September Egg Swap--Sign-ups closed--check posts for shipping updates!

[bloomnbeauty]

Count me in.. I love the swaps!!

 

[ebonyann]

Quote:
Well, I guess so. There is a place to request "waterfowl" and "other". I don't see why guineas can't be considered an "other"

 

[ILOVEFRIZZLES]

Me too

 

[ILOVEFRIZZLES]

Quote:
yes they are welcome.

 

[smfamf]

I sent my email.

 

[shelleyd2008]

If it hatches from an egg, it is allowed

Other would consist of guineas, quail, pheasant, chukar, basically anything that is not a chicken and not a duck or goose.

Please remember to send an email to [email protected] so I can keep everyone's information seperate. That email address is set up specifically for this swap, so I don't have to hunt through my pm's or my personal email box to find your info

Thanks!

 

[Bird Brain]

Yay! I'm in!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Got everyone's emails so far, please let me know if I didn't reply to yours

I can't wait till this starts, these are so much fun!

 

[shelleyd2008]

I keep forgetting this, but I've finally remembered!

I have had a few entrants that have expressed concern on the shipping and packing of the eggs. I know, from my past experiences with these swaps, it seems like a lot of people either don't know how to pack eggs, use the swaps as free 'testers', or whatever.

Please make sure that your eggs are fertile!!
All it takes is cracking one egg open and looking for a bullseye

Please make sure that the box you use is big enough for the eggs to be wrapped securely.
I have personally gotten eggs that were so cram-packed in the box that there was nothing between them and each other, or them and the sides of the box. So if one little hit was made to the side, half the eggs were cracked.

Think of this as if you were the person receiving the eggs
You know that old saying "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?? That applies here. If you would be disappointed that your eggs arrived completely scrambled, cracked, or otherwise messed up because of poor packaging, chances are your swap buddy would feel the same way

We all understand that shipping eggs is risky, but proper packaging goes a looooooooooooooooong way.

I ship eggs at least twice a week, and have very good results. I'll list how I pack them, so you can get an idea.

----------------------------Where to get supplies--------------------------------------

1. Make sure the box is big enough!! There are several different sizes of boxes available for free from www.usps.com, and they will deliver them to you.

2. The #4 USPS Priority mail box (in my opinion) is perfect for sending 6-8 bantam eggs, 4-6 LF or duck eggs, or a lot of quail eggs! The #7 box is good for larger shipments, I use these a lot to send 50+ quail eggs out, 2-3 dozen bantam eggs, or up to 3 dozen LF or duck eggs.

3. Never ever use the flat rate shipping boxes!!! They are such a scam, unless you are sending a very heavy package to a far destination. Chances are, if the package is so heavy that it is cheaper to use a flat rate box, you have too many eggs in the box

---------------------------------Wrapping the eggs-------------------------------------

Okay, now onto how I pack eggs for shipping

(Depending on what size eggs you are sending, you can usually wrap 6 eggs with just 2 1/2 sheets of bubble wrap!)
A. Cut a sheet of bubble wrap into 4- 6" x 6" squares. Place the egg in the center of the square and fold each end over; secure with tape.
B. Making sure that the air cell is 'up' (bigger, more rounded end of the egg), stand each egg on-end with the 'thicker' part of the bubble wrap against the 'thinner' part (remember where you overlapped the bubble wrap? Put this side against the next egg on the not-overlapped side of the other egg).
C. Tape 3 eggs together on one side, then tape the other 3 together on the other side. (remember that 1/2 sheet of bubble wrap you had left over? Fold it in half and stick it between the eggs

).
D. Take this 'pack' and place it 'catty-corner' on another sheet of bubble wrap. Fold all four corners over so they join or overlap in the middle, secure with tape and voila!! Safe secure eggs

---------------------------Prepping the box----------------------------------------

1. Secure the bottom of the box with packing tape (even if it is already 'together'. I once used a box from diapers to mail some things to my dad's. The box opened up along the way (on the bottom where I hadn't taped it) and I lost quite a lot of personal items, like baby books, photo albums, things that I can't replace

)
2. Line the inside bottom of the box with 'filler'. I use those Auto Shopper magazines, they're free, so why not?

Crumpled or shredded paper or packing peanuts work best IMO.
3. Place your 'pack' of safe, secure eggs in the middle of the box with the air cell (big end) up if you can. If this is not possible, lay it on its side. Loose air cells are usually caused from the eggs moving inside the box, not from them being shipped on their sides. Just make sure you don't put them upside down!! I don't think that would work too well

4. Take some more 'filler' and firmly pack the sides of the box, all the way around the eggs.
5. Once you have the eggs firmly packed on all 4 sides you can fill up the rest of the box, making sure that the filler is firmly packed in the box.
6. Seal the top of the box and you're good to go!

-------------------What to do with the outside of the box----------------------------

I have read many posts that say not to label the outsides of the box. I always label mine, and I always get good reports on how the eggs develop. becky3086 got eggs from me about a week ago (from KY to FL) and everyone of them is developing.

LABEL!! LABEL!! LABEL!! Labelling the outside of the box is a good thing, no matter what you've read! I put 'LIVE EGGS' 'FRAGILE' 'AVOID HEAT' 'DO NOT DROP' on the outsides of all my boxes, unless the receiver requests differently. The last person that did request that the outside of the box didn't say 'eggs' ended up getting 2 that were cracked. IT DOES HELP!!
Make sure to label all 4 sides and the top of the box. As long as you don't cover the shipping/address portion of the label it's fine!

Okay, I think I'm done preaching, so let's get to swapping!!

 

[miss_jayne]

i am so in!!!