Im sorry that you had such a bad experience on ebay.I sell some on ebay myself.Most through the APWS and Game Bird Gazette. I admit there is no excuse for that many broken eggs however I have bought eggs off of ebay that had a terrible hatch rate and some that were very good..Thats the chance you take anywhere not just ebay. Gambel and Valley quail fertility is not as good as say the bobwhite.If I can get a 50% hatch rate from these two species I can live with that. I know how to incubate,store eggs but the breeding is left up to the birds. I try to send extras to offset breakage.
Backyard breeders in my opinion have some of the best birds out there due to the fact they are not just throwing feed and water at them but are looking for problems,providing ampel cage space and raising generally healthly birds. I would not buy any eggs or birds from anyone who is not NPIP approved.I cant take the risk for my operation so I am limited to whom I get replacements from.
You can not save a dollar on quality gamebirds and eggs. Many people who just start raising game birds think you raise them like chickens and its just not so as many of you well know. It took me years and lots of losses to learn how to hatch and then keep them alive long enough to lay enough eggs to reproduce an adult.
Many folks believe that if they buy 100 eggs every one must be fertile and then hatch for them to be satisfied.Anything short of that and they are disappointed. The best a person can do is provide quailty feed/water,cage space,hen to roo ratio and quaility breeding practices for there customers.
I have been doing this long enough that Im not foolish enough to get bent out of shape unless appx. 50% dont hatch.Even then I examine the eggs to see at what developement if any ceased to exist. Im convinced the key to buying Gambel and Valley eggs is to get them early in the season (April/May) before they even think of molting. Most folks will sell a egg if they are still getting eggs. I dont sell any Valley or Gambel after June 15th.. its too risky.I may put those in my bator but I wont sell them. That means stopping production early so that I know Im selling the eggs that have the best chance of hatching.. Key word being "CHANCE"
My feedback on ebay is 100% and I hope to keep it that way.Will I? I dont know.Its just a matter of time until a beginner is disappointed and Im left with less than desirable feedback. I do the best I can and let the Good Lord worry about my reputation. Posting bad results only enflames those if they see it.I dont know how much it warnes others.Its not worth the hassel to me. A phone call usually does the trick for getting better service.If I live and learn Im smarter for it. Just my 2 cents.Replacing broken eggs for people is a good practice.If they recieve the amount of eggs that they paid for within reason they should be satisfied if theynhave a decent hatch.That many broken eggs you experienced is unacceptable by anyones standards so I can agree with you on that one. Fertility I think one has to be a little more considerate of. Most folks simply dont know how to operate a incubator and often time end up cooking an egg by too high a temperture.Seldom does eggs not hatch to to low a temp. delayed hatching yes. I just hatched off 54 Gambels and 59 Valleys out of 100 of each. Im happy with that personally. For bobwhites I would expect 65% or so through the mail.
I hope you can find some replacements eggs in time to raise them fore next years breeders.Good luck my friend!
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