turner, 'turned off' for the purposes of resting the eggs.

Living in South Texas, this is the only way to handle shipped eggs due to the heat, even spring can reach into the 90's, in an enclosed postal trailer, the temps can easily reach 110° or 140°F or higher. Even if it only reaches 90°F, inside the trailer for 3 to 4 days (priority mail) while being shipped those eggs will have started to develop.

Okay.