ebay egg frustration

[duckluck]

For what it's worth, I plan on being at the Top of Ohio show on June 19 and I should have some purebred, pure colored Butterscotch Call babies along for sale. They are out of a Fuller drake and McCallister(Phelps) hens. Still working on sexing them out now but I should definitely have something for sale there if someone wants to stop by and see me. I know this likely won't help the OP, but just to let you know we breeders of purebreds are out there, we can just be a bit hard to find!

 

[TennesseeTruly]

I have 2 different breeds that I sell on Ebay right now. As for 100% of the eggs not hatching as someone suggested, I'm sure that Holderreads and other places don't have 100% hatch rate either. I don't have 100% hatch rate here on my farm, its about 90%.

I start almost all my duck egg auctions at .99, I don't overexaggerate shipping prices either. Because I both buy and sell on Ebay, I know what its like being ripped off and wanting to supply a good product to my customers. I do the best job I possibly can by getting my eggs out quickly so eggs are fresh.

One of the biggest problems is postal handling but I think improved packing will take care of most of those problems as well.

Laurie

 

[katharinad]

I use this realistic expectancy for mail ordered eggs.
Expect a hatching rate of 30-50%. 50-70% is really good for shipped eggs. Above 70% time for celebration.
Below 30% I consider a mixed factor of poor packaging or poor mail handling, and poor quality of eggs.
It's not just the fertility or handling that creates a poor outcome. It is also the proper nutrition of the egg laying bird. A lack thereof will reduce the hatch-ability by as much as 25%.
Check out this link page 13 for egg deficiencies: http://gallus.tamu.edu/library/extpublications/b6092.pdf
I had eggs that were x-rayed and the box was damaged, yet they developed just fine. I attribute good nutrition of the mother duck to this.
Katharina

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

One thing to consider is the time of year, we are probably doing our last ebay auction this week. It's getting close to 90 every day here now, alot of sellers that care what the hatchability of their eggs are winding down.

Steve

 

[WalkingWolf]

One of the problems with ebay right now is the bottom has dropped out of the hatching egg market. Nobody with pure blood lines wants to sell for .99. And if listing for what you expect you end up with listing fees, and no sales. It used to be you would list at .99 and the listing would skyrocket, not anymore the economy is just to bad and people do not have the money. I can get more selling my duck eggs for consumption to the oriental market than I can on ebay and not deal with the headaches.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
This is true also, but local buyers should still be there though. I was doing a booming business last year at the same time. I think the economy is tanking and it is showing everywhere. Vendors of other non perishable products are also talking of lack of sales.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Quote:
For my duck eggs, my auctions start at .99 and almost all auctions end at about $15. I donate a portion (up to 50%) to Carolina Waterfowl Rescue so I'm not in it to make money.

The other thing that you have to take into consideration is the area that you live in. I cannot make any money selling duck eggs in my area. I live in a relatively poor area. I donate alot of my eggs to the poor families around me.

Laurie