Hatching eggs ... quality for hatchability ... Questions

[kathyinmo]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa204
This is a great link for Hatchability Problem Analysis. I found this link when I was reading the thread at the top of this section, entitled, "Incubating & Hatching Eggs Important Topic Index - Please Review." Jody (hinkjc) submitted it in post # 3, along with some other links. It made me think about the quality of eggs we all purchase for hatching. A good hatch begins with good eggs.

My question is to breeders or sellers of eggs .... (re nutrition) ...
What do you do to assure you are selling quality eggs for hatching? What is your feeding program for your breeders? What do you do to ensure there are no nutritional deficiencies or excesses (ie Vitamin deficiencies -- vitamin E, riboflavin, biotin, pantothenic acid, or linoleic acid)?

Other things mentioned that affect hatchability are parasites, inadequate floor space, inadequate storage of the eggs before incubation, and others. Do you, egg sellers, ensure the afore mentioned are optimal?

Did you know this? Do you package and mail out any eggs like this?
Exploders. Some causes are listed are:
Old eggs.
Dirty eggs from nest. Dirty nests.
Floor eggs.
Eggs improperly washed; eggs wiped or cleaned with contaminated cloth or buffer.
Dust from breeder house, cooler, transport, etc.
Water condensation on eggs (sweating).
Water sprayed, fogged, or splashed on eggs; eggs dipped in contaminated solutions.
Contamination from earlier exploders, leakers, or broken eggs.
Contamination from handling eggs with dirty hands or equipment.
Contaminated setter flats, air filters, water (humidity) system.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I guess my short answer is that I never mail out an egg that I wouldn't put in my own incubator and expect to hatch.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I guess my short answer is that I never mail out an egg that I wouldn't put in my own incubator and expect to hatch.

I feel the same exact way-

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Amen! I always send out eggs that are top quality. It is always a good idea to inspect them before they go out - check for cracks, imperfections, shell quality, etc.

 

[kathyinmo]

Can you be more specific?
Do you feed your breeders any differently than the rest of your chickens?
How do you store your eggs, awaiting shipment? Do you send out dirty eggs?

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I have all breeders basically. I sell all their eggs when Im not selling them as eating eggs.
They are all on blue seal laying pellets
They get BOSS
They also get scratch at night
I feed them lots of fruit and veggie scraps
I make them turkey/chicken rice stew with carrots celery potatoes peas-2x a month
they also get all leftovers-within reason-no garlic stuff or onion stuff-their favorite food is yogurt and mashed potatoes
Oh yah I also make a 30+ egg omelette on weekends for them to share. Its my treat to them for giving me all the delicious eggies

My eggs get stored in the cold spot in house where it is about 55-60 degrees-I do not send out dirty eggs-I think about 2 months ago I was collecting first thing in am before I left for work and grabbed a few more as extras from the nesting box-1-2 had "smudges" not chucks of poo. I PM'd and told the buyer what I sent ahead of time and apologized profusely as I didnt have time to clean the last 1-2 I sent and she was greatful for my honesty. She pmd me back to say they werent even dirty in hers eyes but to me they were.
I spot clean every egg that gets sent-NO POO
I work very hard to keep very fresh bedding in the nesting boxes daily-because I hate cleaning eggs and would rather spend the extra time cleaning nests than cleaning crusted poo off of eggs.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Do you feed your breeders any differently than the rest of your chickens? All of ours get feed the same rations, unless they are chicks, simply because it it easier. If they get a good quality layer/breeder ration with at least 16% protein you can really tell a difference in the hatchability of the eggs compared to eggs that come from birds that are fed corn as the sole ration.


How do you store your eggs, awaiting shipment? We store ours in a spare egg turner in our spare bedroom. Although the eggs are sold before they are collected, the ones awaiting shipping are placed in the turner for a couple of days. This prevents the yolk from "sticking" to the side of the shell from them being stored stationary.

Do you send out dirty eggs? It depends on how dirty. If the eggs has a fleck of dirt or poo on it, it will be fine, especially if it can be picked off with a fingernail or a dry egg brush. Those that are more than, say, 25% covered in dirt stay here to be incubated. If they are really dirty, they get washed as soon as they come in the door and put in the fridge to be eaten.

 

[Katy]

Quote:

 

[little_grey_bantam]

OH keep this one in mind!!!!

I was setting eggs, from the fridge and thought before to just roll eggs I got from people right out of the box...
MAKE SURE THE EGGS WARM UP BEFORE you put them into the incubator... let them settle and come to room temperature!!!
Something about the condensation makes the eggs pop (when they go from being super duper cold to super duper hot!!)...
I learned this the hard way... it wasn't stinky or anything, just it was cold (the eggs were in the fridge and cold eggs after making their trip). This was my first oopsie, I had never incubatored refridgerated eggs before...

BTW, the incubator popped to 105...

I had to move the eggs out to another one since we got eggspensive eggs

they get the good incubator!

Back to what I was saying...
They feel cold to the touch and if you put them in the 'bator, they'll leak : /
Who the heck knew that putting a 40 degree egg into a 100 degree incubator could do that

Common sense!!!

As well, I only sell eggs I myself would put in the incubator

But I never get to incubate the good ones; everyone else does. I get the crappy left overs

LOL
Nonetheless, I still get babies! Nee Ner Nee Ner!!

 

[Katy]

One other thing I'd add is that when I'm sending out eggs I'm constantly setting eggs myself so I keep a constant check on their fertility.