Chicks dying at time of hatching.

[NNYchick]

I've never had any shipped eggs but I've read tons of posts about how they are notorious for detached air cells no matter how well they are shipped. I've been considering getting some duck eggs as I really am wanting to add some more Welsh Harlequins. I will be using an incubator to hatch them though. Everything I've read says to store them upright for the first 48 hours after receiving them to allow the air cell to settle. You have a much better chance of the air cells reattaching if they are hatched upright.

Yes everything I have read too says let sit up right at room temp. for 24hrs and incubate upright not turning for 1st 3 days to allow the air cells a chance to reattach. It was just too much to deal with and I ended up spending a lot of money and did not get any of the variety of chicks I ordered (only the extras sent from a different breeding pen are the ones that hatched). I was sent 18, 12 developed to lock down and 6 hatched but one has a sever leg deformity and one died after hatching and it had cross beak. I never have these issues when I hatch my own eggs.

 

[NNYchick]

I

if you were me do you think I should get more than 6 eggs? Since they're shipped and things go wrong? I was thinking maybe getting 6 silkies and 10 mille fleurs. but if 8/10 of them hatch that's a lot of new chickens I'll be getting I already have 6. Hmmmm

A good hatch rate for shipped eggs is considered 30% anything over that is very wishful thinking.

 

[auroaSfarm]

A good hatch rate for shipped eggs is considered 30% anything over that is very wishful thinking.

I was promised 75% hatch rate. I guess it depends from the Persons packaging skills and my P.O

 

[Jbently28]

A good hatch rate for shipped eggs is considered 30% anything over that is very wishful thinking.

That's the only reason I haven't ordered any eggs myself. My hens give me a constant supply of fertilized eggs if I choose to let them hatch them for me. And as for more Welsh Harlequin ducks, my duck should be giving me some fertilized eggs of her own come spring. I might just have to be patient lol

 

[NNYchick]

I was promised 75% hatch rate. I guess it depends from the Persons packaging skills and my P.O

Hmm, most breeder have a disclosure that they are not responsible for hatch rate as they have no control over the handling of the eggs by USPS or your incubation practices. It has nothing to do with your PO as they pass through may hands before they reach you, being put in back of trucks with no air conditioning, being x rayed, changes in altitude. all kinds of things.

 

[NNYchick]

@dayers1109 I am so sorry this thread got onto another topic, I hope you got the answer you were looking for to you question.