I've done shipped eggs before (and they were REALLY beat up during shipping). There is a tension between not wanting the eggs to be too old and wanting the eggs to rest upright (and not turned) for a bit after shipping before setting n the hopes that the air cell reattaches.
I think things will be ok. By that, I mean that while I can't swear that it might be slight better if less delay, many of us wait before setting anyhow. Letting them sit with the fat end upright for a little bit allows the air cell, if dislodged/rolling, to reattach.
There is some really great advice in the links at the beginning of this thread. My thought though is that the delay will not be a major factor in the end, many times actual handling during shipping is the issue.
EDUCATIONAL INCUBATION & HATCHING, w/ Sally Sunshine. Hosts, BantyChooks and more! Look for where it says "Shipped eggs - change of plans" especially. Prepare yourself to read a lot.
I'd also recommend posting to that same thread if you have questions. It's unusually quiet now (has previously been super active), but folks who either know the answers or know where to point you for the answers are on every day.
And, just to make you feel better, I got seven sweet beautiful chicks out of this, with the assistance of the advice in that thread (I didn't set the cracked ones, just demonstrating the severe handling issues):
- Ant Farm
