Not Sure Whether To Buy Shipped Eggs

[SeaPolka]

Hi,
I'm not sure whether to buy shipped eggs or not. I'm in the UK and pretty much all sale of fertile eggs has stopped, but I did find some of my favourite (chocolate Pekin) eggs for sale on eBay. The places they're coming from is actually only three hours away and the seller seems very responsible, it's reasonably £16 for 12 eggs and shipping, I'd be buying two lots of 6 from the same guy. I guess my main worry is that their air cells will be detatched, they'll all be broken or 0 fertility. How's others' experience with posted eggs?

 

[AlleysChicks]

At 3 hrs away is there anyway you could meet to pick up the eggs? The postal service can be very rough on eggs. Even when they are labeled fragile and fertile eggs on the outside of the box.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Don't know about the U.K. Postal service, but the US service is only as good as the sellers shipping practices. If the seller has a good packaging system the eggs might arrive unbroken. Waiting anywhere from 12 to 24 hours can help the eggs settle and be ready for incubation.

My recent hatch of four chicks were out of 12 unbroken eggs that arrived timely at the local post office, but due to poor communication on the part of the post office, were not picked up by me until 4 days later.

But with duck eggs I might want to go pick them up as I read they are more delicate? But I don't have duck egg experience, only large fowl and bantam chicken eggs.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

My shipped eggs.

I had to toss 3, 6 RIGHT NOW ARE HATCHED.

I didn't think I would get that many.

 

[SeaPolka]

At 3 hrs away is there anyway you could meet to pick up the eggs? The postal service can be very rough on eggs. Even when they are labeled fragile and fertile eggs on the outside of the box.

No one I know would take me that far to pick them up, even an hour and half is pushing my luck. I've read their reviews and pretty much all their customers rated the packing as excellent, if that's anything to go on?

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Are they priced out of range? Are they a certain breed?

 

[Jacquie Button]

I just received shipped eggs and none were broken. I have them setting for the recommended 12 hours before I pop them in the incubator. They were packaged very well. I am in the U.S. though.
Have a good day!

 

[SeaPolka]

Are they priced out of range? Are they a certain breed?

They're pretty cheap actually compared to some I've seen. They're chocolate Pekins and white Pekins, I can't seem to buy these chickens anywhere within 6 hours of me and I find it fun to hatch. I kinda just wanted hear how other hatches have gone, but I know not all postal services are the same nor incubation techniques or fertility

 

[SeaPolka]

I just received shipped eggs and none were broken. I have them setting for the recommended 12 hours before I pop them in the incubator. They were packaged very well. I am in the U.S. though.
Have a good day!

Good luck with those

 

[Smuvers Farm]

They're pretty cheap actually compared to some I've seen. They're chocolate Pekins and white Pekins, I can't seem to buy these chickens anywhere within 6 hours of me and I find it fun to hatch. I kinda just wanted hear how other hatches have gone, but I know not all postal services are the same nor incubation techniques or fertility

I vote to go for it... but expect a LOW hatch rate. My 6 are out of the ordinary for shipped eggs