The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: robbiegrant on August 20, 2012, 11:05:42 am

Title: How many days in the post would you expect eggs to be alive?
Post by: robbiegrant on August 20, 2012, 11:05:42 am

I ordered a clutch of 6 mixed Indian Runners from ebay. They were sent on Thursday 16th Aug by 1st class ( or so it was claimed ) It is now monday the 20th. 

So they wont arrive till tomorrow or later. We are a deeply saddened by the fact 6 little lives are wasting away in the postal system

We already have a clutch of Pure Breed white Indian Runners in the incubator ( 3 days now ). They where sent from a different source, ( next day special delivery )  Arrived on time, given time to rest and set same evening.

We agonised over storing the Pure breed eggs till the mixed eggs arrived so they could all go in together. In the end we decided to to wait and put the pure breeds straight in...

now i'm kind of glad we did.

Question is..... If and when these Mixed IR's arrive will there be any point setting them?
How many days in the post office system could you hope them to be viable?

Any ideas?

Title: Re: How many days in the post would you expect eggs to be alive?
Post by: Bionic on August 20, 2012, 11:36:23 am

Robbie,
I ordered eggs which arrived the next day. Unfortunately we were out so the postwoman didn't leave them. They were then re-delivered to us the day after. I then put then in the garage for 24 hours before putting them under the broody.  4 out of 6 have hatched.
Yours have been a bit longer but I think there might still be a chance. I am no expert though.
Sally

Title: Re: How many days in the post would you expect eggs to be alive?
Post by: robbiegrant on August 20, 2012, 02:04:55 pm

 :wave: Sally

Thanks for your reply ;D

We just had a delivery. All eggs are in one piece and packed very well in polystyrene.  :relief:
I have just candled them, the air sacs are were they should be and there are no hairline cracks.

Decided to let them rest for a few hours before we number, weigh and put them in with our other clutch
( which are 3 days ahead ) What have we go to lose.....

I am resigned to turning the new clutch by hand for the last three days after the egg turner is switched off.

 :fc:

Title: Re: How many days in the post would you expect eggs to be alive?
Post by: Beewyched on August 20, 2012, 10:38:05 pm

Robbie  :wave:
My OH sometimes get H/E from ebay too - she always lets them rest for 24 hours before candling (to make sure they're not scrambled) & setting.  I think it's ok to set eggs up to about 10 days after them being laid (after that the fertility drops off markedly).