- Jun 8, 2011
- 366
- 16
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I'll share my experience with shipped eggs. I had some shipped from the west coast to me on the east coast and the seller kindly sent me 20 eggs for the dozen I paid for. I let them rest for a day and didn't turn them for the first 4 days in the incubator. 11 went into lockdown, 5 hatched. I'm pretty sure the ones that didn't hatch were mostly my fault. What looked like good air cells during candling moved at lockdown when I laid them flat, taking up half the egg. I only discovered that after they didn't hatch. I also lost one of the ones that I knew had a bad air cell which broke when setting it at lockdown. For next hatch, I'm going to hatch upright in cut out egg cartons. I had so much fun with this hatch, I'm wasting no time and having more eggs shipped next week! 
In regard to the incubator. I had my best hatch ever with my first ever shipped eggs in my brand new Brinsea eco 20. I had miserable hatches of my own barnyard eggs in my first few attempts in the Hovabator, averaging between 3-5 chicks from 40ish set/20ish at lockdown. The chicks appear to develop fine, but then just don't hatch. I've tried manufacturers recommendations, and dry-ish hatch (30-35 humidity) I've waited until day 24 before giving up on them. I'm contemplating trying one more hatch completely dry, but I'll probably be using the Hovabator for temporary brooder only, the Brinsea gets way too crowded once the peeps start hatching.
In regard to the incubator. I had my best hatch ever with my first ever shipped eggs in my brand new Brinsea eco 20. I had miserable hatches of my own barnyard eggs in my first few attempts in the Hovabator, averaging between 3-5 chicks from 40ish set/20ish at lockdown. The chicks appear to develop fine, but then just don't hatch. I've tried manufacturers recommendations, and dry-ish hatch (30-35 humidity) I've waited until day 24 before giving up on them. I'm contemplating trying one more hatch completely dry, but I'll probably be using the Hovabator for temporary brooder only, the Brinsea gets way too crowded once the peeps start hatching.
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I am happy to report that ALL of my shipped eggs besides 2 infertiles, are alive and have made it to lockdown!! My air cells look good. I checked them this morning and there wasn't a whole lot of growth from day 14, so I held off adding any water and decided to wait 12 hours to lockdown. And it worked! They looked perfect tonight!! Wish me luck on the hatch! Now to make my mama heating pad and get the brooder ready. Can't wait till I see some pips!! Good luck to all that have eggs in the incubator!
