dont buy eggs from ebay when for 2 reasons. more inside and pics

[Mrs MIA]

I think it's great that we're pooling our experiences. Yeah, I'm kind of far off the beaten path

but when I started this whole venture I was so enthusiastic about the wide array of breeds I had access to. I guess I had to get to the point where "if nothing changes, nothing's going to change". I'm running out of things to change to try to make my hatches better, so I'm folding and bowing out of the shipped egg hatching. I knew I wouldn't get all the eggs to hatch, but I figured out of 20 eggs I'd at least get enough to start hatching my own next generation. And please... I'm not complaining... well,

maybe a little when I hear about everyone's awesome hatches!

it definitely has been an eye opener for me. I have done everything in Lone Cowboy's post, including hatching in a carton, using an auto turner, etc... the only thing is that I only let the eggs sit about 6-8 hours before setting them. If the airsac is detached, no amount of time sitting is going to put it, or the yolk sac, back together again. (Hmmm humpty dumpty?) I just hope, that by recounting some of the failures we've had, that someone else won't spend as much time

as I have.

We that only get 0-5% hatch rates on shipped eggs are NOT failures!! We just have to learn when to say "that's enough, no more."
BTW - I've had EXCELLENT hatch rates on shipped quail eggs.

 

[Mycookoonest]

I've done 3 shipped hatches this year (well #3 is in the hatcher). The biggest tip I can give is let them sit when they arrive, put them in a turner, candle once a week, and let them be. Also hatch the same way they've been sitting which would be in an egg carton. If your eggs have a detatched air sac it may be easier for the chick to orientate themselves with the top of the egg if they are still sitting in the same position they've been in.

Take it for what it's worth...
Hatch #1 was 2/12 (I candled a lot) ebay
Hatch #2 was 7/12 (I barely touched them) ebay
Hatch #3 All seem to be good to go, but we'll see how they go they are on day 19... these are from Sundownwaterfowl who lives within 1/2 an hour from me and shipped a short distance... even with the close distance the eggs did have detatched air sacs.

But other than shipping I don't have a good way of getting any other eggs besides mixed birds from my Sister in laws farm.