Learn from my mistakes-

[Pattymal]

I discovered that if you brush them with an old toothbrush it helps them fluff out! They are looking much cuter now!
I'm anxious to see what they will look like when they are grown- I'm thinking they may have some Partridge Cochin or Silkie in them. Either way, they are all named now-
We have Fluff and Puff, (those are the two large yellow ones- already the bullies of the bunch!) Chipmunk, Coco, Dottie, Zipper, Queenie, and Curly.
We are bonding!

 

[jsvand5]

7 out of 15 from shipped eggs doesn't sound bad to me. Especially for your first time incubating eggs. Congrats on the babies.

 

[dancingbear]

That's true, for shipped eggs, that's a very good hatch. I wasn't taking that into account. Better than my shipped eggs have done. My great hatches are all with my own, or locally obtained eggs.

 

[Pattymal]

I emailed the seller I bought the eggs from, and they said they had no idea what might have happened.
They were more than nice- they offered to give us more eggs or even chickens!
They also invited us to visit their farm as they are about an hour from us.
(When I purchased the eggs I tried to find the closest person selling them, to try and minimize scrambling/mail time.)
I'm going to pass on the offer of eggs/ chicks as we have enough right now, but think I will take them up on the visit so we can "meet the parents"! LOL
It should give me some idea of the quality of their stock, and also what ours will look like when grown.
I thought that offer was more than decent of them.
It was a good hatch- especially since it was my first and I made so many mistakes.
And again I will say, the eggs were well packed, arrived super fast and were fertile.
I think I would have had an even better hatch if I hadn't lost control of my temps and humidity at the end!
I should not have been so negative about Ebay eggs-
It is great to be able to purchase eggs at such a reasonable price, especially as it can be difficult or impossible, to find anyone local to buy them from.
If I were to do it again, I would contact the seller before bidding, and try to learn more about the flock of origin/ parent stock and I'd request more photos of the birds.

 

[dancingbear]

If I found eggs only an hour away from me, of the breeds I want, there's no way I would have them shipped. I'd just go get them. I've driven 8 hours round trip to pick up eggs. 2 dozen Brahma eggs, from a show breeder. I got a great hatch, too, it's been a few years, but I think I had something like 18 out of 24. A few were infertile.

Shipping is very risky for eggs. Out of $98 worth of eggs that I had shipped, (72 eggs) I've gotten 8 chicks. I know there are sellers who have very high hatch rates, but I haven't found one with the breeds I want.

So even though you had shipped eggs, and made a few errors in your hatching, you got a good hatch.

 

[Pattymal]

I agree-
I asked if I could pick them up when I won the auction, but the seller didn't reply, so I just paid for the shipping.

These chicks will be just dandy as family pets, but if I ever get brave enough to try my hand at breeding, I will research breeders before hand and will absolutely try to pick up the eggs in person- even if it means driving 8 hours! LOL!