I bought some eggs off ebay.... the ad states: This auction is for Black-Sex link-AKA Black Star Chicken Eggs ready to be placed into your incubator. We have hatched out several batches for ourselves and have extra eggs that we can sell. When I opened the box the note states: Eggs are kinda small since the pullets have only been laying for about 3 weeks. If this is the case, how have they hatched 'several batches'? Please weigh in on this, I am new to shipped eggs and want to play by the rules, but, this just doesn't pass the smell test.
If the add states that they have hatched out several batches, and the pullets are only a couple weeks old it would seem suspicious. It could be that these are young hens. They hatched out several batches last year, and these are some of the pullets from last year. Email the seller and ask would be my advice. I hope you get a good hatch!
Looks like they caught themselves in a lie. If they are selling eggs from their black sex links, you aren't going to end up with black sex-links since they don't breed true. I'd email them and call them on their statements that don't add up.
Perhaps they had other hens that have been laying and now only the pullets are laying. I would contact them and ask the question.
I think I have found one of the listings on Ebay. It does appear they know what a sex link is and are breeding the correct parent stock to get a sex link chick. They could possibly mean that sex links hatch well in general. Obviously they have not hatched several batches from the pullets! If you are worried about the smallish eggs, unless they are WAY tiny, they should be able to hatch just fine.
OP here- I got a response to my questions. It seems that they have older pullets, that is the hatching that was stated in the ad. The eggs that I got were from pullet eggs that appear fertile, but their first hatch will be in 9 days. The reason, is that you can get more small pullet eggs in the box. I got 2 extra. Is it me, or is this something that should have been disclosed? (or is this standard procedure these days?) I have eggs to set in the 'bator, so mission accomplished. With that said, I do feel a little misled. Had I known the circumstance, I might have chosen otherwise. This is my first rodeo with the 'bator, and I wanted to hedge my bets as much as possible. Again, I am new to this, and have learned a few more questions to ask.
i've read you shouldn't hatch a pullets eggs for the first few weeks... i hatched mine, and the chickes are plenty healthy and driving me nuts.. my guess on the wording of the add and the note is that they have hatched from their flock before and these particular pullets just started laying.. meh.. i'd email letting them know you're dissapointed to get newly laying pullet eggs but personally i'd go ahead and put them in the bator...
I've hatched a lot of pullet eggs just fine, but I think they should have disclosed that they were sending you pullet eggs.
The sellers responded and offered a refund, if I returned the eggs. (of course I pay for return shipping) I will keep the eggs, and asked that the listing be changed to reflect the truth about the eggs. The seller added a line stating that the eggs might be pullet eggs. The claim about 'several hatches' remains. Oh well, you can lead a horse to water.......
