Illinois...

[chickendreams24]

I know this is gunna come across as cruel probably but if you have a gun I would recommend rubber bullets we had to use them when I was a child on our neighbor's German Shepherd (our neighbor was a vet and brought us the bullets himself) as they bred show chickens they didn't want the dog to learn to kill chickens. The dogs never chased a chicken again after taking a couple of those to the butt.

Although that would probably be too much force for the puppies but maybe their mother wouldn't bring them back then

 

[MeepBeep]

Bummer, hope it's not going to be a repeat issue/concern for you...

It's the same neighbor guy's dogs that got in the fence last year and chewed off tails from two birds.  This year the dog is smarter and showed the pups. 

Sorry to hear that, I just can't understand why people let their dogs run free and destroy other people property thus causing conflict between neighbors... Lets hope they don't wander my way, as I know I will be very unforgiving...

 

[Pixie]

Sorry to hear that, I just can't understand why people let their dogs run free and destroy other people property thus causing conflict between neighbors... Lets hope they don't wander my way, as I know I will be very unforgiving...

I know this is gunna come across as cruel probably but if you have a gun I would recommend rubber bullets we had to use them when I was a child on our neighbor's German Shepherd (our neighbor was a vet and brought us the bullets himself) as they bred show chickens they didn't want the dog to learn to kill chickens. The dogs never chased a chicken again after taking a couple of those to the butt.

Although that would probably be too much force for the puppies but maybe their mother wouldn't bring them back then

This was the father dog that brought them over. The guy (young guy) has a hard time dog proofing anything. The pups got out early last month and someone from the forest preserve called the County on them. He almost had them all impounded, but they just fined him instead. None of them (even the adults) have collars so it's hard to get a hold of them as they wizz past. (I guess the pups get bored and gnaw them off each other) To that I told him, that the dogs are bored and you need to do something about that and quick.

Hopefully they won't get as far as your place @MeepBeep , there is at least a wet patch of field with lots of geese in between.

 

[Monstermouth]

Hi, I am in rural Sullivan Illinois. We have 30 chicks in brooders right now and several laying hens. My daughter is interested in hatching her own and got an incubator ( cheap hovabator) for her birthday. If anyone has any unusual fertile eggs, or young chicks available I'd love to hear what you've got, PM me.

 

[Junibutt]

Well it is still a gamble . The second set went to Alaska with special handling . Arrived with box in perfect shape . 7 of 12 broken . Bubble wrapped and box in a box . Resending with bubble wrapped in a plastic Easter egg . I am sure I could have kicked that first package down the driveway and not broke an egg .

Uggg, hope I have better luck. But Alaska is a long trip, much longer than Tennessee to Chicago, so fingers crossed. Good luck on your next shipment!

The closer the distance, the more likely eggs are going to get damaged because they have to travel via truck versus air for longer distances. The best shipped eggs I have received were from someone who actually burried them in fine pine shavings. No bubble wrap etc. The box was kind of heavy (about 5 lbs or so), however only 1 out of 19 broke. Even that was just leakage probably because of a weak shell.

 

[Faraday40]

The closer the distance, the more likely eggs are going to get damaged because they have to travel via truck versus air for longer distances. The best shipped eggs I have received were from someone who actually burried them in fine pine shavings. No bubble wrap etc. The box was kind of heavy (about 5 lbs or so), however only 1 out of 19 broke. Even that was just leakage probably because of a weak shell.

DD found similar results 2 yeas ago. Her experiment was to see the effect of shipping on eggs. The eggs shipped from KY & IL had 0-8% hatch. The eggs from NC had 70% hatch. Of course the backyard eggs (collected & set aside for 4 days so they'd be the same age) had 90-100% hatch. Her experiment was only to compare shipping vs. local eggs, but we were confused about why the eggs from farther away happened to do better. We do not have enough data from her experiment, but her results do support your idea. It makes sense.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

DD found similar results 2 yeas ago. Her experiment was to see the effect of shipping on eggs. The eggs shipped from KY & IL had 0-8% hatch. The eggs from NC had 70% hatch. Of course the backyard eggs (collected & set aside for 4 days so they'd be the same age) had 90-100% hatch. Her experiment was only to compare shipping vs. local eggs, but we were confused about why the eggs from farther away happened to do better. We do not have enough data from her experiment, but her results do support your idea. It makes sense.

I have ordered eggs pretty much from the east coast to the west. And in my experience, the eggs that traveled the furthest have had the worst hatch rates. I have ordered eggs 2 times from California, and had 0 hatch(LF Cochin) and other 1 hatch, that was the olive egger. I have also had 0 hatch rate on eggs from Ohio, to close, so spent to much time on a bumpy road in a truck. I also think not all packages are handled them same, some see worse treatment than others. So if I see eggs from Arizona, I ask myself, Do I feel lucky?

 

[4stakes]

I have a Ancona chick that is 4 weeks old trying to crow.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

I have a Ancona chick that is 4 weeks old trying to crow.

That has to be so cute as well as laughable!

 

[MeepBeep]

 
I have a Ancona chick that is 4 weeks old trying to crow. 

That has to be so cute as well as laughable!

Sometimes the young ones can be silly, I have had peafowl only a few weeks old trying to display their train (tail) that won't exist for 2 more years...