shipped eggs, are they worth it?

Quote:There has been a lot of discussion on this lately I think. Most are lucky to get 30-50%.

You're much better off trying to find a breeder within driving distance and picking them up yourself.

 

Oh. It really varies. I get 50% or better.

 

I have done two hatches with shipped eggs, the first was 100% (with 8 eggs) and the second was 4 out of 7 eggs (57%).

 

I wouldn't pay a lot and there is of course a risk, depending on a lot of things. Such as whether the shipper is honest and sends fresh eggs, how they are packed, how soon you can pick them up from the PO and the weather. IMO now is a good time as temps are not to cold in some areas of the country. Early spring is another.

I would post who you are getting them from and see if others have had good or bad luck with them.

Oh yeah, your hatch depends on how good you are at hatching with your particular incubator. I've posted this before but I'll post it again. I have a copy of Incubating from Practical poultry magazine that helped me alot. I can mail it to you or fax it to you and I think I can figure out how to e-mail it to you if you'd like.

Wishing you a sucessful hatching experience
Rancher

 

the reliability of your incubator is a huge factor. If it spikes to 110 (one of mine did) it doesn't matter if they were shipped or laid at your house it is fried. with my genesis if the egg is fertile I get about 60-70% hatch some breeds are harder to hatch like japs because of the short legs.

 

I've had anywhere from 0% to 100% hatches on shipped eggs. There are so many factors, there is no way to predict what you'll get.

 

Oh I forgot another. It depends on the health of the stock and the egg itself.

 

I got 4/12 to hatch from Virginia to California for $22