Shipping egg problem

"Eggs that arrive with ocean-wave like air cells,
that float around the egg, the membrane has ruptured and the eggs will not hatch. "

This has been my biggest complaint with eggs I have received via shipping
this year... What can we do to stop this problem? I have had very few broken or cracked eggs
as they have been so well cushioned and packed very carefully. These eggs show up like clear eggs
near the end of the hatch time.... Does anyone know anything that can be done? I always leave my eggs sit
at room temperature for 24 hours before putting them in the incubator..... any other ideas or hints?
I want to try to better my method of shipping as I am pretty sure this has happened to eggs I have shipped also.

Is this with Greyhound as well as Canada post?
I have had MUCH beter hatching rate with Greyhound vs Canada post.
I know what you mean. even if they are unbroken they can still be compromised by rough handling, a shaken egg will not hatch...

I recently read some info on hatching shipping eggs. One breeder in the states said after many years of having poor hatches with shipped she has changed her incubation practices for them. She lets them settle for 24 hours after they arrive pointy end down, then she puts them in the incubator in the turner for 5 to 7 days without turning them at all. She stated that it gave the embroy time to get big and gain some strength even with damaged air cells. Her hatch rate on shipped eggs improved dramatically after using the method. I also saw UK marans breeder recommend this as well.

I wonder what everyone thinks about this as it pretty much goes against any recommended hatching practice??

Anne

very interesting... I am going to try that !!! Thanks !!

I sort of tried it with a batch I have in now. I did not turn the turner on for 24 hours then I turned it on for 2 hours then off again. Then the next day I chickend out and turned it on! But they had almost 3 1/2 days to settle so who knows! Fingers crossed!

Anne

I think floating or even ruptured aircells are one of the many risks of buying shipped eggs, short of shipping them in some shock absorbing gel or something. I wrote an article here on what I do to wrap and even the general principles so you can use whatever materials you like.

http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-wrap-package-fertilised-fertilized-chickens-poultry-eggs-for-shipping-mailing

Knowing what to do with them once they arrive cracked or scrambled is another thing....so I wrote an article on that too. I know I have hatched chicks from hopeless eggs doing it that way.

http://www.squidoo.com/mailed-shipped-fertilised-chickens-eggs-fertilized-hatching-chicken-egg

I hope this helps! There are so many ways of doing it that will work, I worry about reusing the foam and having it clean and having it stiff enough too. I had only seen the tiny pheasant size of sponge holes before and would consider using it and reusing, trading back with more eggs sent etc if they can be bacteria free. I know what we do works pretty well, so its hard to take a chance on something 'untested' if you know what I mean.

Thank you for that great information. I candled today ( day 5) there are several funky looking air cells and a few with the bubbles at the top/ We will see how they progress. I might be trying the up right hatch as well!

ANne

Well I am please to report that this candeling obsessed chick mama did see a really nice developing embryo in an egg with bubbles in the air sac! It actually one of the best I can can see out of any of them. If it progess I will be definatly trying the upright hatch! Its a good thing I am going away tomorrow to leave these poor eggs alone. Hubby is in charge of the incubator but at least he wont touch them!

Anne