The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Bionic on June 10, 2012, 11:57:23 am
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I never knew you could buy fertilised eggs on ebay until I saw it on this forum.
Will they work (if they work at all) on a broody or would I need an incubator for them?
thanks
Sally
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I can't see there being a difference at all.
Helen
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Hi Sally. How long has your broody been afflicted?
You can buy 'fertilized' eggs off ebay, but it's a total gamble, what with rogue traders ripping off the people that are new to the game and most of them packing the eggs in polyboxes and little else. Over charging on postage to extract a few more quid and in many case not only don''t they hatch, but some are not even the breed you bid on.
I should post on here what you are looking for and I'm sure an honest seller will be able to help you.
Eggs will hatch under a broody as well as in an incubator, but you need to be geared up for incubator hatching with a brooder box and lamp.
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CF,
She has been broody for a couple of days. I have been removing her from the nest but she keeps going back. I'm not sure yet that I want to go down the route of getting eggs for her but was just exploring the possibility.
Sally
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Why didn't you say something yesterday, we have fertilised eggs here, might be Heinz 57, but might have satisfied her.
On the subject of ebay eggs. I purchased 6 Aylesbury duck eggs and now have 4 healthy ducklings at 4 weeks old. A good tip is look at the feedback from other purchasers. :chook: :&>
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Just never thought of it yesterday but thanks anyway Kaz,
Sally
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We've tried hatching from EBAY eggs, with not much success, probably less than 10% & not always what was expected either :o
I agree that there are some unscrupulous folk out there & as Kaz says - look for the feedback before you buy. You may find it better to go through breed clubs if you are looking for something specific - they may find you a local supplier, if not be able to put you intouch with a reputable breeder who is willing to put some hatching eggs in the post for you.
Alternatively, you could put a post on here ;D
Another tip, if you do get hatching eggs through the post or have travelled far with them etc. let them settle for 24 hours before you set them.
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I buy eggs of e bay and find that most of the times the hatching rates is at least 50% and sometimes I have attained 100% . The best results this year have been under a broody its a good service if you want a specific breed that is maybe difficult to get in your area.
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eggs e bay other the posting off eggs has gone dawn the sorting office has drum sorting wich turns the boxes round and round a member contacted me this week he spent £600 pounds on eggs .this is the doos and dont get eggs in a 100 mile radious onley get 12s not 6 iv bought utilatey out off 12 i got 3 out off 12 i got 5 naw iff its a cock you need result .iv sold eggs and all sems fine .next yere i will sex the chicks and sell for £2.50 each sext link.
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Have bought eggs through ebay with very mixed results - the best were from somone called 'ken21' (or similar), which were true and a good hatch rate. Always let them settle for 24 hours before putting under a broody.
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This idea that you need to let eggs 'settle' for 24 hours is an old/young wives tale it makes no difference whatsoever.
Do it if it makes you feel better, but the eggs will be another 24 hours older, so thats the downside.
When the eggs go into an incubator or under a hen the egg is turned/tilted anyway.
I don't suppose anyone has tested this theory, it's just posted as a matter of fact and it's rubbish.
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I've bought and sold eggs through ebay. I've had good results and I've had bad. There are some dodgy sellers but there are also some very good people selling through ebay. We have had some excellent feedback from buyers an ebay and locally. It is frustrating that whenever ebay and hatching eggs is mentioned is is usually in a negative way though I can understand why.
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Thankyou all for your responses. I am still undecided whether to do it or not but I might just try it to see what happens. It depends on the situation with my broody and if I can find another run for her and the prospective chicks.
Sally
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Hi Biobic, we've had great success with Muscovy eggs from various suppliers but we did have some hens which were not what we ordered. Best to get eggs from someone on TAS.
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Yes Sally - you need to get her settled in her own little hutch and run. We bought a little triangular broody hutch and run (see pic) and put her in it in the hen paddock so that she could still see them.
Once we were happy that she was settled we got eggs from a local supplier forty minutes up the road (Rosie Posie on here). We had 100% fertilisation rate. Unfortunately one didn't make it on the day but we have six healthy cuckoo maran chicks now and they are a delight.
But it is a commitment
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I have bought Ebay eggs before, I started with cheap random silkie egs and hatched them in an incubator, got 5 out of 6. Runner duck eggs, 2 out of 4, and polish frizzles I got 3 out of 6.
I love incubating eggs, it's really cool to see the little chicks come out, fluff up and then you have to brood them. My hens are a bit odd and never seem to be broody for long.
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Yes Sally - you need to get her settled in her own little hutch and run. We bought a little triangular broody hutch and run (see pic) and put her in it in the hen paddock so that she could still see them.
Once we were happy that she was settled we got eggs from a local supplier forty minutes up the road (Rosie Posie on here). We had 100% fertilisation rate. Unfortunately one didn't make it on the day but we have six healthy cuckoo maran chicks now and they are a delight.
But it is a commitment
Thanks for the recommendation Suzie :)
I have sold eggs on Ebay, had excellent feedback of 100% fertility in some cases, even after posting.
I can understand that people can be wary of the risk, and in balance having been a buyer and a seller, there are risks to both sides of it, but, on the whole it means that as a buyer you have access to many more breeds/qualities of birds than you may have locally, as a seller you can sell more of course.
I would echo those who have said read the feedback first and make your decision from that.
I have received eggs in just a poly box, no other protection at all, and had fairish results.
Personally, I send my eggs as well-packaged as I would like to receive them myself.
Individually wrapping each egg in tissue in an ordinary egg box, which is then double-wrapped in bubble wrap. Placed in a cardboard box, filled with loosefill/shredded paper and, as I say, excellent results. :thumbsup:
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If the eggs on ebay are not to far away you can always collect them.
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I've bought light sussex eggs and also 2 batches of coturnix quail eggs on ebay.
all 3 different sellers and all very good.
5/6 with the light sussex, however, 4 cocks and the only hen was ginger! Speckled Sussex? Cross of sorts?
The quails, I had 4/6 and 13/24 (dropped 12 of them a few inches whilst loading the incubator, my own fault!).
That said, I'd be very wary of spending £130 on half dozen mandarin duck eggs, or £100 on 4 peacock eggs... unless of course they had feedback that put my mind at ease, though, even still. I'd want to go and collect them with armed guards in convoy ;D
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£100 for four peacock eggs! Wow! I got mine for £3 each! I should let the guy I bought them from know...
Seriously though, yes, check the feedback, and the listings carefully. Personally, I thought £7.50 for the 6 frizzle eggs were fair enough last year. I consider Ebay to be like car booty territory: You wouldn't take £100 to a car boot sale unless you knew you were looking for something like a petrol stihl Strimmer. Likewise, when I sell stuff, I consider if I've enough to take car booting or just list it up on there.
Also, check your local Gumtree site, I have seen hatching eggs locally on there too.
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E bay eggs 2/6, 2/6 and 1/6. Collected eggs 7/7, 7/8, 4/7. Several times I have asked ebay sellers if I can pick up the eggs in person and been told no. That makes me very suspicious!
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Yes, that would make me suspicious too.
Sally
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One reason some people don't want buyers to come and collect is that they are worried you might scope out their place then come back later and help yourself to all their birds and equipment. It happened to someone I know. They took all his chickens, all his feeders and drinkers and even the bags of feed from his shed.
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Hi sally , I too have a broody hen ( for about 3 days now ) . I have seperated her into an ark type run with nest box and just bought 6 lavender sablepoot eggs thru ebay for her to sit on . Like others posting here I have had good and not so good hatch rates with ebay eggs - always check the feedback . I have 24 chooks in all and 21 of them have been hatched here , some with a broody and some with the incubator . If you decide to give it a go , good luck and let us know the outcome.
Stefan
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One reason some people don't want buyers to come and collect is that they are worried you might scope out their place then come back later and help yourself to all their birds and equipment. It happened to someone I know. They took all his chickens, all his feeders and drinkers and even the bags of feed from his shed.
Exactly - it's happened to more than a few on PP forum - so the advice there is never to let folk come to your place, meet them in a carpark somewhere.
We know we're genuine - but the person you're buying from doesn't!
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Jaykay, that does make sense, thanks
Sally
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the eggs should be an investment in better stock than you can aford iff its copper marran get eggs from a good breeder iff you get 3 or 5 chicks the cock birds will sell or keep for youre stock .then build up from that.Im building new stock roads i have 6 groups off them onley the best 2 hens will be kept All the cocks will be kept and will use 2 there is not good utilatey stock eney more .in the 50s the birds layd 280 plus naw 200 iff luckey my stock descend from John Leach’s flock of utility RIR created over 75 years ago; Unlike other utility rhode island reds they still retain their deep red colouring .
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http://www.penrhiwgarn.co.uk/ (http://www.penrhiwgarn.co.uk/)
Gene and Chris Taylor are worth a visit just for the sheer scale of enterprise they have there.
They had a HUGE display of magnificent birds at the Smallholders Show. You probably saw them Sally.
You can visit (or at least - you could a couple of years ago....)
They are near you - between Bwlch and Crickhowell.
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Hi suzieque, I am nearly your neighbour at Llangurig. I am off to get some Sussex pullets from Rosie Posie very soon.
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Oh yes :D :D :D
Do you ever go into Llani?
I go there every weekend - usually Saturday mornings to run my errands and have a coffee in the Great Oak Cafe.
There's a big market on this Saturday..... much bigger than usual. They are trying to resurrect the original market there.