Question on shipped eggs.

[Nimueh Alene]

I bought some eggs on eBay. The seller said eggs would be less than 3 days old. I am fine with that. My question is if eggs are 3 days old and delivery expected on Saturday that makes them 8 days old. I know shipped eggs are risky and there is no guarantee of hatch. My question is How old is too old to begin with? Wither shipped or not?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I bought some eggs on eBay. The seller said eggs would be less than 3 days old. I am fine with that. My question is if eggs are 3 days old and delivery expected on Saturday that makes them 8 days old. I know shipped eggs are risky and there is no guarantee of hatch. My question is How old is too old to begin with? Wither shipped or not?

Hi, welcome to BYC!

10 days is the limit is my understanding. Be sure and rest the shipped eggs at least 24 hours before setting, pointed end down.

Good luck!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I bought some eggs on eBay. The seller said eggs would be less than 3 days old. I am fine with that. My question is if eggs are 3 days old and delivery expected on Saturday that makes them 8 days old. I know shipped eggs are risky and there is no guarantee of hatch. My question is How old is too old to begin with? Wither shipped or not?

While many people only hatch eggs a week or less old, the highest recommendation is 10 days or less and most agree after 2 weeks there's a substantial drop in viability.

 

[Nimueh Alene]

We'll see what happens than. I checked the tracking number and it's saying Thursday delivery. Much better than Saturday. The breeder recommends after going into the incubator not to activate the Turner for another 2-3 days. I've read up on incubating but I haven't seen that recommended before. Will that also help stabilize the air cell?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We'll see what happens than. I checked the tracking number and it's saying Thursday delivery. Much better than Saturday. The breeder recommends after going into the incubator not to activate the Turner for another 2-3 days. I've read up on incubating but I haven't seen that recommended before. Will that also help stabilize the air cell?

You MUST turn your incubator on for 3 days prior to arrival and get your temp stabilized. Yes let your eggs rest for 24 hours before incubating, pointy end down... and then don't turn for the first 2-3 days.

Sorry I misread the question.

The short answer is yes.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

We'll see what happens than. I checked the tracking number and it's saying Thursday delivery. Much better than Saturday. The breeder recommends after going into the incubator not to activate the Turner for another 2-3 days. I've read up on incubating but I haven't seen that recommended before. Will that also help stabilize the air cell?

A lot of it depends on air cells. My shipped silkies had great air cells. I think 3 maybe 4 were a tiny bit wobbly, but no detached air cells. I let sit for 12 hours, put them upright in cut down cartons in the bator, (I don't use turners) and didn't turn for 24 hours. For the next two days I tilted. By day four all air cells were firm and looking great so I laid them down and manually turned as normal.

For eggs that have detached or misshapen air cells, I would definitely give them 3 days, no turning, upright in either turner or cartons.

 

[Nimueh Alene]

Thank you very much. That's what I did wrong last time then I only had 2 if 20 hatch.