Could you please tell me the best way to package eggs to send in the mail? Do you use bubble wrap or tissue paper? Also, what is the best way to send them? Do you use the post office or UPS? Thanks so much! Oh one more question. How old the the oldest egg you ship?
I use bubble wrap. I individually bubble wrap each egg. See here for how I pack. http://www.freewebs.com/sundownwaterfowl/packinguptheeggs.htm I believe the best way to ship eggs is to individually bubble wrap each one. I ship them via Priority Mail. Eggs are no more than 2-3 days old max. when shipped.
I also normally use bubble wrap, though I have shipped in egg cartons as well. With the egg cartons, I wrap each egg in a paper napkin, to keep them still so they don't move in the carton. Then tape the carton closed, wrap it in bubble wrap, and send it out. I have only used USPS and have had pretty good luck with them. There have been a few times that the packages didn't get to where they were going in a timely enough manner, but usually they are okay. There are no UPS dropoffs near me, and I believe it costs more to use UPS. USPS is expensive enough as it is!! I have sent some eggs that would have been 7 days old upon arrival, provided they take the recommended 2-3 days for shipping, and they have done well. But that is when the buyer is aware that I have limited amounts and is okay with the eggs being a bit 'older'. Some of the eggs I send were layed the day of or the day before shipping, it just depends on what breed is wanted. Normally it's about 3 days, but it just depends on which one(s) are wanted. I have gotten better with shipping in cartons, but bubble wrapping each egg is still the best way to go. I don't 'free-float' mine in the box though, I wrap all the eggs together inside more bubble wrap, to keep them from working their way to the outsides of the box. I use crumpled paper as my filler most times, unless I have shredded paper or packing peanuts left over from an order sent to me.
I ship with each egg in bubble wrap, then placed in shredded paper or larger bubble wrap and the box needs to be a lot bigger than the eggs so that there can be a lot of padding. Don't pack it real tight, because it needs to have some room to squish packaging without squishing the eggs. No one has ever reported broken ones. Almost every order I have ever received in egg cartons has had a broke egg or two. ~Rebecca
Here's what I've found to be the absolute best way to pack your eggs and how I've always done mine with great success and praise from buyers: By Peter Theer, from Eggbid In shipping hatching eggs, the primary concerns should be: 1. No detectable movement of the eggs in the carton. 2. No detectable movement of the carton inside the shipping box. 3. Adequate padding inside the egg carton, and adequate padding surrounding the cartons on all sides of the box to prevent any movement. 4. If your flock is state or NPIP Certified, be sure to include a copy of the certification document with each egg shipment. It is a requirement of NPIP certification that all hatching eggs received to add to your flock MUST be from NPIP certified flocks and records must be maintained. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For this packing method, you will need pine shavings, egg cartons, a roll of 24" wide bubble wrap in 1/2" thickness, packaging tape with dispenser, and appropriate sized boxes. Box size should be chosen so that you have room for plenty of padding around the eggs. A common size is 12"x15"x10" available at WalMart for $1.77 each. This box will easily hold up to 4 dozen chicken eggs in cartons. You can also use the FREE 12"x12"x8" (Box Size 7) USPS Priority mail box which will nicely hold 1 and 1/2 dozen eggs with a maximum of 2 dozen eggs in cartons. USPS Priority Mail Box size 4 will hold up to 1/2 dozen eggs in a six-pack carton. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There may be many suitable methods to safely ship hatching eggs, we pack them in egg cartons because we feel this provides better protection. Either paper mache or styrofoam egg cartons may be used, but styrofoam cartons were used for these photos. Place two handfuls of shavings in an empty carton and using your finger, make a "nest" for each egg. With larger eggs, of course, you must use fewer shavings to leave room for the eggs. With large Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red or duck eggs, you may put very few, if any, shavings under the egg, but rely on the shavings in step 3 below to immobilize and protect the eggs. With the larger eggs and fewer shavings it would be beneficial to use a little more bubble wrap around the carton for added protection. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gently settle each egg in it's 'nest' in the carton making sure there are enough shavings to keep the egg stable and protected on all sides. Rotate the egg left and right until it's snugly settled in the shavings. By the way, each egg should be marked with a breed and date laid. For example, Barred Rocks would be BR and Blue Cochins would be BC. Inform the recipient of what the codes on the eggs mean if sending more than one breed or an assortment of breeds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the eggs are secure in their padded 'seats', pile on another couple of handfuls of shavings making sure all the eggs are covered, even the ones in the ends of the carton. Use enough shavings to insure that when the cover of the carton is closed, the carton will be well filled with shavings, holding the eggs securely in place. In the case of large eggs, the carton may not close enough to 'snap' shut, in either case, close it as far as possible and tape it securely shut. An added benefit of using the shavings is that if an egg does happen to get broken, the shavings tend to absorb or at least contain any released egg white and yolk, thereby protecting other eggs in the carton from becoming soiled. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seal the carton all the way around with wide packaging tape to be sure it doesn't come open, and wrap it with two or three layers of large (1/2" thick) bubble wrap. Use a wide enough piece of bubble wrap (about 18 inches) to leave about 3-4 inches of wrap on each end of the carton. Then wrap the ends of the bubble wrap closed and tape them to protect the ends of the carton. In this manner the eggs are not only protected from jarring, but the bubble wrap tends to retain the ambient conditions surrounding the eggs and may help prevent the eggs from freezing or overheating during shipping if not exposed to extreme temperatures for too long a period. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First pad the bottom of a suitably shipping box with about 2 inches of either bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, a foam rubber pad, crumpled newspaper or other suitable padding material. The egg carton, in it's bubble wrap 'cocoon', is then placed in the center of the carton and additional bubble wrap or other 'filler' is packed tightly around the carton on all sides. Include your NPIP documents, any invoice or receipt now if required. Additional layers of bubble wrap or other filler is then placed on top of the carton, so that there can be no movement of the carton when the box is sealed, and all sides of the egg carton are well padded. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Close the box and shake it gently to insure there is no movement of the carton within the box. Tape the box securely on all open edges with 2" wide packaging tape. Affix the shipping label to the top and cover it completely with clear tape to protect it from being smudged or torn off during shipping. ALL SIDES of the box are then marked with a large red FRAGILE - HATCHING EGGS label. (We've recently designed graphic 2" x 4" warning labels that we print on a color inkjet printer. They have a cute baby chick graphic and BOLD RED text: "UNBORN BABIES" - "AVOID: HEAT, COLD, SHAKING". The P.O. personnel took notice of them immediately, and this will surely help to keep the package safer in transit.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's best to pack hatching eggs on a weekend and ship them via United States Postal Service Priority Mail on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. In this photo, shipments of eggs waiting by the front door ready to be taken to the Post Office. It is safest never to ship hatching eggs on Thursday, Friday or Saturday because of the risk of them being left in a hot or cold truck or mail handling facility over the weekend. It is important to maintain good communications with your customers during the transaction, informing them by email when their eggs ship and when they should expect them. Ask that they let you know when and how they arrive. We VERY seldom have an egg arrive cracked or broken using the method described above. If they receive cracked or broken eggs, make an effort to provide replacements at a reduced cost. It's great for Public Relations. The bottom line is: Treat your customers the way YOU would want to be treated!! Visit Rocking T Ranch
I also wrap each egg in bubble wrap and then pack either pnuts or shredded paper on bottom of box then eggs and packing around the sides and then on top.That way the eggs dont move in the box had very good results for a long time doing this way.
