Keeping eggs cool during shipping?? Need Tips

[DutchChic]

Yep...after getting a chunk of it, and reading about it, I decided dry ice was not the way to go. I'm afraid of using a regular ice pack for some of the same reasons....not to mention the fact that it sweats so bad.

 

[ChickieKeeta]

WalkingWolf said, page 1 post 10


"Eggs sit in nest box outside in the heat in the summer until a broody sits on them. Most people have good hatches with this method. I can't imagine any postal employee sitting in a vehicle that is over 114.8F. It may be more possible with a urban carrier than a rural though, as they walk their route."

I was a letter carrier for 21 years. The post office I worked for went from jeeps to LLV's. Long life vehicles. The life wasn't so long & the trucks soon became stinky, polluting and rickity buckets of bolts with no pick up. The office was selected to get the newer FFV's. I don't recall what the letters stand for. The engine is in the front. (heat radiates into the driver's cab.) There is a hump between the driver's seat and the tray which holds the mail to the carrier's left. There are some sort of mechanical parts under it. The floor in the cab is mostly bare metal. The windsheild is very large and sun magnifies heat through glass. There are regulations for security of the mail. If the carrier leaves the vehicle the truck is to be closed & locked. The carrier gets 2 ten minute paid breaks. A thirty minute unpaid lunch. Can you imagine how hot it gets in there? The 2 side windows are also large.

I put a thermometer on the hump which is covered and the temp was 131 degrees F. I have a medical condition & I can't tolerate extreme heat. I contacted OSHA and the Dept of labor & other officials. There are laws prohibiting surfaces near workers to be 90 degrees or above. I learned this applies to inside the building & the loading dock. Walking the street & driving the truck is exempt.

I wrote to Utililimaster. Maker of the vehicles. They said they could insulate the vehicle floors. Management laughed at me when I turned in the suggestion.

ALWAYS MARK EGG BOXES TO BE HELD IN THE OFFICE FOR PICK UP.

Some years ago our office got a Windstar van for delivery. Mostly for drop offs to companies, delivery of mail to relay boxes and Express mail deliveries coming in after carriers are on the street. They had the air conditioner removed. It would be "unfair" for one driver to have AC. Mail carriers are prohibited to drive with the door(s) open. Everyone has seen brown trucks driving with open doors.

EDITED TO ADD;
WALKING A ROUTE WAS NOT AS HOT AS THAT TRUCK.

 

[IggiMom]

Yes, and also, if a package gets left in our mailbox in this heat, it gets very hot.

I, too, would always like eggs to be marked to call for pick up.

Catherine

 

[mbrobbins]

very interesting info, I need to copy and keep. Why do eggs not hatch if the bator gets too hot for a couple of hours say 104 . Is that because the veins and embryo are developing, and then no longer can take the heat. I wondered how in the world eggs layed in 110 degree temps, (like Phoenix, Arizona)ever make it to hatching. Once the hen starts setting on it, her body temp probably insulates them and keeps them from getting any warmer.





Quote:
Dry ice is for frozen, actually the heat should not hurt them unless it is over 114.8F for over 15 hours. This is the temp used to heat treat eggs for MG/MS, there is a 10% loss if eggs are infected. If the eggs are packed correctly and not left in the sun it is unlikely they are reaching that temp. Most times eggs have a bad hatch probably is from rough handling.

I shipped last month eggs from NC to Texas, both our states are HOT. I received a report back from the buyer that 7 out of 8 were fertile and 6 out of the 7 hatched.

My eggs are wrapped with the small bubble wrap with a length long enough to triple around the eggs. They are then wrapped 3 times with a piece of paper from a old phone book. They are then either suspended in shredded paper or packing peanuts. I only use the 12X12X8 priority box never the small box. The more the eggs are isolated from shock the better chance they have. I am amazed at how many shippers ship in the small box. I have never had 1 egg hatch from the #4 box. And will not buy from any seller who uses them. No offense but the larger box is free, and packing materials are not that expensive.

Eggs sit in nest box outside in the heat in the summer until a broody sits on them. Most people have good hatches with this method. I can't imagine any postal employee sitting in a vehicle that is over 114.8F. It may be more possible with a urban carrier than a rural though, as they walk their route.