I learned that shipped eggs must sit still for 24 hours

[Berynn]

Several people on this sight and google searches told me that shipped eggs must sit for still for 24 hours before hatching so that the yolk can seddle. I heard that some people were having hatching issues, could this be the reason why?

 

[cherndon712]

I was told as a general rule they need to sit for 12-24 hours (depending on how cold it is, etc)...They do need to settle after being shipped!!

 

[fdnick]

Yeah.. we usually let them sit for about 12 hours..

 

[speckledhen]

I've let them sit as little as five hours and had a great hatch. Just as long as they come up to room temp and sit awhile, they should be fine.

 

[Arklady]

Some eggs, I heard, have loose membranes. Now to explain that. An egg has the shell and a membrane and then another membrane between that one and the egg itself. Trapped between the two membranes is the air cell. *I don't even know how that is possible but lol* These membranes stick together and during shipping they can slip allowing the air pocket to move around. Letting the eggs settle for 24 hours generally helps restore that air cell to its proper place. While putting them straight into the bator with a rocking egg turner can keep the air cell loose and moving around. I really don't see how this can be an issue but it did make sense to me. Preserve the air cell in its proper location to insure a live chick.

The gal that told me this, always has great hatches from shipped eggs.

Arklady

 

[EweSheep]

I've tried both methods as a little as a few hours to twenty four hours and saw NO differences in the ratio of hatch. They would be settled as soon it has been sitting in your incubator for a few hours. All is the difference is travel time and how cold it was.

As for air bubbles, as you might say its loose membranes, the egg is no good for incubation. However you can try it for the first week and discard those who has those air bubbles.

Shipping is HARD on eggs. no matter what the USPS do, they will do a good job of tossing the boxes like footballs.