Quote:
Wow, great topic to discuss.
As one poster noted, that's the chance you take with shipped (regarding egg freeze.) Hot weather can be equally brutal if not worse on eggs.
Most important is the eggs should be wrapped in bubble wrap. Not tissue, not newspaper, not put in the box and surrounded with shredded paper.
The best eggs I have gotten with the best hatch rate have been shipped in boxes full of crumbled newspaper, making a 3 inch wall for the wrapped eggs to be put in.
I won't buy from those that continue to sell eggs that are poorly packed. I bought some Wheaten Marans eggs from an award winning bird, from an official in the marans of America crowd.
Very expensive these eggs, 6 for 50$ and they were wrapped in toilet paper. what?!
That tells me the seller does not care. Only one hatched and she never got back to me. Next.....
Poor packing is a way bigger issue than the USPS. Actually, I have had excellent service from the USPS. My PO calls me at 7AM to tell me my eggs are in and come and get them.
My average hatch rate for shipped eggs last year was 50%.
Of the eggs that were properly wrapped in bubble wrap, the hatch was 70% plus.
Having eggs shipped expedited is a good idea. 2 day ship. I like when eggs are shipped on Monday and in my driveway Wednesday.
And those have come from 2500 miles away. It is not good to have the eggs taking 5 days to get to you.
Letting your eggs sit for 24 hours is a good idea. All I can tell you is my hatch average is better with eggs that sit overnight, longer than 8 hours and no more than 24 hours.
I am asking this after having won a bid on e-bay for some barred rocks, guess I should thought of this before I bid, but the thrill of finding some eggs online and auction got the best of me and I bid after about 10 seconds of thought lol! Gonna try my hand at first time incubating.
