shipped eggs, 'bator vs. hen

[dancingbear]

Just wondering what experiences folks have had with the two methods when hatching shipped eggs. If you hatched under a hen, how'd that work out? Did you check the air cells first, and if you did, were they normal or damaged?

 

[IggiMom]

My Broody "Big Momma" is sitting on a clutch of Serama eggs right now, being very faithful. GOOD Bird!

They were shipped.

I will let everyone know how she does. I also have Serama eggs in the incubator, so it will be a test.

I did not check them first, as I am so new to all this that I did not think I would see anything worthwhile.

And I am not checking them while she is on them, because it bothers her. I just feel them every day to make sure they are warm and not poopy, and even that seems to disturb her a little.

Catherine

 

[dancingbear]

I candle first, because micro cracks you might miss in normal light will show up, as will ruptured air cells. And, if somebody sends an old egg, you may be able to see that, too. Streaks of yolk, enlarged air cells, you can see all that.

My theory is that eggs with damaged air cells will do better upright, in an incubator, (either in the upright-tip-side-to-side turners, or in cartons) than under a hen. But I don't know that for sure. So I want to gather info from as many folks as I can, to see what results they've gotten.

 

[DANNY]

It all depends on how much air cell damage you have. If they look pretty good they will do fine under a hen. If the air cells are all over the place they will do better in the bator but from my experience if the air cells have bad damage they won't hatch worth a flip regardless of how you incubate them.

 

[okiehen]

I have shipped eggs under 3 hens
#1 hen is hatching now
#2 is day 18
#3 just set #4 is getting shipped eggs this week
I'll post hatching results when I get them.
I have had 2 sets of shipped eggs that I'm incubating.
I'll post on them also, after hatch.
And I candle all eggs before hatching and open all eggs that don't hatch.

 

[dancingbear]

Cool, I'll be watching for your results! Thanks!
Anybody else?

 

[jkm]

well I am a newbie,
but I gave my broody buffy eight shipped ebay eggs and she was a great incubator in the kitchen and now has six healthy chicks almost a week old following her around the yard. six of eight was a great hatch rate, eggs came from Tn to Oregon, and I am happy with my experiment.
after reading all the issues with incubatores,,, miss buffy was a deal....and now she is doing the rest of the work,,,, I did two batches in the kitchen . it was fun,,,, but so much work.
miss buffy even puts them in the dog crate at night on the porch.
well thats my two cents

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
And a fine two cents it was! Thank you for your post. Did you candle the eggs before you set them? 6 out of 8 shipped eggs is an excellent hatch rate. Sounds like Buffy is a good mom, you choose your incubator well!

 

[okiehen]

Quote:
Hatching results so far.
#1 hen shipped eggs 12/ home laid eggs 2, 14 total 13 eggs made it to day 21, 2 home laid eggs first to hatch shipped eggs
3 hatched, 1 was cracked from shipping 3 rotten 5 chicks died in shell.

#2 hen shipped eggs 12 total 11 of 12 chicks hatched ? on the last egg haven't checked it yet I put it in the hatch-er.

Shipped eggs I incubated in hova bator 16 eggs total 7 chicks hatched 3 clear 4 scrambled 2 chicks died in shell. Home laid eggs 18 hatched of 21, 2 chicks died in shell 1 was a quitter.

Incubator full again with shipped eggs and home laid eggs.

I'll update again with the next ones I'm hatching on the 10th and the other 2 hens are setting on shipped eggs due 23th and 26th.

 

[racuda]

I got 24 silkie eggs from Bobbi Porto in Flordia a couple of days ago. I candled a few, but couldn't tell anything. I split them between 2 broodys and the 'bator. I'll candle in a week and report the broody vs 'bator progress.