Receiving posted fertile eggs: document before setting
Posted fertile eggs carry transport risks even when carefully packed. Document their condition on arrival, read the seller's instructions and have a working incubator ready. Packing quality does not guarantee hatch results.
Unpack carefully
Record arrival date, visible parcel damage, egg condition and identification. Photograph concerns before discarding packing. Follow the seller's contact process promptly if there is damage; keep the report factual.
Prepare for incubation
Check storage and settling guidance for the situation and your incubator. Avoid treating one settling duration as a cure for every transit problem. Confirm that the incubator is stable and independently checked before setting valuable eggs.
Keep batch identity
Record breed, pen if supplied, collection information, dispatch and arrival dates, set date and egg count. Keep posted and collected batches distinguishable. Differences in storage and transport can affect results, so combining everything into one percentage hides useful information.
Next step: use separate hatch and fertility records. Clear eggs do not automatically prove the breeder supplied infertile eggs; early embryo death and incubation factors can complicate interpretation.
Further reading: Mississippi State University Extension - Hatching Quality Chicks. General education, checked 18 October 2026. This article is not veterinary diagnosis or a treatment prescription.