Buying hatching eggs

[justin24]

i have always ordered assortment and received clean, labeled eggs in good condition. the 6 were my very first attempt at hatching so i’m sure the loss of the 2 could have been partially my fault. i successfully hatched a welsummer,buff orpington,black australorp,and a speckled sussex all of which are healthy and happy in the outside coop now! the 9 incubating now are on day 10 and only 1 rir looked to not be developing at day 7 candling. will update on that hatch around Christmas. (they are EE,BA,RIR,BR,andBO.)

Thanks for the update I will be watching for the update

 

[ChickenLeg]

Don't you just love it when things work out?

Always glad to help chicken friends

 

[Cyprus]

I'm thinking about ordering chicks or hatching eggs from them next season because I've had poor experience with small breeders mailing eggs.

 

[justin24]

I'm thinking about ordering chicks or hatching eggs from them next season because I've had poor experience with small breeders mailing eggs.

I order chicks from Myer they were pretty great

 

[Cyprus]

I order chicks from Myer they were pretty great

So I hear. I'm looking for specific colors of certain breeds :/

 

[mandelyn]

I've received well over a 100 eggs in the mail over the years. It's hit or miss, sometimes it's the seller, the birds, the shipping... all it does is compound what could go wrong. You're as likely to have a good hatch as you are to have a bad hatch. I've had duck eggs from Washington State arrive and hatch at 80%. Quail eggs from Texas popping out like popcorn. Chickens from all over, 30% to 70%+, versus local eggs with 0%. It can be a great tool to get in birds that are not easily found.

I'll never use shipped eggs for a breed I can get locally. I won't use shipped eggs to get the same kind of birds I can get from a hatchery. I only order in eggs if I'm not finding any elsewhere and I'm not looking to spend $20+ per day old chicken. Then I turn to a private breeder with a good reputation and get the the eggs from the best flock I can find. While keeping in the back of my mind what time of year it is, in terms of peak fertility, likely condition of breeder birds, frequency of laying, weather during transit.... so many variables...

I've learned to be patient and to wait if it's needed to get what I'm looking for. Hatching eggs are so much cheaper than chicks because they're not chicks... they're eggs that may or may not hatch. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Chicken lottery!

One time, I ordered 28 straight run chicks and only got 5 roosters!! That'll never happen again. LOL

 

[Compost King]

I have received 2 shipments from Shadygrove Farm in West Virginia and had great results both shipments. I have never had more than 1 chicken hatch from everyone else I ordered eggs from. I have even gotten a different breed than advertised from some. Not sure if the path to get here (West Virginia to NC) goes through gentle hands or if their packing method is superior. But 2 hatches in a row with about half the eggs hatching is impressive. Their packaging was simple but very effective.

 

[MillersFarm]

I strongly advise* against ordering hatching eggs from MPC. Don't get me wrong, I only order my birds from them, But the price for their hatching eggs is insanely expensive! Their "Show" birds aren't that good quality for the price their asking for. And they don't guarantee that their eggs will even hatch. I would look for hatching eggs on ebay instead for way cheaper and more eggs.

 

[MillersFarm]

So I hear. I'm looking for specific colors of certain breeds :/

\
Cackle hatchery just added a tone of new breeds to their stock, Some i've never even knew about. I'd give it a look if you're looking for certain colors/breeds most hatcheries don't carry.

 

[Cyprus]

I strongly advice against ordering hatching eggs from MPC. Don't get me wrong, I only order my birds from them, But the price for their hatching eggs is insanely expensive! Their "Show" birds aren't that good quality for the price their asking for. And they don't guarantee that their eggs will even hatch. I would look for hatching eggs on ebay instead for way cheaper and more eggs.

EBay is far more likely to incorrectly advertise breeds.