HOW BEST TO PACKAGE EGGS FOR SHIPPING DO"S AND DON"TS

[ozexpat]

A new thread

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...rtation-take-your-eggs-to-work-or-on-vacation

 

[brahmapapa]

thought I should share this...... http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/content.php?41-Heat-Packs-and-Cool-Weather-Shipping

very interesting, as i was reading it the same questions plus others came to mind as did occur to the experimentor

 

[brahmapapa]

That is an interesting link. Hmmmm? It made me wonder about something. I've never had a heat pack in any of my eggs that hatched great. They were sent in winter, all were obviously cold when I got them, but had amazing hatch rates. The last batch I got had a heat pack. Could that possibly explain why a few appeared to have been incubating already? A few eggs were in bubble wrap right on top of the heat pack. Also the heat pack was already cold when I opened the package, as were all the eggs, and it only took a little over 24 hours to get to me once shipped. I wish I would have noticed which were directly above the heat pack. Very curious on how heat packs affect eggs. Any thoughts?

I have stated earlier in this thread that i did an experiment a few years ago and had a very high hatch rate with eggs from my own birds that had been refrigerated for over a week before being placed in the incubator. I have never used a heat pack, the eggs that were shipped to me from washington state to NY arrived very cold, i allowed them to come to room temp. before setting them and i got a very high hatch rate.

 

[brahmapapa]

They came well packaged - all 12 were intact. They were in bubble wrap then newspaper wrap then had peanuts for filling. There was also a warmer pack in there.

When I unwrapped them two of the eggs were quite warm from the pack, the others weren't so much. A concern?

Since they are wheaten maran eggs they are quite dark and my hand held candler gizmo may not be strong enough. I took one into the bathroom and in the super dark it worked ok. This is my first time at candling, so I'm going to try and see what I need to be looking for then go into the darkroom with the dozen.

I have my fingers crossed!

honestly i would be more concerned with the eggs that were warm than those that were not. Another poster n here talked about recieving heat pack shipped eggs that seemed to have started incubation. starting incubation and then getting chilled aia think would kill the embryo but im not absolutely sure on that, anyone else with thoughts on this

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I agree HOWEVER, the way I rcvd them was most AWESOME! She had a big 20x20 box and had those big bubbles on all sides running down its middles and heat packs taped along sides and bottom and then a smaller box in the center. plenty of air circulation and very smartly packaged with heat packs!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I will add.... no why wont the hatcheries let us choose to purchase a heat pack to put on one side of a shipping box for live chicks!!! grrrrrrrr or even OFFER us to ship a faster route with $

 

[Overoberyl]

I will add.... no why wont the hatcheries let us choose to purchase a heat pack to put on one side of a shipping box for live chicks!!! grrrrrrrr or even OFFER us to ship a faster route with $

Some do, although I know of one hatchery that can't because their PO refuses to send chicks Express for some bizarre reason...might have something to do with the fact that the USPS no longer guarantees overnight for live animals, i dunno...but I have received chicks with a heat pack and I have chosen express shipping when ordering chicks before...just depends on the seller I suppose.

 

[ozexpat]

I will add.... no why wont the hatcheries let us choose to purchase a heat pack to put on one side of a shipping box for live chicks!!! grrrrrrrr or even OFFER us to ship a faster route with $

probably because it will slow down their efficiency. their product is not shipping, its chicks and they make their money by hatching them and getting them out as fast as possible to meet their USPS deadline. its easier just to replace a few dead chicks every now and then

 

[GasMenagerie]

honestly i would be more concerned with the eggs that were warm than those that were not. Another poster n here talked about recieving heat pack shipped eggs that seemed to have started incubation. starting incubation and then getting chilled aia think would kill the embryo but im not absolutely sure on that, anyone else with thoughts on this

I agree. Those two will be highly suspect. here's some pics (I put in wrong thread prior) *blushes*

Originally Posted by GasMenagerie










So, here is what my package looked like. And of course my dark, brown babies.

 

[brahmapapa]

I agree. Those two will be highly suspect. here's some pics (I put in wrong thread prior) *blushes*

Originally Posted by GasMenagerie










So, here is what my package looked like. And of course my dark, brown babies.

thanks so much for taking the time to take pics and share.