Hatching Shipped Coturnix Eggs

[ManitobaQuail]

Hi all, we took a quail-break this winter and now ready to be back!

We have ordered some hatching eggs that takes 3 days to be shipped here by air.
Right now the temp is +/- minus 15C ish (about 5 degree F).

Question: should I rest the egg for a day before we put them in the incubators?

I've read about this topic in many places but folks seem to have some polarizing responses.
Can anyone with experience share your wisdom?

Thanks!

 

[nchls school]

Letting the eggs rest 24 hours will not hurt them. Will the rest improve the rate of hatch? Maybe yes, maybe no. Your not out anything by waiting the 24 hours.

 

[nchls school]

However shipping hatching eggs is risky; even more so when it's done below freezing temperatures.

 

[Kiki]

I say no...I wouldn't rest them for a day.

 

[ManitobaQuail]

Letting the eggs rest 24 hours will not hurt them. Will the rest improve the rate of hatch? Maybe yes, maybe no. Your not out anything by waiting the 24 hours.

Just rather incubate fresher eggs - but also leaning towards resting.

And yea, shipping is really not ideal but we got no trust-worthy breeders here. Not even just breeders, pretty hard to find local eggs.

 

[ManitobaQuail]

I say no...I wouldn't rest them for a day.

Can you elaborate?

 

[Kiki]

Can you elaborate?

Not really.

I just do not believe that letting the eggs sit for an extra 24 hours helps anything.
I believe the quicker you get them in the incubator the better.

 

[nchls school]

Just rather incubate fresher eggs - but also leaning towards resting.
24 hours will not change the freshness of the eggs by much. But to be honest, the last time I had eggs shipped I set them immediately. A number of eggs did not hatch and I was left wondering if I had waited...

And yea, shipping is really not ideal but we got no trust-worthy breeders here. Not even just breeders, pretty hard to find local eggs.

I've had eggs shipped a number of times; sometimes with good results and sometimes bad. I'll probably have some shipped in the spring after freezing is not an issue.

 

[ManitobaQuail]

I've had eggs shipped a number of times; sometimes with good results and sometimes bad. I'll probably have some shipped in the spring after freezing is not an issue.

Interesting... I've had eggs shipped from this farm in Ontario last year just to introduce new bloodlines, twice actually, had different hatching results.

The owner also said that they ship eggs out all over Canada in the winter and had no issues. I guess only time will tell....

 

[nchls school]

Interesting... I've had eggs shipped from this farm in Ontario last year just to introduce new bloodlines, twice actually, had different hatching results.

The owner also said that they ship eggs out all over Canada in the winter and had no issues. I guess only time will tell....

A lot has to do with the postal workers. Some care-others don't care one way or the other-and some find a sick humor in destroying. This I know from an older brother who hauled mail and laughed about "accidentally" dropping eggs...hard. Thankfully, he no longer works hauling mail.