has anyone mail ordered before?

[Loretta212]

I was thinking of having come eggs shipped to me to try out in my incubator has anyone done this? how was your luck with it?

 

[Grog]

I have not, but I wonder why order eggs? they cost the same if not more than chicks? at least as far as I have found. I am conscerned about fertility and viability of the shipped eggs. So more posts here would be awesome.

 

[gryeyes]

Oh, you betcha. Many, many times. It's the only way I could add certain breeds to my flock.

You must be willing to expect some losses, though, as shipping IS hard on eggs. Sometimes I've had 6 of 7 hatch, other times 4 of 20. And all numbers in between.

 

[Duemig10]

I have ordered fertile eggs on many different occasions and from different people. Sometimes it works out great and other times not so great but that is the chance you take. I love hatching my own eggs it is great when you get to see the chicks hatching out of the shell.

 

[Loretta212]

i think im going to do it i really want a mix flock and mix color eggs and seeing the chicks hatch is all part of it for me i have bought local eggs and had luck with some and not with others so i guess its really all the same

 

[crazypetlady]

I order and ship fertile eggs on e-bay. I order to get breeds I can't find chicks for like Seramas and I sell on e-bay to make chicken food money. I have had hatches up to 50% on eggs I have gotten and my customers have reoprted up to 80% hatch on eggs I sent. It's very convient to "swap" eggs in the mail for hatching.

 

[Arielle]

You can also use the fertilized eggs from some of the groceries stores. Some have brown egg layers and other stores only have white egg layers (think leghorns). So for the cost of a dozen fertilized eggs, that may be a cheap way to test your incubator. THe number of fertilized eggs per carton really varies.


I've build my own incubator, and it does need a little tweaking sometimes; So my suggestion is to find local eggs to try out, or store bought. Shipped eggs have the cost of purchasing the eggs plus shipping the eggs. Check out the auction section.

Note:
Tthere is a thread on hatching eggs from Trader Joes, etc.
This is the time of year when many chickens are in molt and fertility can be reduced.

Good luck with your incubator! Way cool when the eggs start pipping!

 

[Illia]

LOADS of times. I sell loads of shipped eggs too.

 

[Judy]

Just pray the PO doesn't decide to drop kick your particular parcel, and don't expect anywhere near 100%. Who knows, you might luck out and be surprised.

If you order off BYC you can check on the seller's feedback and packaging first. Obviously, good packaging can only do so much.

 

[wolftracks]

OMG how many times and how much money????

Some I get zero, some I get about 6% to hatch. Sometimes it's the only way to get what you're looking for.

I also ship eggs. I've had a lot of people with great hatches and some that didn't hatch, but mostly pretty good.

It mainly depends on who you buy from and what the PO does to them once they ship out.

I no longer ship with the eggs wrapped inbubble wrap. I got an order from someone who wraps in newspaper, like fine china. I sent eggs all over and tried it and not one broken egg. I was impressed and so were the buyers, so now that's how I ship.

You have to remember to let the eggs rest when they get to you. I'm gotten a ton of loose air cells the past 2 years. Some will reconnect, most won't. I did better with one where the cills were all over the place. Once I set them, I didn't turn them for a few days and then turned on the turner. I got 4 out of 12. That was way more than I thought I'd get with the air cells looking the way to did.