Bought my first hatching eggs from the BYC! Yay

[FlChickie]

Today I made my first purchase on the BYC, I've been a lurker and windowshopper for a while now, never seem to have the time or money to bid on an auction or buy something. Today the stars finally aligned for me and I bought 18 eggs some Cayuga, muscovy, and runner eggs! I'm so excited, people here at work think I'm crazy, but I just can't wait to hear back and find out when they are going to be shipped. I'm hoping for more Cayuga eggs than anything, I love them! I'm getting a Trio of breeders tomorrow and I have just fallen in love with the breed.
I haven't been able to find any local sellers and I don't want to settle for just ok, I wanted SQ birds. I guess that's what I get for being picky. So I'm happy to finally find some.

I had to share my happiness, since I know there are people here that would understand my joy and not look at me like I have a third eye.

I blame my husband for starting my duck love. I brought home 5 pekins that were suppose to just go into the stew pot, but he thought they were just so funny that he wanted to keep them, he hates my chickens, but loves the ducks. So we ended up keeping the 5 pekins and just hatched 2 pekin ducklings and are planning on more once they start laying again.

On a side note, is there any reccomendations on checking the eggs when they arrive or should I just rest them and then put them in the incubator. This is my first dealing with shipped eggs and I want to make sure I get the best hatch rate possible.

Ok I'm done

 

[JulieNKC]

Good luck with your hatch!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
X2, can't help with the question about the eggs though.

 

[duckyfromoz]

What a wonderful sounding Hubby you have!!!


Hatch rates can be low with shipped eggs, I have heard it said here in Australia that to get 2-3 out of a dozen is all you should count on- anything else is a bonus ( thanks to our GREAT postal workers! ) i havent hatched posted eggs foe a few years- but had mixed results from mine. Only 1 from a particular shipment hatched but 9 from 12 eggs shipped from somewhere else and set at the same time hatched.
Here are some tips for you .


Candle the eggs before setting them. Look for tiny cracks- and dont set any that are damaged. Check the air cell- it may be moving around alot in some after transport. But also look at the size of them. The larger the aircell- the older the egg. Hopefully the seller has only shipped fresh eggs.
Many people find that they get better hatch results when the eggs are laid on their sides and turned rather than upright in a turner.

Good luck..

 

[anderson8505]

Good luck with your hatch, neighbor!

I have 7/8 fertile shipped eggs, and they all made it to lockdown. I also have received only 3 of 8 fertile and only one is still kicking. Follow advice and instructions and do your best!

 

[jdywntr]

Hi neighbor to my north.

Good luck with your eggs, I've never incubated. You'll be able to find a lot of info here though. Remember to keep those little peepers warm since its finally feeling like fall down here.