Bubble-wrap & Other Hatching Experiment.

[fancbrd4me02]

This got started in another thread, but long story short I am going to experiment a bit with the possible effects (if any) of bubble wrap or other wrapping materails on hatchability. Suggestions welcome.

Paganbird, the bubble-wrapped eggs you are sending will be a bonus to the experiment, although in the sake of scientific analysis I can only use them to supplement my findings as I plan to use all of the same eggs from the same birds collected at the same time of day, etc. to make the experiment fair. I know some have mentioned that the embryos don't need oxygen, and that's probably true, but I wonder about things like moisture, bacterial growth in a plastic bag enviorment, other hidden factors that could change hatchability. I plan to wrap eggs in different materials as well, and it may take a few "batches to get any reliable findings. For instance, if I set several samples and something goes wrong with temp, it would change my outcome. I plan to try the experiment several times to get good verifiable results. If anyone has suggestions for how they think I should conduct this experiment or thinks of any variables I might not have thought of, let me know.

 

[speckledhen]

There are too many factors, including shell quality, health of the parent stock, post office's handling, genetics, etc. to really get reliable enough findings to say that packing methods are the cause of any egg not hatching. In scientific experiments, all factors must be exactly the same except for the one you are testing and that is near impossible with an egg, but good luck with your hatch!

I've always packed with bubblewrap and many have had over 90% hatches with my shipped eggs. Varies a lot.

 

[lemurchaser]

To make it a valid experiment you need to collect all the eggs, randomize them, wrap them for shipping. Then let them sit on your counter for 3 days and then put all in the same incubator (mixed up, so that you don't have all of the bubble wrapped ones on the hot side of the bator for example) and see what hatches. If they are hatched at different times then the incubator variability is much more likely to affect your hatch. If they are shipped, then the variability of handling is most likely to affect your hatch.

 

[Chic Chick]

This experiment is just basically with your own eggs and not using all eggs that are shipped to you by mail right? Are you planning to incubate them in these different materials or just store them before incubating? Just so I understand what you are trying to do. What all are you going to wrap them in?

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I agree Cyn....there are just too many variables to blame not hatching on the materials used to ship.

Quote:
There is no embryo in an egg that hasn't been incubated, that is why there is no need for oxygen until the incubation process has started.

 

[panner123]

Many factors to reconsider, unless you own an airplane, you will lose one cause. But forgetting that, you must take the eggs place them in your car and drive them around, without any heat. Kick them around a few times then throw them on the ground a few times, then kick then again. Do this for 2 days then place them in the bator. Remember the P O DOES NOT care that the eggs are in the package and they are ruff with them. This is the reason they will not insure shipments of eggs.