Experiment: mishandled eggs

[BeachBumBiddies]

Thanks! Very interesting.

 

[DylansMom]

Never heard the air travel thing. The x ray thing is pretty rampant though. I just don't think that that much mail actually gets x rayed, especially with what I have been reading. Even if the eggs were x rayed, I don't think that little bit of radiation would hurt the "chick". After all, the zygote isn't even "alive" until the egg is warmed up, right? Or have I read that wrong/gotten wrong info?

I asked the ladies at my local PO about x-raying and they said as far as they know it is completely random, unless it is a special case like Washington, DC. Lots of mail going to government addresses gets x-rayed, compared to normal destinations that is. I have heard of the x-ray thing and I suppose there could be some credence, or they wouldn't shield our reproduction parts with a lead apron when we get x-rays right? I have even wrapped boxes of eggs in tin foil before shipping, because I've seen speculation that this will protect them. I don't know if it does, but it sure doesn't hurt them and it's cheap and easy, so why not.

I really do think the air cell thing is the biggest cause of non-hatching though. Some of us who traded last year are going to do it again this year, experimenting with different methods and materials for packaging. If you have any interest in trying a couple Peacock eggs come April/May let me know. My rooster got killed by my turkey hen last weekend so I may not have any fertile chicken eggs this year.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My brother works at the Post office. They have procedures they are supposed to follow and most employees do, but like any extended family, large group of friends, a school class, or employees at a large company, you will get some jerks. It does help to mark them with fragile since most of the people that work there are decent people, but how do you legislate stupid? A box marked fragile might be a challenge to a jerk.

I’ve had a 100% hatch rate with shipped eggs and I’ve had a real lousy hatch rate. I had a real lousy hatch rate with eggs I picked up myself from someone a long way up a bumpy gravel road. I figure I did not cushion them enough and they got shaken up on the way home. By me!

I think shaking up has a lot to do with the normal less than great hatch rate with shipped eggs, but there is probably another factor. The embryo is alive in the eggs from fertilization on. Extreme heat or extreme cold can kill that embryo. Cycling from hot to cold to hot a few times is really hard on them too. If the eggs get left outside in the hot sun on a loading dock you can have real problems.

You really do take your chances with shipped eggs. You have the fertility, the how long and how were they stored before they were shipped, and the packaging, all of this is on the shipper. But they lose all control when the eggs leave their possession.

 

[BeachBumBiddies]

I asked the ladies at my local PO about x-raying and they said as far as they know it is completely random, unless it is a special case like Washington, DC. Lots of mail going to government addresses gets x-rayed, compared to normal destinations that is. I have heard of the x-ray thing and I suppose there could be some credence, or they wouldn't shield our reproduction parts with a lead apron when we get x-rays right? I have even wrapped boxes of eggs in tin foil before shipping, because I've seen speculation that this will protect them. I don't know if it does, but it sure doesn't hurt them and it's cheap and easy, so why not.

I really do think the air cell thing is the biggest cause of non-hatching though. Some of us who traded last year are going to do it again this year, experimenting with different methods and materials for packaging. If you have any interest in trying a couple Peacock eggs come April/May let me know. My rooster got killed by my turkey hen last weekend so I may not have any fertile chicken eggs this year.

I've heard about the tin foil. Guess it could save their brains from aliens as well. lol I've had good hatches & NO hatches with shipped eggs, which is very disappointing. Yeah, a trade would be fun. I've never hatched Peafowl before. Are they much different than chickens? Are they difficult to hatch out/raise? I have Cream Legbars, Gold Laced, Blue Partridge, & Blue Brahmas, Blue Copper Marans, Lemon Blue Cochins, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Americaunas, & soon to have Brabanters, I hope. lol

 

[Dcat]

I'm still very iffy on trying shipped eggs yet. So many different stories and worries. I know I will try it at some point as there are some fowl that I would love to hatch out that I just haven't been able to find locally or have seen much better prices on ebay even with the cost of shipping.

Dylansmom, I wish I had something to trade as I would love to hatch out some peacocks. Wouldn't my husband be surprised! LOL

 

[BeachBumBiddies]

I'm still very iffy on trying shipped eggs yet. So many different stories and worries. I know I will try it at some point as there are some fowl that I would love to hatch out that I just haven't been able to find locally or have seen much better prices on ebay even with the cost of shipping.

Dylansmom, I wish I had something to trade as I would love to hatch out some peacocks. Wouldn't my husband be surprised! LOL

It's def a gamble. I've had some great hatches from shipped eggs, 13 out of 15, & some horrible, 0 out of 24! And I know it's not my incubator as i hatch plenty from my own flocks. Just try to find someone to trade with or some people will even ship free eggs to you if you pay the shipping, just to see what their fertility is like & how well their eggs are packed (or so I've heard). lol

 

[DylansMom]

I've heard about the tin foil. Guess it could save their brains from aliens as well. lol I've had good hatches & NO hatches with shipped eggs, which is very disappointing. Yeah, a trade would be fun. I've never hatched Peafowl before. Are they much different than chickens? Are they difficult to hatch out/raise? I have Cream Legbars, Gold Laced, Blue Partridge, & Blue Brahmas, Blue Copper Marans, Lemon Blue Cochins, Silver Laced Wyandottes, Americaunas, & soon to have Brabanters, I hope. lol

I'm still very iffy on trying shipped eggs yet. So many different stories and worries. I know I will try it at some point as there are some fowl that I would love to hatch out that I just haven't been able to find locally or have seen much better prices on ebay even with the cost of shipping.

Dylansmom, I wish I had something to trade as I would love to hatch out some peacocks. Wouldn't my husband be surprised! LOL

If either of you want to try some Pea eggs, I usually have some extras. Peas won't start laying until Mid-April or early May, so there is time. Just let me know and I'll make a note to pm you guys, they are IMO pretty similar to chickens, 28 days instead of 21. Pip to zip can take longer as well so high humidity is really crucial at the end. They are cute little stinkers too.

 

[BeachBumBiddies]

OMG! They are adorable! Yes!!! I would LOVE to have some Pea chicks. Some of my birds will still be too young to lay by then, but if you like Cream Legbars, I can possibly send you some of those? I might also have Cochins or Brahmas.

 

[Dcat]

I would love to get some pea eggs!! There is a woman who lives not far from me but she is adamant that "incubating eggs yourself is unnatural" so she wont sell me any. She is trying to raise them herself to sell but her hen wont go broody so I guess for her they are her lawn ornaments. Please put me on a list! Now I'm all excited just for the possibility, LOL. Thank you!!

 

[DylansMom]

OMG! They are adorable! Yes!!! I would LOVE to have some Pea chicks. Some of my birds will still be too young to lay by then, but if you like Cream Legbars, I can possibly send you some of those? I might also have Cochins or Brahmas.

I would love to get some pea eggs!! There is a woman who lives not far from me but she is adamant that "incubating eggs yourself is unnatural" so she wont sell me any. She is trying to raise them herself to sell but her hen wont go broody so I guess for her they are her lawn ornaments. Please put me on a list! Now I'm all excited just for the possibility, LOL. Thank you!!

I will def. PM both of you when the laying starts, think about whether you would like to keep them when they get big or if you will probably sell them. As adults they are not as easy to free range as chickens are. Peas like a much bigger territory and can wander a long way from home to check out neighbors, noises, other animals, basically anything that gets their attention. They are very curious birds and it often gets them in trouble. I have some that are older 12+ and they have settled down and seldom roam, so they get to range during the day, some I do not let out at all because I doubt I would see them again. In the Peafowl section on here you will find lots of good info to help you decide. I will likewise do some reading on Cream legbars, Cochins and Brahmas. My rooster who got killed was a SLW.