why is it always 6+ eggs instead of a dozen?

[F50myster]

whenever i see game breed eggs for sale its mostly always deals of 6+. why? why not a dozen like other chicken eggs?

 

[hinkjc]

This is usually due to limited number of breeders or number of layers currently laying.

 

[onthespot]

And so you end up with nothing usable to breed.

Do the math. If only half make it through shipping, that leaves three eggs, if you are lucky, then what are the chances they will be a roo and two hens, very minimal. Most likely the other way, or even worse.

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

Most people that raise games may only have 2 or 3 hens in with the Rooster as lets say Barnevelders where you may have up to 10 or 15 hens. The fertility in eggs is only good for about 7 days after that you are chancing it , so once you sell and mail you are some times pushing the limits. We will NOT ship eggs over 3 days old and we also mark dates on them.

Steve

 

[onthespot]

I'd rather take my chances with a dozen eggs, half of which are older than seven days, than a half dozen fresh ones. I have hatched eggs that were three weeks old before. Plenty eggs still good after ten or fifteen days... I don't buy that seven days cutoff line. I think it is to limit the hatch on the other end.

 

[rancher hicks]

I have a brwn leghorn bantam hen and she lays so sporadically that it's hard to get 12 eggs in time to hatch them. I don't know her age, but I suspect game birds are not the prolific layers we look for in chickens. Check the laying rate of the breed your interested in and I can assure you it won't be 365.

My point being hatching eggs over 7 days lose viability. Add to that 3 days shipping and you've got even worse viability. It takes more than ten days for me to get 12 eggs from this hen. I've only got the one, but if I had three, it would still take too long to get 12 in time to get to you for hatching.

The solution of course is to order twice or more.


Hope this helps

Rancher

 

[onthespot]

If you only have one or two hens, say so in your auction. A lot of ebay sellers of game birds keep hundreds of them, and still sell in tiny batches only.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

If you want more, talk to the breeder, they may save the "old" eggs for you & send a dozen. Personally I prefer FRESH eggs.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
I can't say what others keep or how many from what they offer. I can't keep hundreds and I don't know anyone who does. At least not here in Syracuse. Might be different where you are. Like I said Game birds are not prolific layers, from what I've read.

Rancher

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

Quote:
line. I think it is to limit the hatch on the other end.

To each there own, We set our eggs every 7 days but that's just us some other people may wait and set theirs every 10 or 15 days but if I wait that long my hatches are not that great so I prefer fresh ones. But like I said that is just me.