[Big Light]

I have had mixed results over the year, i would buy off some one who's only selling occasionally (you will see on feed back( can some times see hatch rate also)) that way you will know they had been hatching for themselves and only selling the surplus few, secondly you can search by distance to your location - try finding some one close and collect this would hopefully improve the hatch rate.

The post definitely changes things i have had eggs from the same breeder twice over the period of a month and a half, first one i got 3 out of 12, second i got 10 out of 12 - i know the person and they were out of the same pen who was getting 8-10 out of 12 for her hatches.

It is very variable on breed / cross some more highly bred birds seem harder to get fertile and hatch whilst your cross bred with hybrid vigour may hatch after half a dozen power cuts - no rhyme or reason. If the advert says they are using breeders pellets that's a bonus also. Don't pay silly money for eggs, i always work it out that if i got 1 out of 6 would i have payed that for an adult bird of that breed/ strain that means anything else is a bonus. You are defiantly taking a chance but its a good way to get strains that aren't near you

I always rest my eggs for a day ( don't know if its an old wife's tale but i do it anyway)

Also buy more than half a dozen - a dozen / 2 dozen ( get them to send a doz at a time as otherwise they will be sitting to long) - that way if 1 hatched per 6 you at least have 4

I have big light Sussex but breeding pens are done for this year, (Plenty of growers but i am in central Scotland a bit far from  you) if you are still struggling let me know next spring if you are still looking for hatching eggs out of a fertile pen.

Also Re golf ball eggs there are a few big breeds of hens that will lay them i have hatched them before not what you want for selling eggs but a few heavy breed have a tendency to produce these

Cheers
BL

[princesspiggy]

Also Re golf ball eggs there are a few big breeds of hens that will lay them i have hatched them before not what you want for selling eggs but a few heavy breed have a tendency to produce these

these were from old english pheasant fowl, which we also kept at home, so know they normally lay regular shaped small white eggs. we got one hatch out of 12, priced at £2.50 each egg. 

[omnipeasant]

Try Rosie Posie for light sussex.

[Victorian Farmer]

iv sold hatching eggs on e bay and on here .i think iff not good send a nother lot ,But do remember iff eggs sent first class they go through the cylinder sorter in the post .they could be in there for 40 minutes and more .The golden rule no e bay next day delivery and local or on here .I think we should have a place for eggs so members can pic up eggs .say £10 for 12 iv done chicks naw we sex them .

[the great composto]

Thanks Omni - I will try rosie posie too - be good if they are in collecting distance.

[Henstock]

I asked where you are because I have light sussex and anyone else on here might know someone in your area too
 

[the great composto]

Henstock  - sorry I didnt realise - I am in northampton.  There are local suppliers here and i have emailed 4 or 5 trying to get  young chick to be with my single hatchling but not luck.

[gillsta]

I have had very mixed results. Not just from ebay either. I do think that the lugging about of the postal system does not help at all. I have much better results from picking up eggs locally. Problem is when you are trying to get breeding stock you have to look a little further. I gor some Lavender Cuckoo LF Orpington eggs at a premium price and got 5 out of 6 hatch also gor LF Chocolate Orpington Eggs again at a premium price and only got 1. Quite dissapointing. Oh and not to mention the expensive miniature Bearded Silkies from Ebay that was a big fat ZERO result. Contacted the seller and not even a reply. I only wanted to advise that the fertility could be poor. I should have said his cockerel was a jaffa  Mabe not.

[Castle Farm]

What really annoys me is the postage costs some put on.

To post 6 eggs costs £2.70 and they usually add a £1 for the polybox. (Which is about 60p each) so thats around £3.70.

Most of them charge over £6 + another rip off.

[RichStaffs]

More often than not it's the posting that damages the eggs, not the fault of the breeding birds. Even eggs in polyboxes will rupture the air cell if handled roughly, try candling the eggs on arrival to see if the air cell is intact at the blunt end and not floating all round the egg, if not they will not hatch.
Although time consuming, the best way to send eggs through the post is to wrap each one in bubble wrap, sandwich them between two egg trays taped together firmly and place in a box surrounded evenly with shredded paper, enough to fill the box so the eggs can't move.
I've posted many eggs like this with great results.

[Mallows Flock]

the best results I have ever had incubating was to buy some eggs from a farm off the side of the road and stick em all in. Nearly everyone hatched...all were fertile and I had a gorgeous range of light sussex x rhode island red, a bluebell, a couple of grey and french copper bantams as well as a cream legbar.  AND I ONLY PAID £1.50 FOR 12 FERTILE EGGS! 10 hatched. 15pence a chick! Brilliant!
Needless to say, next time I incubate....guess where I am going.

[princesspiggy]

the best results I have ever had incubating was to buy some eggs from a farm off the side of the road and stick em all in. Nearly everyone hatched...all were fertile and I had a gorgeous range of light sussex x rhode island red, a bluebell, a couple of grey and french copper bantams as well as a cream legbar.  AND I ONLY PAID £1.50 FOR 12 FERTILE EGGS! 10 hatched. 15pence a chick! Brilliant!
Needless to say, next time I incubate....guess where I am going.

i bet...ha
i rem someone hatched a duckling out of supermarket duck eggs once, was in the paper, rem the farmer trying to say they had no drake in with the ducks...ha
 

[sokel]

I have had some poor hatches this year both from eggs off ebay and my own eggs , at the start of the season I was getting 95% hatches from my own eggs then suddenly the last 3 lots have only hatched 3 or 4 chicks out both with the incubator and under broodys

[the great composto]

Sokel - do you think its just the luck of the draw and i should try again then?

[Brijjy]

Try Rosie Posie for light sussex.

I can definitely recommend Rosie Posie. I bought 15 turkey hatching eggs from her this year and I had 100% hatch rate. All her birds are in fantastic condition. I think if you want decent hatching eggs then sometimes you need to be prepared to travel for them.