What is the ONE thing I should know about hatching shipped eggs?

[mags2009]

Hi! We will be receiving hatching eggs the week of April 26th from My Pet Chicken. Blue Ameracaunas, Black Copper Marans, and Welsummers. This is all new territory for us. We will be using our friends incubator which is the Octogon 40 DX. Is there any ONE thing that you all can tell me we should know, not forget to do, or that you would do differently when hatching your own eggs? Thanks everybody.

Kerry

 

[Illia]

Not buy them from hatcheries.

Sorry, but that's my biggest advice. Next would be the obvious stuff - Don't open the bator during lockdown, make sure the temp and humidity keep well, don't cull eggs until you're SURE they're quitters, etc.

Also, don't worry too much about any problems that may occur. . . Chances are they're not that dire.

Good luck.

 

[mags2009]

Well, I was going to buy chicks, but they didn't have the ones I wanted. (Blue Ameraucanas, Black Copper Marans) so I got the hatching eggs. MPC told me that they get these specific breeds from a breeder in Arkansas, so what's the difference? I know they were expensive! But even if I got them from someone on here or a breeder somewhere else they would still have to be shipped.

 

[cracking up]

I think letting them rest is the main difference. I'm lucky to let mine rest 12 hours but some say they have to rest 24.

 

[debilorrah]

Don;t expect a full hatch. If you get 50% you are doing great!

 

[MandyH]

Make sure you use more than one thermometer in the incubator and the most important thing is to have the incubator running and regulated BEFORE ever adding an egg to it. That way you won't have any need to be making adjustments while the eggs are in there.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Well when it comes to Ameraucanas and Marans, it is just best to get from a good breeder anyway. MPC is the only one who has true Ameraucanas, and with them being a hatchery I'm sure they tried at getting the cheapest Ameraucanas, this not the greatest.

Same goes for Black Copper Marans. . . Those especially I always go to the best breeders for, to get the most beautiful, correct birds and the darkest, most gorgeous eggs.

But hey we all start somewhere. My first Marans were from a first timer breeder who actually didn't know much about them, and crossed a lot of lines. (this can kill the darkness of the egg) and my first "Ameraucanas" were of course Easter Eggers.

 

[ChickFila]

I don't buy eggs unless I see the parents or their pics.
If you get a good foundation stock, you can save time and money (talking about improving quality).
That's what I learned from dog show/breeding

Only beautiful parents make beautiful chicks.

Anyway, shipped eggs need to be settled for 12-24 hours before going to bator.
I have had excellent hatching rate for my shipped Marans eggs, so good luck!

 

[ChickFila]

duplicate post was deleted

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Since I both buy and sell hatching eggs, I would say to make sure the shipper does the best possible job of packing the eggs for their journey. Even so, don't expect more than 50% of the eggs to develop/hatch. If you get more than that...GREAT...they probably had an easy journey to you.

If you have less than that, please don't blame the shipper unless you had eggs arrived poorly packed. You cannot get insurance on the eggs, so start with less expensive eggs until you get a feel for hatching.

If you have shipped eggs that don't develop, please don't assume that they were NOT fertile. Just because they are "clear" and don't develop does NOT mean they weren't fertile in the first place. Shipping takes it's toll on them in many ways...broken aircells, scrambled yolks, just to name two.

Notify the seller if you have a poor/none hatch. Many sellers will work with you to get you more eggs for the price of shipping. If you know you had incubating issues, take your licks and purchase more eggs. Don't ask for replacement eggs.

Agree with other posters...make sure you have seen pics of the parent stock so you have an idea of what to expect from your chicks.

The general consensus is to let eggs rest large end up for 24 hours before placing them in the incubator to allow the aircell to stabilize. There is no science for this, just common sense. I have placed them in the bator within 6 hours of arrival and had great hatches.