How to package eggs for shipping

[Smoky73]

I have had a lady e-mail me about none of the eggs hatching and the air cells being broken. You would think if people buy eggs all the time they would KNOW this that there is no guarantee. She wanted live chicks to replace the eggs. All the eggs I have bought, you just can't do anything about the air cells. It happens. Shipping eggs are risky at best.


I do not have any pictures, but I package my eggs in bubble wrap, cotton batting and styrafoam peanuts. I take a thick layer of batting, and put it in the bottom of an egg carton and put the eggs in large end up. I pack as much batting over the eggs as I can and manage to close the lid, which I fasten down with duct tape. Then I wrap the egg carton in bubble wrap, put a layer of packing peanuts in the bottom of a Priority Mail box, 12x12. Put the egg carton in, and then surround the carton in peanuts soI can barely shut the lid of the box. I cant even recall anyone saying they had broken eggs ever, though it doesn't help the fact that the air cells can still be broken due to mishandling.

 

[Crunchie]

I've never used the batting/pillow stuffing. Isn't that stuff expensive?? Obviously a lot of you have good luck with it, so it must work, but it seems to me like it wouldn't hold things snugly enough?

I always tape mine between two halves of an egg carton (after wrapping individually w/bubble wrap), wrap the whole carton in bubble wrap, and then pack very snugly around the bottom and sides w/packing peanuts and/or tightly wadded paper. I always put some sort of air pack over the top, along with more paper. I haven't used foil, but I think it might not be a bad idea! Can't hurt.

I always mark FRAGILE all over my packages, rather obnoxiously, actually.

I also usually write somewhere on the top "extremely fragile, please do not drop, shake, or stack". I don't typically put "hatching eggs" on the box, though. I've had very good luck (knock on wood) shipping my eggs, as no one has ever told me that they've had any broken.

Thanks for the post and pictures, Jeffrey, very informative!! I know a lot of people will find this very helpful.

Smoky73, I agree with you. Even the best packing job can't guarantee that eggs will hatch. I just got some eggs a week or so ago that were packaged very well and looked great on the outside, not a single crack. The box they came in looked brand new, too. But every single one was literally scrambled. There was no discernable air cell, just little bubbles floating all around. Even looked like the yolks had broken in there. Those eggs were obviously shaken very badly. But it was obviously not the seller's fault; they did their job, which was to send me eggs that had the best chance of getting to me in one piece! You would think that people would understand that eggs + shipping doesn't always = a perfect outcome! The other thing that I wish people would remember when getting shipped eggs is that just because all or some of the eggs don't develop doesn't mean that they weren't fertile. Yes, that could be part or all of the problem, but there are so many other factors that could come into play to cause an egg not to hatch.

 

[Buster]

I wrap the egg in bubble wrap and put them in the carton. After that, I bubble wrap around the carton and then put packing peanuts in the bottom of the box. After that, I put the carton in and fill the box the rest of the way up with peanuts. It's worked well for me so far.

 

[S n M Poultry]

Hey everyone. I didnt mean to start a debate and make people mad i just wanted to help people out. Do yall want me to PM a mod and tell them to delete the post or do you want me to tell them to sticky it? Thanks and sorry

 

[Buster]

I wasn't trying to argue SnM, just thought I'd throw in what I do if it helps people as well. I like to take advice from lots of people and throw it all together and give something a shot. Thanks a lot for starting this thread. I find it very informative.

 

[S n M Poultry]

Quote:
Thanks buster. I wasent blaming anyone i just mean for this post to be an informational post were people can give newbies pointers on how to package eggs. you know what i mean?, lol

 

[DuckyBoys]

Here is one reason I like the box to be marked:

We live out about 20 miles from town. We don't have mail boxes we have a mail house where packages are typically put into a locked package box and your key is left in your mail box so you can retrieve yoru package when you go get your mail.

If the box says hatching eggs my mail lady brings them up to the house and rings the doorbell instead of leaving them in the mail house. I really appreciate her going out of her way like that and if the box wasn't marked she would not even think twice about the contents.

The other day it was very windy when the mail lady came. I was out in the barn and didn't hear the bell. She left the box in a plastic USPS bulk mail container and took several rocks from my garden and put them in the container so the wind would not blow my hatching eggs all over creation.

Again, if the box was unmarked, she would've never have thought twice about this box. I like my postal workers they are very considerate.

 

[S n M Poultry]

Quote:
DuckBoys, The reason i do not put "eggs" on the box is because They seem to me handled a little rougher than when it just says "Fragile". I read once that a call duck group did a study and the boxes marked "Fertile eggs" inside were more damaged and had more broken eggs. They recomend you not to put "Eggs" on the box.

 

[asher]

You definitely don't have to put eggs on the box. Honestly, it freaks some out that don't know what "hatching eggs" means!

Ducky ~ I'd def. make a note to each of your sellers to mark them and why. Glad to hear of a good mail experience on this board!

 

[coffeemama]

It is true that once the eggs leave your house, there is no guarantee. There are people who ship eggs that do not even wrap the eggs, and just toss them in with packing peanuts (personal experience). I think the packaging methods shown here (or similar) are necessary so that sellers, know that they did everything in their power to ensure safe arrival of the eggs. What the p.o. does after that is uncertain, but I'll tell you that eggs with no bubble wrap, loose in peanuts do not have the same chance of making it as ones properly wrapped!