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Understanding the risks of shipping hatching eggs

jenlynn4

Songster
13 Years
Jan 12, 2007
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I hope it is ok that I open a discussion on this issue. I think there are many people out there that do not understand the risks of shipping hatching eggs. I would also like others input on the matter.

From what I have learned through the 4 years that I have been shipping and buying hatching eggs is that its a gamble every time. I just want people to understand that there is absolutely no way that we (the egg sellers or egg buyers) have any control of what happens to the eggs once they leave our hands. I personally have found a method that gets the eggs there all in one piece. That to me says that I am doing my job. If the eggs arrive all intact then the seller has fulfilled his/her duty to the customer. We as sellers have no control over weather the eggs get x rayed, dropped, shaken, or what have you along the way. Many of these hazards will deem the eggs unhatchable. Then there is the whole incubation procees, which we all know, can go wrong even when we think we have done everything right. I have all this listed on my website along with pictures of my actual packing process (if anyone is interested). I also have a little secret to my success with getting the eggs there all in one piece! Its the smaller boxes! these boxes, because they are small get loaded on to the truck last! When they load the trucks, the bigger heavier things go on the bottom! so they are less likely to get crushed.
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I would absolutely LOVE to hear what others have to say about this, or any tips to help our little eggies to arrive safe and sound! I personally am trying to do my best every time I send out a package of eggs. I have tried many things through the years, but always come back to the same old way. For me its the best way to get them there all in one piece.
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Jen, as you know, I've not been mailing out hatching eggs for very long now. I've found a method that gets the eggs there uncracked, unbroken, but we cannot know how much the box has been shaken, what temps it was exposed to along the way, etc. We can't be there to monitor the incubation through the 21 day period. There are just soooo many factors that go into producing a healthy chick from a shipped egg that it is certainly a huge gamble, one alot of us are willing to take to get the birds we really want.
If I send eggs I am reasonably sure are fertile in the first place and package them well, there is nothing more I can do to insure a hatch except to offer my assistance via email/phone all the way through. I knew all this the first time I bought hatching eggs and if nothing had hatched, I would not have blamed the seller at all. So far, even when eggs I shipped did not hatch, no one has blamed me for that and I sure hope I will always have people buy my eggs who understand the risks of the undertaking. I feel I pack them well and the rest is up to the P.O. and the buyer who incubates them.
 
I have bought quite a few shipped eggs from Ebay, Jen, Jody, Melissa, JJ, Eggbid and etc. Cyn you will be next spring. I know going into it there is a risk and don't blame anyone for the hatch rate. Now I was upset with the person who all the eggs were broken and rotten but that was on Ebay but they did send me more. Even the guy at the Post Office explains how the boxes are thrown and stuff.

I appreciate the effort people go into to pack them so well.

I'm hoping next year I can be shipping eggs.

jackie
 
Thanks for that Cin! Sometimes I feel as if, even though I know I am doing my best that its not enough. I recently got an E mail from someone who I believed would know all about the risks of shipping and hatching saying that I didnt pack my eggs well and it really bothered me. Even though I have gotten HUNDREDS of others saying what a wonderful job I do and how they ALWAYS arrive all in one piece it still bothered me to no end. I am sorry that sometimes they get there and dont grow, but thats one of the risks. I do routine fertility checks here and am am positive that fertility is good here. So I guess thats all I can do. I just want to wish everyone HAPPY HATCHING and keep trying with these little eggies because its so much fun!
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Well, as I can attest, Jen really does know how to pack those eggs!

I got a doz from her back a few weeks and she sent 2 extras and every single one arrived intact, just perfect.

12 of 14 developed, and only 2 quitters along the way...
 
I would be upset, too, Jackie, if the eggs were haphazardly packed so that it would be a miracle if any made it to their destination. I want people to hatch my eggs; I don't want to just sell eggs-I really want them to do well with them. I will do as much hand-holding as necessary, too, to accomplish that.
I had a recent problem with one of my pullets, my Lt. Brahma. Every egg showed the bullseye, every egg was fertilized. The rooster was extremely fertile and getting it done with all his other women. None would ever develop for anybody. I got suspicious and on a hunch, incubated two batches of her eggs in my own bator and cracked them open at day 4 or 5. The bullseye was there, but not a whit of development. I concluded that she has some sort of genetic problem preventing her eggs from developing into chicks. I told everyone I ever sent her eggs to and I made it right, by sending them extras next time or not charging the usual for the next batch they ordered, whatever. No way could I have known what was wrong with her, but I was willing to make it right. That is an unusual situation, for sure, and not one you would encounter often, but that can be rectified. I'm glad that her eggs weren't the main bulk of the batches they were sent. Needless to say, Miranda now is officially part of my laying flock, even though she is still with Suede. Her eggs just will never be considered for hatching anymore. Those things are beyond our control, obviously, but packing properly and sending eggs with good shell quality are all we can do and the rest is out of our hands.
 
Thank you so much arlee. I appreciate the kind words! So glad you had such wonderful luck with the eggs!
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One other trick when packing eggs that works like a charm for shipping when the weather is hotter. Instead of bubble wrap or shavings wrap each egg in a slice of bread and put an elastic around it. The moist bread makes a great insulator and shock cushion.

Other than that I can really add nothing. You do your best packing them but once in the hands of the P.O. there is no control over the shipping practices and handling.
 
BREAD! REALLY? I would think that it could get moldy? But if it works for you then thats all that matters!
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It's totally understood by me that shipped eggs are open to all kinds of unknowns after they leave the hands of the shipper....I have gotten quite a few eggs shipped by BCY'ers and all have been in tip top shape.....

It's a risk I'm willing to take for some extra nice birds....and people should understand that....
 

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