Incubating Mailed Eggs???

[ilovechickens]

Okay, I received 3 different sets of eggs via USPS. All three were packaged differently. I have 2 sets in my brooder, we are on day 15, Candled last week and lost 5 of one order of 12 and none on one order of 24. I set 12 eggs under a broody because I could not wait until monday for the other eggs to arrive. I tried to get a hold of the seller via PM to find out the freshness of the eggs. I paid really good money for the eggs plus shipping. On the first candle I lost 6 of the 12, 4 were scrambled and 2 non fertile. the others were iffy, and since I am new to candling I left the iffy ones. Candled again on day 17 and all were duds, they were liquid. Now maybe my "Broody" wasn't a good bator, but, what I saw she was diligent. She left the nest yesterday, and that is when I candled them. So I guess she knew that something wasn't right. I candled the other eggs in my bator tonight and all are progressing of both sets. Again the 24 are Amaracauna, blue eggs, was difficult, but there was solid darkness, and at the top of the egg, the air sac. So, I am befuddled. How do you lose a whole batch of eggs??? They sat for 24 hours before I put them under my broody, and lost all of them. The 24 from My Pet Chicken are doing fine, and the other ones are doing good. I know that I am rambling, but what I paid for the eggs plus shipping, i could of had 25 chicks!!! I know that it is a gamble, but heck I at least expected 1

The packaging, the ones from My Pet Chicken came in egg cartons, each egg placed in the carton with a napkin and then securely taped and packaged. The ones that I lost, came wrapped in bubble wrap and placed here and there in the box. The other set that I got was wrapped in bubble wrap, but was layered, with filling between the layers. So that is my sad, sad, expensive story.

 

[debilorrah]

I suggest in the future asking the seller how they pack and if it is not good enough, POLITELY ask them to wrap each egg in bubble wrap, set them in a carton, bubble wrap the hell out of the carton and put THAT in very tight packing materials. The only eggs I get to hatch are packed this way. It is the way I pack mine and people I have sent them to have had decent hatches.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

packaging does have alot to do with it, but the age of the eggs do to, and how they where handled at the PO. I've gotten perfectly packaged eggs that none hatched, but I also got a doz that was a sample ship (trial) all but 1 egg was shattered, I set it anyway and it hatched, black copper maran

every carton packaged egg I have ever received had a low hatch rate, carton or not the eggs need to be in the box snugly

 

[ilovechickens]

the eggs that came in the carton were snuggled tightly with postal tape wrapping the carton. Like I said, I tried to get a hold of the seller, and this was my first time buying on auction, so was not familiar with everything, and I still have not heard back from the sellers. I don't expect my money back. Just throwing my frustration out there.

 

[Lotsapaints]

I setting 47 shipped eggs from 2 different sellers neither one was packed in an egg carton they were double wrapped in bubble wrap one had peanuts, that set had the most scrambled but 4 out of 15. The other one single bubble wrap and newspaper all around the sides top and bottom and those were the best only one clear 3 scrambled. Both of my boxes were damaged and I feared the worse. I was lucky the last time I was in Vegas too....sorry for your bad luck maybe the seller will be a good one and send you more or refund your money?

 

[dieselgrl48]

Shredded paper is the best packing for shipping eggs.I was going to get a shredder last summer but. Well anyway another awesome thing I found with some sellers that ship egg's is to put a lining of foil in the box.It give's the eggs some protection I heard if they attempt to Xray them.I always wrapped my eggs with bubble wrap open for air flow at ends at least some eggs need some oxygen.I have had 100% hatch rates down to Zero on shipped egg's I have bought over the year's.Im disgruntled right now with my hatch so.... I check back.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Shipped eggs are always a crap shoot due to rough postal handling. I have sent some that produced great hatches 75% and up, and from the same hens a week later sent some that half were bad due to rough handling. I don't think I have EVER had any eggs I have shipped to have less than 20% hatch rate...EVER. On that one I shipped replacements and the person got a 50% hatch which told me somewhere between here and there...they must have played football with the boxes

I pack nice and snug individually wrapped, in cartons, with lots of newsprint wadded and shoved all around every side/corner/end of the carton. I also label the boxes "fertile hatching eggs please do not x-ray" on every side and each end of the box. I don't see any reason for a 0% hatch on shipped eggs. I've never recieved any like that either. BUT....this is just my experience. Sorry you're having a bad experience!!!

 

[leoismydog]

Well 3 sets in the bator last one is hatching now and the results are all over the place.
1st set 100% LOSS the usps kepts the eggs in limbo from tues ship till monday to me.
2nd Well out of 18 eggs 3 chicks. 10 were undeveloped yolk at time of hatch and 5 quitters, 2 of the quiters tried to pip but no hatch
3rd set about 20 eggs 10 out of egg now 2 more piped and 4 or 5 nothing yet 3 broken all on 1 end of box like it was droped.
1 st eggs were fine as in no broken packed well, but lost or delayed, probibly froze or got tossed around to much
2nd set Packed extremely well double boxed bubble wraped and crappy hatch individually wrapped the whole nine yards. 2 were leakers during incubation, unseen cracks.
3rd set Closest shipper also only 1 day travel. packed well not individually wrapped 3 broken eggs and best hatch of the group

All these eggs were set in the same incubator and were set on Feb 23,26 and march 2 so it was not a incubation issue as the quitters were well advanced as in last few days before they died.
I have come to the realization that hatching shipped eggs suck.
Last bach before this was 6 of 12 hatched. Of all the eggs i have collected and incubated i have 80-100 % hatch rates. I beleive its handeling.
I will hatch eggs from others if i can pick up the eggs directly so i will know how they have been treated from now on.

 

[ilovechickens]

My very first trial run was with my own eggs, I set 14 Copper Maran and Cuckoo Maran eggs, I got 9 that hatched and because I was unable to candle them, not sure on the other 5. I have heard that if you get a 50% from shipped eggs that you are doing good. I have a bunch of chicks coming. 25 Exhibition RIR rose comb, 25 Buckeye's, 15 Chantecelers. So, we will see what happens there.