Buying hatching eggs online question.

[victor1800]

Hi I got a few questions about buying eggs online and shipping. Do eggs hatch if frozen then thawed? because its january and how would a egg seller ship eggs without having them freeze in the back of some truck or in some loading dock. Any help here would be appreciated

I am asking this after having won a bid on e-bay for some barred rocks, guess I should thought of this before I bid, but the thrill of finding some eggs online and auction got the best of me and I bid after about 10 seconds of thought lol! Gonna try my hand at first time incubating.

 

[F50myster]

well thats the risk for buying eggs online especially at this time of year. I dont know if the will freeze ive never bought eggs during winter. but i dont think ive heard of eggs freezing during shipment. hatching is addicting!!! congrats lol

 

[midget_farms]

I just did this for the first time. The seller should package the eggs so they will be well insulated.

The post office doesn't heat the trucks for the long hauls but does for the carrier. Plus when in doors they are OK. Eggs do much better being cold than hot (they start to develop) but I don't think they can take being actually frozen.

It does take quite a bit for them to freeze though - my post office left one of my boxes on the front porch in the snow in 10* weather. I have no idea if they are developing or not. They've been in there 7 days now. They are too dark to candle yet.

I bet you will be OK though.

 

[bigdawg]

i have been shipping eggs all winter, so far, so good. everyone i sent eggs to have chicks developing

 

[Illia]

I've never received frozen eggs. It would take some COLD temps and a lot of neglection for them to freeze. . . They're pretty well insulated in the box.

 

[gryeyes]

I've hatched quite a few shipped eggs from eBay auctions. The hatch rate ain't great, but I do get chicks from every setting, and I've been hatching all winter.

 

[jenfork]

I just received a batch of serama eggs yesterday. They were fine.

 

[adyhart1]

i also bought some ebay eggs that are in the incubator now and they were pretty cold to the touch when i finally got my hands on them. Out of 12 eggs one was accidently broken while setting

and when i candled day 3 all but one were developing

so i think you should be good! some sellers will include a 72 hr heat pack for $3 extra

 

[PhilErvin]

I have bought eggs on ebay twice and had dissapointing hatch results both times. I have found a local who will sell me fertial eggs so I'm gonna give it a try.

 

[pfmoore17]

Quote:
Wow, great topic to discuss.
As one poster noted, that's the chance you take with shipped (regarding egg freeze.) Hot weather can be equally brutal if not worse on eggs.

Most important is the eggs should be wrapped in bubble wrap. Not tissue, not newspaper, not put in the box and surrounded with shredded paper.
The best eggs I have gotten with the best hatch rate have been shipped in boxes full of crumbled newspaper, making a 3 inch wall for the wrapped eggs to be put in.
I won't buy from those that continue to sell eggs that are poorly packed. I bought some Wheaten Marans eggs from an award winning bird, from an official in the marans of America crowd.
Very expensive these eggs, 6 for 50$ and they were wrapped in toilet paper. what?!

That tells me the seller does not care. Only one hatched and she never got back to me. Next.....
Poor packing is a way bigger issue than the USPS. Actually, I have had excellent service from the USPS. My PO calls me at 7AM to tell me my eggs are in and come and get them.

My average hatch rate for shipped eggs last year was 50%.
Of the eggs that were properly wrapped in bubble wrap, the hatch was 70% plus.

Having eggs shipped expedited is a good idea. 2 day ship. I like when eggs are shipped on Monday and in my driveway Wednesday.
And those have come from 2500 miles away. It is not good to have the eggs taking 5 days to get to you.

Letting your eggs sit for 24 hours is a good idea. All I can tell you is my hatch average is better with eggs that sit overnight, longer than 8 hours and no more than 24 hours.