This is my first time incubating, let alone incubating shipped eggs... so needless to say, I'm nervous. But I didn't spend any more than I can bear to lose if it doesn't work out...
Anyway, some time ago when I first started shopping for eggs, I came across a wonderful article that gave excellent instructions for hatching shipped eggs. I thought I had bookmarked the page, but apparently I didn't.
What special instructions do I need to know to prepare for, and then incubate eggs that have been shipped? My eggs will be arriving tomorrow via express mail.
From what I remember, there is a period of time that you have to let the eggs rest after you get them (is it 24 or 48 hours?). They should be held at a certain temp (55 - 65 degrees???) and turned at least once a day? Then before you put them in the incubator, you bring them slowly up to room temp?
And what about the details? Most eggs, it seems, come wrapped in bubble wrap and other creative paraphernalia. Do you leave them in that until just before you put them in the incubator? Or do you unwrap them as soon as you get them and put them in an egg carton or tray? What do you do in dry parts of the country where humidity levels are normally very low? I don't know what normal humidity is like inside the house here. It's going to be a challenge to find a place inside where it is 55 - 65 degrees and whatever % humidty. How can I create that space artificially? In an ice chest with a pan of ice at the other end? Is it really that critical?
The reason I ask is, last summer my friend wanted some fertile eggs from me and I just put them in an egg carton and put them in the pantry (about 74 - 76 degrees constant, and very low humidty). They were out in the nest box for as long as a day, maybe day and a half before that. She forgot to stop by and grab them, and they were in there for 7 or 8 days. During that time, I only remembered to turn the carton at most 3 times. They all hatched, and are living normal healthy lives. But those eggs weren't shipped... so maybe that's the difference?
Thanks for any help,
Blaine
Anyway, some time ago when I first started shopping for eggs, I came across a wonderful article that gave excellent instructions for hatching shipped eggs. I thought I had bookmarked the page, but apparently I didn't.
What special instructions do I need to know to prepare for, and then incubate eggs that have been shipped? My eggs will be arriving tomorrow via express mail.
From what I remember, there is a period of time that you have to let the eggs rest after you get them (is it 24 or 48 hours?). They should be held at a certain temp (55 - 65 degrees???) and turned at least once a day? Then before you put them in the incubator, you bring them slowly up to room temp?
And what about the details? Most eggs, it seems, come wrapped in bubble wrap and other creative paraphernalia. Do you leave them in that until just before you put them in the incubator? Or do you unwrap them as soon as you get them and put them in an egg carton or tray? What do you do in dry parts of the country where humidity levels are normally very low? I don't know what normal humidity is like inside the house here. It's going to be a challenge to find a place inside where it is 55 - 65 degrees and whatever % humidty. How can I create that space artificially? In an ice chest with a pan of ice at the other end? Is it really that critical?
The reason I ask is, last summer my friend wanted some fertile eggs from me and I just put them in an egg carton and put them in the pantry (about 74 - 76 degrees constant, and very low humidty). They were out in the nest box for as long as a day, maybe day and a half before that. She forgot to stop by and grab them, and they were in there for 7 or 8 days. During that time, I only remembered to turn the carton at most 3 times. They all hatched, and are living normal healthy lives. But those eggs weren't shipped... so maybe that's the difference?
Thanks for any help,
Blaine
