Shipped eggs!!! Incubation tips wanted and needed

[Scott214]

I just recieved my first batch of hatching eggs! They are marans, silkies, olive eggers, and Wyandottes and I candles them and most have a saddle bag air sack. They are chilling out getting acclimated now. I figured I would take y’all along the whole incubation and see if with your help and tips we can get any to hatch. What are my odds any hatch? Also I have an auto turner but they have to be on their side to do so so should I just manually turn them with them being pointy end down? Any help is appreciated. The incubator is at 100 degrees and also 40 percent humidity.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

I have hatched about 4 sets of shipped eggs and have gotten between a 40-75% hatch rate. It all depends on how they were packed, how long it took them to ship, the temp during shipping, and about 1000 more variables as to what the percentage of them will hatch for you. Crazy, right?!

 

[Scott214]

Yeah it is! Mine were packaged fairly great no cracks and the box looked good as well. I had no complete disconnected air sacks. How did you incubate your eggs? On their sides or with the pointy end down? Thank you

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

They should rest for 24 hour with pointy end down in an egg carton. They should be incubated and hatched in the same position. Once in the incubator do not turn for the first 3-5 days. That advice will vary depending on who's giving it. I've heard up to 1 week no turning. Then lock down and hatch upright.

This is a bit late for you but I'd always do a "hold for pickup".

Also incubating local eggs first to dial in your incubation would be ideal.

This was my best advice based on my limited experience, 5 settings, with shipped eggs.

 

[Scott214]

I did drive to the post office to get them. I will try to not turn them for the first couple of days. That’ll be hard for me because I’m my head I feel like that can’t be good for them even though it probably is. So when I hatch upright is that okay for the eggs? Or is it better for them to be on their sides?

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

The idea behind not turning is to get the air cell reattached. If you feel it's best to turn them then just do that. Turning once a day instead of 3-4 time is still turning and will not reattach the air cell.

Incubating is full of hard knocks. Lots of tears and "I'll never do that again". This is compounded with shipped eggs. Some of mine include turning too soon and hatching on their sides. Your learning curve may very well contain something else.

On a happy note you've got a lot of eggs there. Pending a major malfunction you should definitely
have some hatch!

 

[Scott214]

Im really hoping for a good hatch. My eggs seem in better shape than others I’ve seen. And they are pretty fresh only 4-6 days old.

 

[Scott214]

I got a great deal too! All of these eggs were under 30 dollars total and that was even with the shipping!

 

[Scott214]

I’m just curious... if you don’t turn the eggs won’t they attach themselves to the wall and die?

 

[UThobbyfarmer]

Yes, it's possible. But it's more like they'll have trouble at hatch time with wonky air cells.