What Could Happen To Hatching Eggs During Shipping?

The hatching eggs shipped from Meyer Hatchery are the same eggs we use to hatch at the hatchery. They come directly from our flocks or the flocks of hatching partners, but please be aware that ordering shipped hatching eggs is risky. Meyer hatchery guarantees that hatching eggs are true to breed and will be unbroken upon arrival. (See policies for full details.)

Careful Packaging

Meyer Hatchery takes great care in packaging the hatching eggs very well. But after the eggs are on the way to you, we can not guarantee how they are handled or the climates they may encounter while en route.  See How Are Fertilized Hatching Eggs Shipped? for specific packaging information.

• Rough handling may occur. The air sac could be jostled from its desired position and damaged. This is why we suggest letting the eggs rest at room temperature with the pointy side down for 12-24 hours prior to setting.  
• Eggs may be subjected to temperatures that are too warm and begin to develop. If this occurs and the eggs are then moved to a much cooler area, the eggs will stop developing. If they remain at a temperature that is warm enough to start developing but not warm enough to develop fully, this will also decrease hatch rates or may cause abnormal development of the chick. Temperatures over about 105 degrees F for more than a few hours may destroy the viability of a hatching egg, especially early on in the incubation process.   
• Eggs may be subjected to temperatures that are too cold. It is possible for an egg to freeze or partially freeze without cracking. If the egg temperature is below approximately 28 degrees F, ice crystals can form within the egg and cause damage, leading to eggs not hatching.
• Hatch rates may start to decrease if the eggs are exposed to temperatures below 46 degrees for an extended period of time.     
• Quick temperature changes or storage where the humidity is very high can cause condensation to form on the eggshell. Moisture on the eggs can lead to bacterial growth, contamination, or blockage of the shell’s pores which can cause suffocation of the embryo.  

These circumstances may negatively affect the fertility of the eggs and your hatch rate. The hatch rate is not guaranteed nor are we able to check or ensure the fertility of each individual egg.