Trader Joes & Other Grocery Store Egg Hatching Club - Are you a Member

[Pensmaster]

If the TJ eggs are from Commercial White Leghorn hens it is certainly possible to get Barred chickens in the F2 generation(crossing the offspring from the initial TJ hatch).  Commercial White Leghorns generally have Barring genes to suppress any black feathers.  If they use Austra-White (lightly tinted eggs) or California Grey these could produce barred chickens in the first hatch.  I don't have personal knowledge of the layers of TJ eggs.  

Thank you after talking with my friend some more they would have been F1 seeing the pictures they are barred bearded birds. I'm thinking there were some other eggs besides TJ that were included in the classroom experience.

 

[Pensmaster]

I bought 3 dozen (36) "fertile" eggs at Trader Joe's two weeks in a row. The first batch I got in Burbank, California. They were about 6 days old and by the time I put them into the incubator I think they were maybe 9 days old. ZERO development...maybe one wasn't completely clear so might have at least started to develop. The second week the eggs were from Los Angeles. Those eggs were only 3 days old and I got them into the incubator when they were about a week old. I just candled them and 17 of the 36 look great with a lot of distinct veins and embryos moving around. A few more haf blood rings or at least looked murky as if they had started to develop. I know that they might have had completely different handling or even refrigeration temperature but I'm thinking that from here on out I'll only try them when I find them about 3 days old. I'll be curious to see how many hatch and how well they hatch.

How did your hatch go? When I hatched mine I got 6 out of 11 the second try zero the first but we didn't check the date and they were old. Three hens remain and they were in with my Cream Crested Legbars. I now have a green laying mutt. She's on her fourth egg so far.

I have more information on the barred muffed rooster that was supposed too be from TJ. . One of the incubators in the kids classroom spiked to 110 and botched the bunch of eggs. So teacher did what all teachers do in that situation and bought some chicks. I'm still not sure what he is but all four chickens my friend received were different leading me to believe they came from a feed store in the area. I'll have to see if I can get more information.

The other incubator did hatch TJ eggs

 

[RobG7aChattTN]

How did your hatch go? When I hatched mine I got 6 out of 11 the second try zero the first but we didn't check the date and they were old. Three hens remain and they were in with my Cream Crested Legbars. I now have a green laying mutt. She's on her fourth egg so far.

I have more information on the barred muffed rooster that was supposed too be from TJ. . One of the incubators in the kids classroom spiked to 110 and botched the bunch of eggs. So teacher did what all teachers do in that situation and bought some chicks. I'm still not sure what he is but all four chickens my friend received were different leading me to believe they came from a feed store in the area. I'll have to see if I can get more information.

The other incubator did hatch TJ eggs

I just had 7 hatch and survive. It's tough with these eggs. Even if they are fertile there are just so many factors working against them.

 

[Pensmaster]

I just had 7 hatch and survive. It's tough with these eggs. Even if they are fertile there are just so many factors working against them.

Sure do. Sounds like I got lucky on the last batch. Could be the different areas. Mine were from Roseville California. First batch the wife bought. She didn't know to watch for the date. Second batch I dropped one going into the incubator so that's why only 11. Darn heater bar gets hot, imagine that.

 

[Mak24456]

East coaster here. I've checked TJs, whole foods, even the state farmer's market. None carry fertile eggs. When I asked the employees at TJs they looked at me like I was crazy

I may try to bring some back with me if I visit California again

 

[ronott1]

East coaster here. I've checked TJs, whole foods, even the state farmer's market. None carry fertile eggs. When I asked the employees at TJs they looked at me like I was crazy

I may try to bring some back with me if I visit California again

They seem to be best at hatching if you get them from a TJ's that is close to Sonoma county.

Happy Hatching!

 

[Mak24456]

They seem to be best at hatching if you get them from a TJ's that is close to Sonoma county.

Happy Hatching!

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, though I will mostly likely ever be in the LA area. Keeping my eyes peeled nevertheless

 

[bauerdog]

East coaster here. I've checked TJs, whole foods, even the state farmer's market. None carry fertile eggs. When I asked the employees at TJs they looked at me like I was crazy 

I may try to bring some back with me if I visit California again   

Here in Jersey I was able to find fertile eggs in the organic case of stop & shop....they also go by Giant, I think. Yup, don't ask employees, they will think you are nuts. Once a guy showed me the pasteurized eggs instead

 

[gimmie birdies]

I cleaned my coop today...
I went to our grocer "evergreen IGA" they are buying fresh eggs from a farm, 2 hrs from my house. I chose spotted eggs to set, they look like they are developing. so I will candle check them on Sun. ( set 9 of the eggs. They were unwashed, yeh! 5 due on the 16th, 4 on the 18th.)

 

[Lelanae]

Has anyone tried hatching "Nellie's " free range eggs?