The Great Egg Shipping Experiment!

[Robert Blosl]

Arielle - Which LG thread?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/400344/heritage-large-fowl-thread/15500

maybe this one could help its three years old and loaded with information. Its not geared to feed store type chickens but the original old time true to life breeds. bob

 

[ronott1]

Greetings All,

I've read this thread over the course of several days and have gleaned so much information. I have a broody hen and compulsively ordered a few eggs from MPC. They were not shipped as you have all done or received. They were individually wrapped in bubble wrap with layers below and above the eggs with what I think was a heat pack. Needless, to say, i let them rest big side up and then placed under my broody hen. Two disappeared out of the coop. But it's been a few days past the 21 day and nothing yet. I have candled and to be honest don't know what I am looking at or for. They look full, no sloshiness. I have no hope for them and I thought being under a broody would be a good thing. She is on them except to eat, drink and toilet.

Sooooo... curiosity and thread has gotten the best of me and I have ordered an assortment of eggs. I expect the shipment between tomorrow or Saturday the latest. I borrowed a still air stryo bator and I have it one for a few days. The temp stays steady between 99-100 but the humidity is currently at 39 degrees even with a damp sponge and a small container of water.

As I've learned from Ron RH in the 30's is ok for incubating and must be increased during lockdown. How would I increase the RH that high, do I do it gradually? Do I close up both vents? Right now they have been out.

When I received my eggs I would like to experiment and put some undermy broody and some in the incubator.

What are you thoughts?

I am sorry to have not replied to this. I need to put this thread into my subscriptions--It went way down to the bottom of my thread list.

They answers you have gotten are perfect! Air and good oxygen is needed at hatch. Make sure there are no dead spots near your incubator. If Humidity goes too high during hatch, the chicks die of lack of oxygen--They do not and cannot drown from the humidity in the incubator.

 

[apollora]

I read thru most of this post before attempted to incubate a clutch of eggs. I set my bator up and ran it for 24hrs to ensure that it kept the propper temp, after setting my eggs I went to purchase a new thermometer as I read that you should not use the glass thermometer thats included with the incubator. When I got it in the bator it showed that the temp was 94.5 instead of the 102 (I have a still air incubator) that the Little Giant thermometer was showing. Is that going to effect my hatch ? they were in there approx 48 hrs before I turned up the temp.

 

[Wisher1000]

Was the second thermo at the same height inside the bator? The temps are higher at the top and lower near the bottom. Also, if the glass one will go down to 32o F then calibrate it with ice and water. You can also put the other one (digital, I assume) on top of the one that controls the HVAC to see if they match. I don't want to scare you, but one time I cooked a batch of 48 eggs because my thermo AND the back-up one both were reading exactly 4o too low! I would have never known and would have probably cooked another batch of eggs if I hadn't bought a third one on impulse.

As for the eggs, keep turning them, gently, and they should be fine, but you HAVE to get your temps accurate. At least make sure the two are at the same height in the bators and let them stabilize for at least 4 hours.

This is helpful, as well (this thread is not really about hatching, but the one below is.)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

 

[ronott1]

Was the second thermo at the same height inside the bator? The temps are higher at the top and lower near the bottom. Also, if the glass one will go down to 32o F then calibrate it with ice and water. You can also put the other one (digital, I assume) on top of the one that controls the HVAC to see if they match. I don't want to scare you, but one time I cooked a batch of 48 eggs because my thermo AND the back-up one both were reading exactly 4o too low! I would have never known and would have probably cooked another batch of eggs if I hadn't bought a third one on impulse.

As for the eggs, keep turning them, gently, and they should be fine, but you HAVE to get your temps accurate. At least make sure the two are at the same height in the bators and let them stabilize for at least 4 hours.

This is helpful, as well (this thread is not really about hatching, but the one below is.)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Yes, to all of the advice!

We are a bunch of hatching fools on this thread though, so ask away if you do not get an answer on the other thread.

 

[apollora]

I actually have three thermometers in the bater now, I got a probe thermometer and calibrated it in ice water and it was saying 94 as well so I increased the temp. The little giant thermometer was sitting on top of the eggs and the digital was sitting next to the eggs on too of the turner, the probe thermometer I placed in one of the small vent holes in the middle of the bator right next to one of the eggs. I hope the two newest ones are the right ones !

 

[Wisher1000]

Sounds like they are, go ahead and use them, but put them at the same height and make sure. Read through Sally's Hatching 101 (link above) and if you need anymore help, just ask! Good luck, I'm pulling for you!

 

[Pozees]

Oz, no one has taken me up on the offer to transport eggs, but I will PM you when I get back if you still have used foam for sale, I would like to try it as a component in shipping eggs. Wish I knew someone NPIP in Phoenix/Tempe area who had hatching eggs I wanted, but I do not, so no experiment this trip.

 

[ozexpat]

Oz, no one has taken me up on the offer to transport eggs, but I will PM you when I get back if you still have used foam for sale, I would like to try it as a component in shipping eggs. Wish I knew someone NPIP in Phoenix/Tempe area who had hatching eggs I wanted, but I do not, so no experiment this trip.

No worries Pozees

I have an abundance of foam in all sizes. Its ready when you are.

I am shipping eggs via international mail to South Africa at the end of the month. That should qualify as an egg shipping experiment lol

 

[Wisher1000]

OOOOOOooooooooooo......interesting.......!