When eggs are infertile...

[JacksonPearce]

I recently bought eggs from a breeder on Facebook, who is quite active and seems perfectly nice. I actually ordered two varieties of chicken from her; 8 of breed A and 4 of breed B. She sent quite a few extras of breed B, but only the requested 8 of breed A. That's fine, though-- extras are nice, but not expected!


But...as they incubate, I'm realizing that three-- possibly four-- of breed A are infertile. It'd be one thing if I was just having crap hatch rates, since that could easily be my fault, but when half start infertile...especially since it's the breed I'd ordered more of because I'd wanted more of them! For what it's worth, the infertile ones appear to have come from the same hen, so perhaps she just had a week away from the roos.

What would you do? Mention it to her? Or is this just the risk you take when you order eggs? She's a hobby breeder at most.

 

[IslaBean]

I would let her know that you think they are infertile. However, don't expect a refund for your eggs. She may just think that you might not be incubating them right, though.

 

[sourland]

Are these shipped eggs ? If so, viability is always a crapshoot. Seller has no control over how eggs are handled in transit. If purchased directly without shipping involved, definitely let the seller know.

 

[JacksonPearce]

They were shipped! But I am preeeettty positive they're infertile. I suppose I can't know for sure? It certainly looks identical to my own (definitely) infertile candled eggs though.

 

[The Moonshiner]

What did you base the opinion that they're infertile on?
What are you seeing? Zero growth?

 

[JacksonPearce]

What did you base the opinion that they're infertile on?
What are you seeing? Zero growth?

Zero growth whatsoever, and all super similar eggs-- so I suspect they're from the same hen. If it were a smattering of different eggs I'd probably think nothing of it, but all other eggs-- even the notoriously difficult to hatch eggs (egg B)-- at least began development. I've had a reasonable number of quitters from those that began, but nothing whatsoever from the ones I suspect are infertile.

 

[WVduckchick]

How did the air cells look upon arrival? Shipping can cause much damage and ruin even fertile eggs, causing them to not begin development. They could still have been fertile, just didn't start developing. What day are they on? Maybe they are late starters?

 

[The Moonshiner]

WV is correct. Issues with shipping can cause fertile eggs to never start developing. So you can't be sure what caused it and sure couldn't prove they weren't fertile.
All sellers I've seen have the standard disclaimer so not really anything that can be done anyways. You can contact them and see what they say.
I've bought eggs several times from people here and had terrible luck with getting any decent hatch rate. Its kinda a given or should be that there is no guarantees with shipped eggs. I did have one person on here that sells a lot of eggs contact me to see how the hatch went that was super nice and offered to send a few more eggs for shipping costs only but they never did.
I don't hardly buy shipped eggs anymore because its hardly seems worth the results I've gotten.

 

[JacksonPearce]

I think you're all right-- I let her know I wasnt seeing development with those and it surprised me given the development of the other breed, but I don't get the impression she's going to offer replacements (I'd happily pay shipping). I don't blame her, but it is a little bit of a bummer-- I don't think I'll pay for hatching eggs shipped again, just count myself lucky if I win a raffle for them!

 

[WVduckchick]

I think you're all right-- I let her know I wasnt seeing development with those and it surprised me given the development of the other breed, but I don't get the impression she's going to offer replacements (I'd happily pay shipping). I don't blame her, but it is a little bit of a bummer-- I don't think I'll pay for hatching eggs shipped again, just count myself lucky if I win a raffle for them!

Also watch the auction threads here. Several folks sell off "extras" at reduced prices when we have an overabundance of eggs. And look for ones closer to you. Distance, time of year, etc makes a difference, but good packing can offset a lot of problems.

Anyway, good luck with the ones that are still going!!