I have a person who bought 6 silkie hatching eggs from me and has not had a successful hatch. This customer has hatched turkey and game bird successfully before, but never chickens (I'm not sure if that matters though). My main concern is that they did not use a hydrometer, the just followed the directions on their foam incubator- could this have played a role in the bad hatch? Could shipping the eggs have played part in 3-4 late term quitters and one chick that did not make it? I have fantasic hatch rates here, but I know exactly where my humidity is, etc, and of course they haven't been shippedm Thanks for your opinion!
as a recepient of shipped eggs I take full responsibility if they develop. If a shipper gets them to me without breaks/cracks and develop into a chick then that person has done their job. It's now up to me to do mine CORRECTLY!!!! Now if shipped eggs never develop and are clear at day 12...... then I have to question fertility and the handling by USPS. Thats my 2 cents.
It's impossible to say where the blame lies. Bottom line is you sent fertile eggs that did not hatch. Shipping is always stressful on eggs and hatch rates can vary greatly. Not really your fault. JMO
I agree with the others. The fact that they DID develop, and they weren't using all the tools available to them to help with a successful hatch, I'd say it's on them, not you. If they hadn't developed at all, or even quit in the first three days, I'd say re-ship them. Did they ask for replacements?
Quote:I offered if they used a hydrometer this time- I think its just a case of a newbie. However, my silkies are almost all broody right now so I'm going to send what I get. I think that is all I can do.
I have neither shipped eggs nor had them shipped to me, but I've read LOTS of threads like this, and it's amazing to me how people want the egg producer to take responsibility for incubation problems that are far more likely to be on their end than the producers. Good grief. She received fertile eggs in good condition that developed clear up to the hatching stage... what else does she expect you to do? Stand over her incubator and make sure she's doing it right? This is why I am terrified to begin shipping eggs, even if I didn't have more than enough demand for them right here locally. People are nuts. Luckily, all my hatching egg customers have been experienced and very very nice about everything, and they've all had good experiences. But the truth is, I get 80-90% hatch rates with my eggs, and most of my customers get closer to 50-60%. I say that's *their* problem, not mine (and, fortunately, they agree and have NEVER complained--they all seem happy with their hatch rates, so it's all good). Problems that develop late in incubation are rarely a problem with the eggs themselves, unless you have weak stock or disease in the flock, but in that case *you* would be having trouble hatching too. Good luck, and I'm sorry you have to deal with that. I hope the customer is not being too ornery, but don't feel bad about it anyway. You did your part.
I agree with all the above posts. As the receiver of shipped eggs, if they arrive well packed and unbroken then I think the shipper did a great job. Lack of hatching, especially late in the incubation is the receiver's issue not the shipper. I don't think I would even question fertility since I'm not sure I could tell the difference between a true "clear" egg and one that quit early on because it was rattled in transit. You owe nothing. However, you may get a repeat customer if you send her a few extra eggs, but that is a whole different issue.
Agree again- eggs that arrive fast, undamaged, and fertile are eggs that are no longer the shippers responsibility. Eggs that were damaged by shipping... well, imo, the eggs are not the buyer's property until they are in the buyer's possession, but not everyone feels that way. The fact that the eggs began developing says to me that they WERE NOT scrambled by shipping (shipping scrambled eggs mostly look a mess when you crack them, no development starts). So in this case, I'd place fault on their incubation methods.
