The Great Egg Shipping Experiment!

[chickadoodles]

I've got some eggs coming Mon. and another set Wed. or Thurs. I sure hope they arrive well and all intact! I am going to try to hatch some game birds so I will have some great broodies and mommas to raise chicks for me. I am so excited!

 

[ronott1]

Ron that was so good. I'm totally a beginner on candling. How do you fix this?

If you can

Hand turn them very carefully for the first 3 days and then turn on the turner. The egg should be set big end up.

I wound up hatching 7--lots of clears and several blood rings.

 

[LindaB220]

Hand turn them very carefully for the first 3 days and then turn on the turner. The egg should be set big end up.

I wound up hatching 7--lots of clears and several blood rings.

Okay, correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that it said not to do anything until day 5 and turn on the turner. Do you mean I should be turning by hand? I have been turning the turner on around day 4. With this new batch I'm on Day 2. Should I turn them? Frustrating to think I've got it right and still be doing it wrong. I'm in La and these came from Pa. I let them sit for a day and a half before incubating.

 

[ronott1]

Okay, correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that it said not to do anything until day 5 and turn on the turner. Do you mean I should be turning by hand? I have been turning the turner on around day 4. With this new batch I'm on Day 2. Should I turn them? Frustrating to think I've got it right and still be doing it wrong. I'm in La and these came from Pa. I let them sit for a day and a half before incubating.

I would not wait until day 5 without turning. The veins on the embryo can grow to one side and then cause death around day 6 to 7. It is tough with shipped eggs but the key is to be very gentle with them for the first week of incubation.

The air cell condition determines how long to let them sit with either no turning or gentle turning.

Thee really are no studies or solid data on shipped eggs and not turning for a couple of days. There was going to be a big study but I have not hear anything about it. For now until the results are in I am being conservative with my recommendations.

One thing that has been proven by studies is using a cool down cycle starting on day 8 to 18. My Brinsea incubator has the cool down cycle built into it. For other incubators, a good way to use the cool down cycle is to take the top off of the incubator while doing chicken chores each day. Put the lid back on though. It would be sad to forget.

 

[LindaB220]

I would not wait until day 5 without turning. The veins on the embryo can grow to one side and then cause death around day 6 to 7. It is tough with shipped eggs but the key is to be very gentle with them for the first week of incubation.

The air cell condition determines how long to let them sit with either no turning or gentle turning.

Thee really are no studies or solid data on shipped eggs and not turning for a couple of days. There was going to be a big study but I have not hear anything about it. For now until the results are in I am being conservative with my recommendations.

One thing that has been proven by studies is using a cool down cycle starting on day 8 to 18. My Brinsea incubator has the cool down cycle built into it. For other incubators, a good way to use the cool down cycle is to take the top off of the incubator while doing chicken chores each day. Put the lid back on though. It would be sad to forget.

Thanks, Ron, it would have been sad to waste these eggs. At least on day 2 I've got a chance.

 

[chickadoodles]

Ron those chicks are so cute!

Linda good luck I hope your eggs all hatch!

I got my shipped eggs today I am so excited!











They look good and arrived with out cracks I am not sure what that blue material is but it is like a spongy napkin but thin.

 

[ronott1]

Ron those chicks are so cute!

Linda good luck I hope your eggs all hatch!

I got my shipped eggs today I am so excited!











They look good and arrived with out cracks I am not sure what that blue material is but it is like a spongy napkin but thin.

The egg looks perfect--incubate them like you would non shipped eggs.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: Thanks Ron. They are already in the bator!

 

[Bryam]

When should I start turning my shipped eggs? The air cells are wobbly, but not rolling. Help me!!!!

 

[ronott1]

When should I start turning my shipped eggs? The air cells are wobbly, but not rolling. Help me!!!!

The key is to be very tender and gentle with the eggs. They are fragile and need to heal from the shipping stress.

I would let them incubate for a day or two with the turner off. Longer is reserved for detached air cells that have less than a 25% chance of hatching no matter what you do.

Even then, they should be hand turned after two days and the air cell should be checked every day to see if it has re attached itself. Do not leave the turner off for more than 5 days.

I hope you have a great hatch!