Long distance egg shipping

[Plip]

One more thing...

I read this somewhere, and I decided to do it. I don't know if it helped or not, but my results were obviously good.

When I got the eggs, left them sitting still with the air sac up, at room temperature for two days before I put them in the incubator. I read that if the air sac was damaged during shipping, this would give it a chance to heal. I don't know if air sacs heal or not, but I figured it couldn't hurt.

It took some discipline, because I really wanted to get them in the incubator and get going, but I wanted to give the eggs the best chance, and I figured that might be it.

 

[ironjerry]

So I’m wondering where the best place to get coturnix quail from. I would like to get Italians, tuxedos and maybe some Pharoahs. I would prefer eggs. I can’t find to many on site reviews for various hatcheries. Does anyone have any experience with Kansas City quail farms? They seem to be great but I want to be sure. Also how safe is shipping eggs 1000+ miles?
Thanks in advance.

I bought from ebay 40 to 50% hatch if everything else ok seller mail on Mon get 2-3 days later ok set that up when you buy

 

[Alaskan]

That's pretty much right in line with what most people do. You should be just fine with that. Here are a few thoughts, for what they're worth...

1. I shoot for 45% and below in humidity. My experience seems to be that it's better to be a little low than a little high.

2. Since my incubator allows me to set the temperature to the 1/10 of a degree and seems to keep it there, I set it to 99.5f, which is what I first read. I've never had an issue at that temp.

3. There are two ways to understand day 14: the beginning of day 14 and after 14 days. I've always understood it to mean after 14 days (so, really, at the beginning of the 15th day). Some of what I've read has been pretty clear on this point. I've never had a problem doing it this way.

4. If you can keep the humidity at 70% during lockdown, that's great! You may not be able to get it quite that high (for a couple of different potential reasons). If you can't, just keep it as high as possible.

5. Yes, stop turning the eggs during lockdown. I have an automatic turner, and even before lockdown I have it at its lowest setting, which is every three hours. I would actually prefer that it was less than that. I think once or twice a day would be plenty.

6. Yes! Wait. Don't do anything. Don't open the incubator if you can help it!

That's my understanding of what I've read tweaked a little by my own experience.

As to hatch rate for shipped eggs. It depends so much on things outside of your control (and even outside of your awareness). I don't think you can realistically have any specific expectation when it comes to hatch rate.

I hoped to get 50% the one time I used shipped eggs. I was relieved when the first egg hatched. I was thrilled when hatchrate passed 50%. I was ecstatic to get 77%.

X2

I like lower humidity for incubation... so in the 30s.

Remember oxygen is very important. .. don't close all vents.

And quail hatch FAST! Way faster than chickens. So they also need feed and water as soon as they are dry (verses chicks who are happy to not eat or drink the first day or 3.)

 

[Thepigeonguy]

THank you guys so much. While I probably won’t be getting quail for several months I’m really glad for all this information. I appreciate how willing you guys are to set me in the right direction.

 

[davedavey]

Ebay! From one corner of the u.s. to the opposite corner with 75% hatch

 

[Thepigeonguy]

I’ll keep that in mind.

 

[Sara L]

I bought Coturnix eggs on ebay twice, and had really good hatches with them. I set them in trays with the big end up for 24 hours after receiving them so the air cell does have time to settle if it was detached during shipping. Then once I add the eggs to the incubator I turn at least 2 times per day up to lock-down. I have found that hatch rates are usually better if I can turn at least 3 times per day, but I don't have an automated turner yet so I just do the best I can with my schedule. I usually keep my humidity closer to 30% for the first 14 days and around 70+% starting day 15 through hatching. Temp around 99-100 - homemade incubator won't go more detailed than full degrees, but I haven't had issues with it though.

The chicks will call to each other while in the egg to coordinate hatching, so it is really important to leave the first hatched chicks in the incubator until almost all the eggs have hatched OR it's been almost a day. They are smaller than chicken chicks, so they can't stay in the incubator much over a day or you are risking them be dehydrated or hungry. Once they start hatching it happens pretty quick and suddenly you have chicks running all over the incubator.

 

[Thepigeonguy]

Thank you guys so much! I’m feeling a lot more confident about hatching eggs. I appreciate how willing everyone is to share information.

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you guys so much! I’m feeling a lot more confident about hatching eggs. I appreciate how willing everyone is to share information.

maybe it is because quail eggs are so small?? That makes them stronger??

They are way more difficult to crack open than chicken eggs.

And that might be why the hatching rate for shipped quail eggs is usually decent to even great.

Shipped chicken eggs are riskier.

 

[Thepigeonguy]

I think I read somewhere that quail eggs membrane is thinker than the shell. This probably gives extra flexibility during shipping. Just what I think. Size probably helps to.