just bought shipped eggs, whats your hatch rate?

[peepblessed]

I set 20 eggs I had shipped from Kentucky (I'm California) one week ago. All are candled with growth but one and two I can't see clearly because shell is dark. My first shipped eggs. I'm praying hard!

 

[Dreamtime]

Ive tried a few batches now from various sources and have had 0 to 85% hatch rates on shipped eggs, 15- 25% being more the average. (80% hatch rate on local unshiped eggs)

I cant say there is any pattern or that closer or farther the shipping is a factor, I think its more the unknown of how well the box is treated between points A and B that matters. From my notes the only consistent thing I've noticed is air cell disruption has been the best ear-marker to how well that hatch will go. Mostly intact air-cells strong chance of development for the batch. Detached but still whole air-cells (move freely but as one bubble) moderate to low chance of development for the batch. If there are any Scrambled air-cells (those with many bubbles) extremely low to nill development for the whole batch. I can only assume the latter are very mishandled packages to cause that kind of scrambling... thrown against something hard? dropped? excessively vibrated? Ive found that even just one egg looks like that in the box the rest have all had the same trauma too and even if they look whole don't do well.

Yes it has been VERY discouraging to spend the money and time to get nothing, but those few precious fussy butts who do make it have made it worthwhile to me. Ive kind of programed my brain to accept that the odds are what they are, expect the worse and then when it does work it's a blessing. Still better gambling odds than Vegas.

 

[Jloeffler]

I am so glad you started this thread! I've also been toying with the idea of ordering eggs. I currently have three of my own in a homemade incubator. Two still have hope but I am doubtful about the third. However, they are brown eggs so I'm not sure how clear I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing ( - if that makes sense!) Thanks for asking the questions and getting this started. I too am interested in hearing how the hatches go!

 

[Soli]

I just set 27 shipped Sumatra eggs in the incubator yesterday. It will be my first shipped-egg hatch, too. The eggs were packaged extremely well and it was a fairly short delivery time (shipped Monday, received Wednesday) so I'm cautiously optimistic. I'll candle around day 3-4.

I spent a good amount of money on these eggs, trying to get show quality and rare color birds that I cannot get locally or from hatcheries. With that in mind, I also looked closely at the ebay feedback of sellers- especially ones that had follow-ups to positives showing the fertility and/or hatch success as reported by buyers. There's always going to be one or two jerks - but the person I bought from had hundreds of positives and many follow-ups that reported successes. That's still no guarantee, but it does make your odds better.

I'll follow up in a few days with the candling results.

~S

 

[XxB0rd3rsxX10]

everyone who repiled to this thread, i just want to say thanks and everyone who is incubating their first batch of shipped eggs.... good luck

 

[53convert]

I got 48 in the bator and 38 were shipped the rest from my flock

I have successfully hatced about a dozen shipped groups, probably 80 eggs total and have around a60% hatch rate.
Now I use a lot of arounds cause this goes back to 2002 to present and some years I haven hatched any

 

[XxB0rd3rsxX10]

i cant wait till my eggs get here, i hope i have as good of a hatch rate as some of you guys

 

[yinepu]

Update:
60 shipped coturnix quail eggs.. several were broken/cracked in transit.. 41 hatched.. the rest were cracked/broken/clears ... 68% hatch rate

 

[peepblessed]

Mine are two weeks away from hatching and I can hardly wait to order more! What an addiction this is

 

[Josie360]

I know, right? I started hatching in February and haven't shut the 'bator off yet. I have had shipped egg hatches all across the board. From 0% to 95%, so it really is hit or miss. I had eggs ship in our worst cold and 6 of 8 hatch all the way to our worst heat 100+...those are due to hatch this week wish me luck. No I am trying really hard not to order more eggs before I end up with an empty incubator again...