My First Experience Incubating Shipped Eggs 

On the subject of detached air cells it's been my experience that the method of shipping and options in shipping makes a huge difference in the outcome of successful hatches. Most eggs are shipped using Priority. Once the eggs leave the post office they are delivered to USPS sorting facility's where the boxed eggs are scanned and placed on automated conveyors per destination zip code that move the packages to other conveyors and so on until they reach their end of that journey, then being placed on either trucks or planes that move them to their next destination. The problem with Priority is the automated sorting system when it comes to hatching eggs. These conveyor systems often times have as much as a 4 ft drop onto the next conveyor and who knows how many more conveyors these eggs get dropped on during their sorting trip. Also, keep in mind that Priority shipping has a maximum weight limit of 70 lbs where boxes can be bumped, slammed, or even somewhat crushed or any other type of damage. All this jarring from this whole process is absolutely not good for the hatching eggs, and the automated system does Not recognize stickers/labels that say "fragile", "handle with care", "this end up", "hatching eggs", "live embryos", but does recognize shipping bar codes which means nothing other than the transaction and destination. Now, there is a possible silver lining in another option for shipping hatching eggs, and it's shipping using "Priority Express" Priority Express is not an automated system but rather hand scanned, hand moved, and hand placed on their way to their final destination. It's guaranteed 2 day shipping, and often times delivered in far less than 2 days, and is so much less damaging to the boxed eggs. There's still no guarantee on shipped eggs regardless of which method you choose but Priority Express causes far less shipping fatigue on the embryos. Priority Express is a bit more in price but it's so much less intrusive because it's people that sort and move them, and that to me makes a big difference knowing that your shipped eggs are handled safer. I personally give my buyers the option of what method they would like them shipped, because regardless of what they choose it's their choice and that money spent I don't see, but I do let them know what the differences are between Priority and Priority Express. Hope this sheds some light on the different shipping options and both their advantages and disadvantages. Happy Hatching, and please feel free to share this info because it was info that I sat down with a post master and had quite a lengthy discussion with in regards to shipped eggs. I now just about exclusively ship eggs priority Express because I want my clients to have the best chance at a successful hatch as possible!

Thank you for sharing your honest experience. Rarely do people share things that go wrong. It's hard, but I've learned so much. Thank you.

Been waiting for this video!! Thanks 🙏

Your like a scientist! Thanks for your research and sharing you experience😊

Thank you so much, I bought two lots of 1/2 doz of two different breeds, only one from each lot hatched, I guess after watching your RU-vid I should consider myself lucky, I have since been sent a doz replacement from one lot & have had them upright in the incubator. I also am getting a replacement for the other lot sent to me, so the timing is perfect, I especially like the info on not turning them from day 15 to 18, I think that would help, I wish all the chicken lovers good luck. 🐥🤞😊

Very helpful, thank you

I have my first shipment of eggs coming in 2 weeks. My incubator is coming in a few days. Thank you so much for your honesty. The breeds I want with good breeders are not nearby. I’m trying to learn as much as I can as fast as I can to be ready. And know that I may still not be successful is really disappointing. My husband is working hard on building our second big coop so I’m praying for success. I can’t get live chicks for a couple of months so I’m trying to speed up our process.

Great video thank you for this.

Thank you for taking the time make these videos for us!! We decided to start raising Coturnix Quail instead of chickens, but the basics are similar. We also live in an area that makes it necessary to have the initial eggs shipped to us via mail. Once we were able to get our own birds hatched, we have had awesome hatch rates (80% - 90%) for our own eggs. Then we wanted to raise some Button Quail this spring. Unfortunately, our shipped eggs must go through the Cleveland, Ohio USPS distribution center, and they are rated one of the worst in the country. We can agree from personal experience. One whole batch of eggs was a total loss. The batch after that yielded 7 chicks out of 20. If we need to get more eggs, I found a seller in southern Ohio that I can drive to and get eggs or chicks. I will not use the mail if at all possible in the future!! Like your experience, I feel the poor hatch rates are sometimes simply related to mis-handling during the shipping process, and the best hatching process can't fix that!!! Thanks again!!!!!

Great Info.

I've been on this same journey this year. In my area we have RIR chickens and that's pretty much it lol.. and I like the more exotic & rare breeds and it is a challenge to buy eggs online and each batch I've bought has been a learning experience but I have thrown out more than I've hatched this year and I have live duck chicks & turkey chicks being delivered within the next few days and i am so worried about them, it's my first ever live order. I'm working on a video about my experiences with it too and my biggest problem has been losing them well into development as well. Thanks for sharing!

I am new doing hatched eggs. I bought fertile eggs EBay, Etsy, local back yard person selling eating eggs, and from a local farm ‘lab’ store. I got mostly Roos and no mater what number of eggs I bought, each resulted only one or two eggs from egg batch I bought from people. I used 3 different Incubators.

Thanks for all the info, I just incubated my shipped eggs and I happened to let them rest for 24 hrs with the pointed side down... having said that theres a lot if conflicting information on whether to sanitize or wash them or not... i know my broody hens have no problems hatching semi dirty eggs but maybe this is a topic that needs to be talked about more... i happened to sanitize my eggs with 3% hydrogen peroxide and a light pat from a clean cotton cloth... ill update my results

I get 70% hatch rate with shipped eggs.... newbie here. Recommend adding additional hygrometers. There are cold spots in the incubator. Also let them sit 24 hours before putting them in the incubator at all.

I'm just about to incubate Jersey Giants and Brahmas ! I've been watching alot of videos and reading blogs ! Have you tried "dry incubation" for the first 18 days you don't add any water for humidity and just add water in the last 3 days when you stop turning your eggs and put them in lockdown has a slightly higher success rate !

I know this off topic but, what kinda tent are you using for a brooder?

What is the brand/kind of the thermometer/hygrometer you use? I’m looking for one for my incubator

I incubated 9 lavender orpington eggs all but 2 developed a few died at day 18 the rest died on hatch day but I got three live chicks but two died and the only surviving one is a roo so I have a 34 $ rooster

So what happened to the ones that pipped? Did they drown or?

Whatever is written on the box means nothing. The postal workers will handle them however they will, they WILL NOT treat them any differently than any other parcel. Also, you only need one thermometer that can be calibrated, you don’t need 3 or 4 thermometers.

Hint buy an indoor out door thermometer and put it on the level of the eggs. Put the automat turner on. Winter is a bad time to ship eggs. Water in your incubator and don’t handle them unless you just can’t help yourself.

It maybe because of the temparature or humidity. Also, Washing and dipping it in a solution is not necessary. I got 100% today with hen that brood. Those eggs had poops in the nest.

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Hi draw met er

If I buy a dozen eggs, I'm happy to get one or 2 live chicks. Shipping eggs is increadibly risky. It can be worth it if,Ike you, there's not a lot of variety around or you're seeking something rare, just keep expectations low. I also wouldn't reccomended cleaning eggs. You talk of added stress, with shipped eggs especially if their air cells are detached, that washing process no matter how gentle you are, it's an added stress plus gets rid of the eggs natural barrier to bacteria and viruses. An egg under a broody hen is not cleaned and my experience with hen hatched eggs is 95%.

Too much knowledge is dangerous. You should wait until you get it right to give advice. I have hatched a lot of chickens I never worried that much. Eggs shipped in winter have too many temp fluctuations.