Let me start by saying that this thread is not over. I still want anyone and everyone interested in learning to ship eggs or in improving their shipping techniques to participate with us here. I will not have any fertile eggs for a while thanks to a hungry coyote who took my two roosters and several hens, as well. I will still be interested in hearing about any and all 'experimental' techniques and will be thrilled if anyone can come up with ways to improve upon current methods of shipping eggs in a cost effective manner.
So far, what I have learned from the experiment is this:
Packaging makes a huge difference. Done carefully and correctly, it greatly increases the hatch-ability of the eggs shipped.
The trip, even for well packed eggs, is rough and will claim it's victims in spite of the best attempts of the shipper. Your package is in the hands of people who range from wonderfully caring and conscientious, to apathetic or intentionally destructive. These factors are beyond our immediate control.
Shipping eggs is expensive. It takes a lot of time and materials to collect, store, turn, search for the correct boxes, wrap, tape, acquire and stuff packing materials, tape the box, deliver it to the post office and pay the postage (all on a schedule, I might add.) No one is going to get rich shipping eggs. Most shippers won't make a profit at all. As a matter of fact, when you consider time and overhead, it costs the shipper money in the majority of cases.
Hatching shipped eggs is expensive. The money invested in purchasing the eggs and in shipping is a gamble for the buyer. You have to understand that you may get no live chicks. You have to factor in the losses. Then, after the time and expense it takes to incubate the eggs, each chick hatched costs you much more than you can buy them for at the feed store or from a hatchery or local breeder.
There are only two good reasons, in my opinion, to ship eggs. The first reason I see for shipping eggs is that there is no local source. It may be that you have or want a specific breed or quality that is not available within a reasonable driving distance. Or it may be that there are no fertile eggs available, at all! The other reason is for fun. You may have extra eggs and just want to help someone who wouldn't otherwise be able to get them. The best reward for me, when I shipped my humble eggs, was seeing pics of the chicks and knowing that they came from my birds and hatched on the other side of the country. The other reward was in the knowledge that I helped someone or just made them happy.
I highly recommend swapping. It is so much fun to get a package in the mail from an on-line friend that it really doesn't matter what is in it. I received several small gifts in return for my eggs and each was worth more than any amount of cash my eggs would bring. The item doesn't matter as much as the thought and effort behind it. Several times, when I asked if the person wanting eggs would be willing to swap for them, I was told, "I have nothing to swap." EVERYBODY can find something to swap! Think about things that you have or can get that are not available everywhere. Plants, ball bearings, seeds, driftwood, shells, pine cones, crafts, cooked or canned goods, toys, knickknacks, clothing, fishing tackle, storage containers, feathers, colored bottles, rocks, lawn ornaments, etc. If you get a deep discount where you work, pass that on to someone, either buy it for them or at a low price. On-line gift certificates or subscriptions are great as well. You can add to someone's collection of pins, patches, poker chips, buttons, matchbooks, dice, beads, spoons, thimbles, swizzle sticks, business cards, or ________ (fill in the blank!) OPPS! Sorry, I got off topic there, oh, look! A chicken........
Please continue to join this thread with your own adventures in egg shipping and PLEASE post pictures of the chicks through their lives. We want to see the eggs laid by the chickens that were hatched from shipped eggs! That brings us full circle.
Thank you so much to everyone who has participated up to this point, whether you shipped, received, contributed with posts or just read, I appreciate you more than I can say. My special thanks to Ronott (who accidentally sparked this whole idea,) to Superchemicalgirl, (who has become a dear friend,) and to Jessshan8 (for his endless generosity and help.)
Happy hatching!
Thank you to those whose friendship is invaluable! I look forward to meeting & building more friendships & thank God for the sister I've found in North Carolina!
