Shipped Eggs Please Help

[mommaschickens]

Hi, this is my first time trying to incubate eggs. I ordered 12 eggs, and they came this morning. They were supposed to come yesterday, so they have been in the mail for 3 days! I was going to let them sit for 24 hours, but I am wondering if I should go ahead and set them tonight since they are getting older now. If I put them in at 10 pm, they will have sat for 12 hours. Is that enough? I tried to look at their air cells, but they are brown, and I cant really see much. Thanks for the help!

 

[mommaschickens]

I just looked at them again in a darker room, and I could see air cells on some of them. The jiggle a little bit, but seem to stay in place. Only one (that I can see) seems to be moving around more than it should. The air cells are much harder to see than I expected!

 

[song of joy]

I'm working with a similar situation. Eggs were mailed Monday and received Thursday. Air cells on 8 of the 9 eggs are detached or rolling. I thought some of the air cells were just "jiggly", but they actually moved along the side of the egg when I tipped it, although this was hard to see.

I stored them upright in the basement all day, let them come to room temperature overnight, and set them early this morning. The recommendation is to let shipped eggs sit for 12-24 hours. Considering the poor condition of the air cells, I opted for about 20 hours of stabilization before putting them in the incubator.

I'll be incubating the eggs upright for 17 days, with no turning the first 48 hours, and tilting the remainder of the time. They'll be laid down for hatching around day 18. I hope something hatches, as this is my first attempt at hatching eggs. It's going to be a LONG 21 days!

Good luck to you!

 

[mommaschickens]

what color are your eggs? I am wondering why I am having such a hard time seeing the air cells. A lot of the eggs have a lot of porous spots on them, which also makes it difficult. I wish I could see them better so I would know what to do...Good luck to both of us! They gave me an extra egg, I'm guessing its because its a strangely shaped egg. It has no real big end/pointy end. I wonder if it has a chance...

My Eggs:

4 Barred Plymouth Rock
3 Buff Orpington
3 White Cochin
3 Black Australorp

 

[song of joy]

One is white and the others are a very pale beige. I'm surprised how hard of a time I'm having trying to see the air cells. A few of the eggs seem to have porous shells and that makes it super hard to see anything as the shell has such a mottled appearance.

I think some of the difficulty is also related to the size of the air cells. They're really small, so it's hard to tell how much they're moving. I guess the only thing I can do is incubate upright, start tilting eggs on day 3, and candle again at 7 or 8 days. I think the air cells will be much easier to see then, especially if the egg is developing.

You have a really nice assortment of eggs! I have all of those breeds in my flock, except cochins.

If you have a chance, post periodic updates during incubation, and I'll do the same.

 

[mjmkjun]

I'm working with a similar situation. Eggs were mailed Monday and received Thursday. Air cells on 8 of the 9 eggs are detached or rolling. I thought some of the air cells were just "jiggly", but they actually moved along the side of the egg when I tipped it, although this was hard to see.

I stored them upright in the basement all day, let them come to room temperature overnight, and set them early this morning. The recommendation is to let shipped eggs sit for 12-24 hours. Considering the poor condition of the air cells, I opted for about 20 hours of stabilization before putting them in the incubator.

I'll be incubating the eggs upright for 17 days, with no turning the first 48 hours, and tilting the remainder of the time. They'll be laid down for hatching around day 18. I hope something hatches, as this is my first attempt at hatching eggs. It's going to be a LONG 21 days!

Good luck to you!

That's the method I followed. My hatching eggs (Cream Legbars & Favacuanas) were delayed in transport so sat at the post office through the weekend with lows of single digits in the area. Results: 67% & 75%, respectively, on hatch rates--using a Hova Bator Genesis 1588. Although not outstanding hatch rates but it's still pretty good considering all adverse factors.

 

[song of joy]

That's the method I followed. My hatching eggs (Cream Legbars & Favacuanas) were delayed in transport so sat at the post office through the weekend with lows of single digits in the area. Results: 67% & 75%, respectively, on hatch rates--using a Hova Bator Genesis 1588. Although not outstanding hatch rates but it's still pretty good considering all adverse factors.

That's really encouraging for shipped eggs. Thanks for sharing! I'd be thrilled with even a 50% hatch rate!

 

[mommaschickens]

I think I will put them in tonight and not turn for 48 hours like you said. My incubator does have the eggs sit upright, and has the tilting motion, so hopefully that will work. I am already so exited! Thanks for the help.

 

[song of joy]

Day 10 update

Of 9 shipped eggs, only 1 is developing. The other 8 were discarded yesterday and today. All 8 had detached or saddled air cells. 3 had blood rings and 5 showed no signs of development, but the yolk sack was broken on a few (i.e., egg contents were "scrambled"). The air cell on the viable egg is also saddled, but it appears to be developing normally. So . . . 1 of 9 so far. How depressing.

 

[mommaschickens]

So sorry to hear that. Sounds like they had a rough trip through the mail. I looked at mine on day 7, and 12/13 were developing. I had one blood ring that I threw out. I have one odd shaped egg (no pointy end), which has a saddled air cell. Hopefully everything will go well, but at least I know MPC sent me fertile eggs safely.