Cracked eggs received in shipping - okay to incubate or toss?

[koturnix]

Hi all! After some postage delay I finally received some ebay eggs packed really poorly (odd since the seller had such glowing reviews).

25 eggs bought - 17 cracked/broken.

So I don't know when these were cracked - whether at the beginning of their journey or right before they arrived. I've seen posts recommending using nail polish to seal up and hatch as normal but unsure if these are salvageable?

Is the nail polish/wax method only good if the egg was cracked recently (say within 5-10 mins as opposed to 1-5 days ago) ?

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

Use nail polish and let the eggs set upright for 24 hours before you place them in the incubator, also have them upright in the incubator

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Personally, I candle before I set eggs. That's what I look for, shell integrity. I feed those to my pigs.
So I cannot endorse the use of damaged goods. Sorry.

 

[oregonkat]

Hi all! After some postage delay I finally received some ebay eggs packed really poorly (odd since the seller had such glowing reviews).

25 eggs bought - 17 cracked/broken.

So I don't know know when these were cracked - whether at the beginning of their journey or right before they arrived. I've seen posts recommending using nail polish to seal up and hatch as normal but unsure if these are salvageable?

Is the nail polish/wax method only good if the egg was cracked recently (say within 5-10 mins as opposed to 1-5 days ago) ?

Did you get in touch with the ebay seller? If they are worth anything, they will work with you on replacing eggs due to the damage. Some folks don't of course, but it is worth a try. Did you photo the box and the broken eggs?
Anyway, if the membrane is compromised on any of them, toss them. You are just asking for trouble down the incubation line, with possible bacterial infection etc. I don't incubate cracked eggs at all but folks here do. I dont know the time limit on the wax method. I will tag some folks who may be able to offer further advice: @WVduckchick, @aart, @azygous, @Pyxis any advice for this OP?

 

[koturnix]

Did you get in touch with the ebay seller? If they are worth anything, they will work with you on replacing eggs due to the damage. Some folks don't of course, but it is worth a try. Did you photo the box and the broken eggs?
Anyway, if the membrane is compromised on any of them, toss them. You are just asking for trouble down the incubation line, with possible bacterial infection etc. I don't incubate cracked eggs at all but folks here do. I dont know the time limit on the wax method. I will tag some folks who may be able to offer further advice: @WVduckchick, @aart, @azygous, @Pyxis any advice for this OP?

Yes, I took photos and messaged them. The damage was definitely from bad packaging as the eggs were placed on foam and wrapped in plastic clingwrap loosely, causing them to fly around inside the box willy nilly I don't expect a refund or replacement eggs since this is ebay but I will not be buying any more eggs from this seller.

 

[azygous]

I absolutely agree with @oregonkat that cracked eggs should be tossed out. Even a single bacteria could have gotten into those eggs, multiplied like crazy under the mild temps they were exposed to, and any embryos can be affected.

 

[oregonkat]

Yes, I took photos and messaged them. The damage was definitely from bad packaging as the eggs were placed on foam and wrapped in plastic clingwrap loosely, causing them to fly around inside the box willy nilly I don't expect a refund or replacement eggs since this is ebay but I will not be buying any more eggs from this seller.

That is some of the worst packaging I have seen in a long time!!. Has the seller responded to you about it? You can apply a little pressure here and make sure that they understand that bad feedback and word of mouth on a site like BYC can do some serious damage to their reputation, on the other hand good customer service and some acknowledgment of their total failure with this can also go a long way to helping a reputation. Hopefully you will at least get some money back.

 

[koturnix]

That is some of the worst packaging I have seen in a long time!!. Has the seller responded to you about it? You can apply a little pressure here and make sure that they understand that bad feedback and word of mouth on a site like BYC can do some serious damage to their reputation, on the other hand good customer service and some acknowledgment of their total failure with this can also go a long way to helping a reputation. Hopefully you will at least get some money back.

I'll say! Was really horrified when I unboxed - the broken eggs stank up the box not to mention whoever packed it left feces on some eggs (not tiny dried specs, but full on clump as if they couldn't be bothered to clean it off as they were in such a hurry to pack...).

Seller said they sent a refund, I haven't gotten email notification yet so we'll see...
They have 100% positive reviews so perhaps this was a fluke?

 

[WVduckchick]

I would hope for a fluke, because if that's their normal, they will never make any money.

I've tried paper medical tape on my own eggs and got a few eggs to develop for quite some time, but i think only one taped egg has ever hatched for me. I would not recommend the wax as that was the first thing I tried and it just melted off. Maybe I did it wrong.
If you want to experiment, you could try multiple things! (sadly)

Don't bother with any poopy ones.

 

[FishMtFarm]

Yikes! That is an awful sight to see. Hopefully they fallow thru with the refund cause judging by the eggs being all thrown around under that wrap job, definately the sellers fault in poor packing.