Shipped eggs

[Stacyoung13]

Hi, my hubby bid on some Silkie eggs on eBay and it looks like he’s gonna win. Hopefully they will be viable. 12+ fertile eggs for $15. My question is how long do you let them rest? What position is best?
Thanks

 

[sylviethecochin]

I've been told to let them rest, pointy-end down, for twenty-four hours.

Whether is this effective or useful at all, I'm not sure. As I understand it, the purpose of the rest period is to let the air cells settle and stabilise. I just can't understand why you shouldn't let them settle in the incubator, at a temp of maybe, oh, say, 99.5 F?

@Pyxis might have a better answer.

 

[Pyxis]

I've done both, let them rest 24 hours without incubating, and also have put them in the incubator and just not turned them for a day, and I really didn't seem to have different results with both methods.

 

[R2elk]

I've done both, let them rest 24 hours without incubating, and also have put them in the incubator and just not turned them for a day, and I really didn't seem to have different results with both methods.

I have done the same and now just put them in the incubator as soon as they warm up and I also turn the turner on immediately. I have not had any better or worse results doing it any of the methods but getting them into the incubator early may save ones that have already started developing because someone in the post office thought they were doing a good thing by putting them under the heater to make sure they did not get cold.

 

[Stacyoung13]

So maybe put them in the bator pointy end down at let’s say 99.5, and leave sit for 24 hrs.? Oh yeah, the one he won was for 8 sizzle silkies. I can’t wait. I hope at least half hatch . What percentage have you all had with shipped eggs?

 

[Pyxis]

So maybe put them in the bator pointy end down at let’s say 99.5, and leave sit for 24 hrs.? Oh yeah, the one he won was for 8 sizzle silkies. I can’t wait. I hope at least half hatch . What percentage have you all had with shipped eggs?

50% is about par for the course, usually. However, I've had 100% hatches on shipped eggs, and I've had only one egg out of the whole batch hatch. I've never had it happen that none at all hatched, but that can and does happen sometimes. It's a big gamble.

 

[Stacyoung13]

Thanks for the replies

 

[cppeace]

You should candle upon getting them. See how bad the air cells look. Generally, that will depend on two things: How well they are packaged/usps handling and the distance they traveled. Your best bet is always within 200 miles when possible because, generally, that means no air transport.
When you candle, if the air cells are very loose or majorly saddled you should let sit pointy end down for at least 12 hours (24 is better) to get room temp and settle some. Then, if the air cells were pretty bad don't turn for the first 3-7 days. (Candle day 4 to see if the air cells have gotten stationary if so you can start turning. )
Doing this got me 13 out of 24 to lock down but sadly only 4 ended up hatching.
This was what I chose to try after my first shipped eggs attempted got me zero hatched. Do as much research as possible and then just go with what feels right to you.

Good luck!