X-Ray affect on shipped eggs- Real Results

[dczymmek]

Hello guys. I have been reading through some articles about the controversy surrounding the viability of X-Ray exposed eggs. http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/jcanres/11/3/282.full.pdf
This article showcases an eggsperiment done to test the effects of X-Rays on eggs. If you read some of it, there is a graph showing it takes high levels if X-Ray 10-15 minutes to half the Hatch rate if eggs. Since Postal X-Rays are weaker and exposure time is shorter, it seems that X-Rays are not as big if a factor in viability as we once thought.

 

[kittydoc]

The article you cited was from 1927. Almost 100 years ago. I'd have to sit down, pull down my radiology textbooks, and check the math, but all I can tell you is that x-ray equipment used in medicine has changed dramatically (beyond dramatically!!!) in that period. In WWII equipment, which I have seen in use, the shortest exposure time is 1/4 second. In modern diagnostic radiology (i.e., x-rays of humans and animals), most exposure times are more along the order of 1/20th (very long, and rare) to 1/200th (more typical) of a second. However, I have no idea how diagnostic equipment for people or pets compares to the equipment used to scan packages (USPS or TSA). I would not use this article as a basis for much of anything. It is WAY too old and you can't begin to compare the equipment specs. It would be a nice thing for someone to investigate in terms of what the USPS uses, and see if a veterinarian could replicate it with his/her equipment, and test it on a large batch of hatching eggs at different exposures to see if it does impact hatching.

Personally, I think the USPS personnel who toss the packages around do more to kill or damage hatching eggs than anything else. I had a zero hatch rate from eggs shipped overnight, but when I spent 10 hours roundtrip driving to go pick up some hatching eggs in person, I had 6 of 7 (and only paid for 6) hatch perfect, healthy chicks in the same incubator a month later. I won't ever buy hatching eggs through the mail ever again. I'd rather do without a breed or color than waste any more money on them, but that's just me. I know most people claim about 50% hatch rates from shipped eggs, but I got burned too badly my first time (and of course they were an expensive, rare color).

 

[dczymmek]

I agree how rough handling can definately damage eggs-but the units used in this study are still applicable to modern X-Rays and can give us an idea of how much can be harmful

 

[sumi]

Thank you for sharing your find! The effect of x-rays on hatching eggs is a big concern for people who ship them internationally.

 

[vmasoumi]

I would appreciate your article. Do you have additional newer related articles about this scope?
Thanks a lot.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

This article is about fruit fly (Drosophila) eggs, not chicken eggs.

 

[ChcknNurse]

Hello guys. I have been reading through some articles about the controversy surrounding the viability of X-Ray exposed eggs. http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/jcanres/11/3/282.full.pdf
This article showcases an eggsperiment done to test the effects of X-Rays on eggs. If you read some of it, there is a graph showing it takes high levels if X-Ray 10-15 minutes to half the Hatch rate if eggs. Since Postal X-Rays are weaker and exposure time is shorter, it seems that X-Rays are not as big if a factor in viability as we once thought.

Aah thank you! I knew it made no sense. It's very frustrating to be told that nonfertile eggs look this way because of X-rays. I am willing to make a trip with 2 boxes of eggs, one to be xrayed/ one not. I have hatched refrigerated eggs with great success. I've done start/ stop/ start hatching successfully. But it seems pointless as it seems so obvious.