Just received your hatching eggs? Here’s what to do before incubation

Receiving hatching eggs is always an exciting moment. Naturally, the first thing you may want to do is prepare the incubator and start incubation straight away.

However, when eggs have travelled by courier, a few simple precautions after delivery can make an important difference.

A hatching egg is delicate. Even when the shell looks perfectly intact, the egg may have been exposed to vibrations, changes of position and temperature fluctuations during transport.

So, what should you do when your parcel arrives?

Here are the main recommendations.

1. Unpack the eggs carefully

When your parcel arrives, open the packaging carefully and handle each egg gently.

At Ovolis, we pay particular attention to packaging in order to protect our hatching eggs as much as possible during transport. However, once a parcel has been handed over to the carrier, it naturally passes through several handling and sorting stages.

It is therefore advisable to visually inspect each egg upon arrival.

Check especially for:

• cracks in the shell;
• visible damage;
• signs of impact;
• leakage;
• unusually weakened or damaged shells.

Even an egg that looks completely intact on the outside may have experienced movement or vibration during transport. This is precisely why a resting period before incubation is recommended.

2. Do not place the eggs in the incubator immediately

This is probably one of the most important recommendations after shipping.

Allow the hatching eggs to rest before starting incubation.

After transport, we recommend placing them carefully in an egg carton or suitable holder, with the pointed end facing down and the wider end facing up.

The air cell is located at the wider end of the egg.

Vibrations and movement during transport can disturb the air cell. Allowing the eggs to rest gives them time to stabilise before incubation begins.

After shipping, a resting period of up to 24 hours can be beneficial.

There is therefore no need to rush. If your eggs arrive in the morning, this does not mean they must be placed in the incubator within the next hour.

3. Where should the eggs rest?

During this resting period, keep the eggs in a calm place protected from:

• direct sunlight;
• heat sources;
• draughts;
• vibrations;
• significant temperature fluctuations.

Avoid placing the egg box next to a radiator or on top of an appliance that produces heat.

The aim is simply to allow the eggs to settle quietly after their journey.

4. Can an intact egg still have suffered a shock?

Yes.

This is an important point when dealing with shipped hatching eggs.

We often associate a damaged egg with a visibly broken shell. However, the shell is not the only sensitive part of the egg.

An egg may arrive looking perfectly intact while still having experienced significant vibrations or impacts during transport.

The air cell at the wider end of the egg may be affected.

This does not automatically mean that the egg will fail to develop.

However, it helps explain why hatch results from shipped eggs can sometimes differ from eggs that are freshly collected and placed directly into an incubator.

5. Should hatching eggs be washed before incubation?

No, it is generally best not to wash hatching eggs.

The eggshell naturally has a thin protective layer called the cuticle.

Washing or aggressive cleaning can damage this natural protection.

If there is a small amount of dirt on the shell, avoid automatically washing the egg under running water.

Hatching eggs should generally be handled as little as possible.

6. Can the eggs be candled as soon as they arrive?

Candling may allow you to observe the air cell or identify certain major abnormalities.

However, immediately after delivery, it is still too early to know whether an embryo will develop successfully.

Patience is essential.

To properly observe embryonic development, you will need to wait several days after incubation begins.

For quail eggs, an initial check can be carried out after a few days of incubation, once the developing blood vessels become sufficiently visible.

Strongly pigmented or heavily speckled shells can make candling more difficult.

7. Prepare the incubator before setting the eggs

While the eggs are resting, use this time to prepare your incubator properly.

Successful incubation starts with stable conditions.

Before placing the eggs inside:

• check the temperature;
• check the humidity level;
• make sure the automatic turning system is working correctly, if fitted;
• check the ventilation;
• and allow the incubator to run long enough for its conditions to stabilise.

This way, when the eggs are ready, they can be placed directly into a stable incubation environment.

8. Common mistakes to avoid after delivery

Some mistakes can easily be avoided.

Putting the eggs straight into the incubator

After transport, give them some time to rest first.

Shaking an egg to check its contents

This should always be avoided. Hatching eggs must be handled gently.

Washing the eggs automatically

Unless there is a very specific reason to do so, avoid washing or aggressively cleaning hatching eggs.

Leaving them in direct sunlight

An egg box or parcel can heat up very quickly when exposed to direct sunlight.

Handling the eggs repeatedly

It is completely understandable to be curious and want to inspect or candle the eggs frequently.

However, the less unnecessary handling they receive before incubation, the better.

9. Can transport affect the hatch rate?

It is not possible to guarantee the individual development of every shipped hatching egg.

Many factors influence the outcome of incubation:

fertility, the age of the egg, transport conditions, temperature fluctuations, the incubator used, its calibration, humidity, egg turning and the conditions during the hatching stage.

Transport is therefore one of several factors that may influence the final result.

This is why good handling practices from the moment the eggs arrive are so important, helping to provide the best possible conditions before incubation begins.

In summary: what should you do when your hatching eggs arrive?

When you receive your parcel:

1. open the packaging carefully;
2. inspect the outside of each egg;
3. place the eggs with the pointed end facing down;
4. allow them to rest in a calm place with a stable temperature;
5. avoid unnecessary washing or handling;
6. prepare the incubator and allow its conditions to stabilise;
7. then begin incubation.

In a way, successful incubation begins before the eggs are even placed inside the incubator.

A few simple steps after delivery can help give your hatching eggs the best possible conditions for the start of incubation.

At Ovolis, we carefully select and pack our hatching eggs so that they can travel in the best possible conditions. Once they arrive at your home, a few hours of patience and careful handling are the final steps before beginning the exciting journey of incubation.