Shipped eggs received today...kind of a mess...What to do?

[hippichick]

Ok, here's the deal. I ordered polish eggs for hatching. I got them in today..Pretty speedy shipping, but the packaging-- not so great.. I think 19 eggs were put into a carton that holds 18 eggs, so the carton wouldn't close. Looks like the carton bounced around quite a bit in the box, as it wasn't secured very well. 3 of the eggs broke, and made a big mess. I don't think it's really the fault of the post office this time. The word fragile was written in really small letters on one spot on the box. I've ordered hatching eggs several times, and never had this problem, but they were packaged way better than this.

Anyway, my question is, do I candle them before putting into the bator, and what do I look for. I e-mailed the sender and she says she will replace them for the cost of shipping if no development by day 10..But what should I be looking for now?

 

[CUDA]

Candling won't do you any good right now. I would rinse the eggs with water only though if they have egg all over them. Pop them in the bator, and wait 10 days to see the fertility. BTW, shipped eggs don't always hatch real well, and it isn't necessarily the fault of the person who shipped them to you. Good luck!

 

[Mrs MIA]

Don't forget to let them settle for at least 6 hours... stand them upright in a carton, and let the airsac stabilize. If you do candle them, look at how mobile the airsac is, and check them carefully for any fine cracks that might not yet be visible without the light. I had one that had a very slight crack, but I set it anyway... it went in the trash last night... peeeeeee-yew!!! Don't want anything exploding! But do let them settle and warm up slowly... it will help.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

If you wash the eggs, make sure it's at a temperature slightly warmer than the egg. Don't wipe them try, but pat them dry with a paper towel or cloth.

 

[ChickNLittle]

I've never had much problem with shipped eggs. Maybe not all of them hatch, but I get at least a 70% hatch rate if not all. I have had the BEST LUCK with ordering from anyone on this board. I have ordered from hatcheries and havent had the luck I've had with the honest people here. I have ordered some from eggbid.com and that didnt' turn out very well. (All from one person). I have ordered from ebay and also got good results. Eggs are unpredictable, but packing plays a huge part because the post office is no longer as consciencious as they used to be. At least thats a fact here.

If you have some muck on the eggs you just got and want to "clean" them. The best way is to let the water run just until it gets warm that quickly pass the egg through the running street about 2 or 3 times and gently, very gently rub it with a DRY clean cloth.

Good Luck! I'm sure you'll get a hatch.

 

[hippichick]

Thanks all for the advice.. I will rinse them with warm water and pat them dry. I will probably wait to candle them. I'll just put them into the bator tonight. I understand you take a huge chance with shipped eggs, and the hatch rate might not be as good. But I have ordered before, and the eggs have always arrived in good condition. I think packaging plays a huge part, though, if you are to have any chance at all. Anyway, I'll hope for the best, and who knows, I may have a few little polish running around in about 21 days or so.............If not, anyone out there know where I can get agood mix of polish bantams????????????

 

[Crunchie]

That stinks!! Of course you take a chance with shipped eggs, but it sounds like they weren't packaged well at all...you at least have a better shot at getting live chicks out of the deal if you are shipped fresh, well-packaged eggs! But at least the seller is willing to replace them for you. That's good, can't ask for much more than that (except maybe that, if you get another batch, that they make sure those babies can't move in the shipping box!).

I would candle to find fine cracks before they go in the incubator. With my Polish eggs I candle at day 3 (I'm so impatient!

) and I am able to see definite development (or not) at that point. Just to be on the safe side, though, I don't toss any 'till after day 10 or later. So if you want to get a guess as to how many are developing you could take a peek in a few days--though to be sure (and to satisify the seller's requirements) I would wait another week after that to make any "cuts", so to speak!

Good luck!

ETA: I can recommend to you a breeder of Polish bantams if you want to give eggs another go, PM me if you want info.

 

[hippichick]

Thanks, Crunchie. Maybe I will candle after all before putting them in. Just curious... Some of the replies that I received say to do so. So, why not? Yes the seller was really nice in saying she'll replace the eggs if no development, so at least there's that.
By the way, Crunchie, do you only raise large polish, or do you have any bantams. All of my chickens are bantams, and I have one polish bantam who I just love

I would just like to stay with the bantam variety.

 

[Poison Ivy]

Yes I would candle them before putting them in the bator. You will be able to see any cracks in the eggs that will save you the trouble of them leaking in the bator and making a bigger mess. I had some last year shipping like that but the girl didn't even bother to cover the ends of the eggs so they bumped together and half of them were broken. I said something to her and she got mad and said I was the first to complain! That I couldn't believe so I didn't buy anymore from her.

 

[hippichick]

Sorry, Crunchie. Yes, I would like that recommendation please. Thanks alot!