Should Shipped Eggs Be Turned? (Turn vs No Turn Explained)
Written by Jennifer Bryant — Bryant’s Roost
Short Answer
YES! Shipped hatching eggs should be turned during incubation. Turning prevents the embryo from sticking to membranes and supports normal development. The best method for shipped eggs is gentle tilting in a vertical incubator that keeps the egg upright and stabilizes the air cell.
Why Turning Shipped Eggs Matters
How shipped eggs are handled after delivery directly affects:
embryo survival
hatchability rates
air cell stability
chick health and vigor
Proper handling aims to produce healthy chicks, not just any chicks.
Assumptions About Shipped Eggs
Before discussing turning, a few basic assumptions must be made:
the eggs are fertile
the eggs were not severely damaged during shipping
shells are intact and structurally sound
If these conditions are not met, incubation practices cannot correct the problem.
Should Shipped Eggs Rest or Go Straight Into the Incubator?
The correct approach depends on temperature conditions during shipping.
If Eggs Arrive Warm (Hot Weather Shipping)
If eggs arrive warm — such as during very hot weather — incubation may have already started during transit. In this case:
place eggs directly into the incubator
continue incubation immediately
Allowing partially incubated eggs to cool can disrupt early embryo development.
If Eggs Arrive Cool (Most Situations)
If eggs arrive cool:
allow eggs to rest upright
slowly bring them to room temperature
resting up to 12 hours is typically sufficient
Extended resting periods are usually unnecessary.
Best Incubator Setup for Shipped Eggs
If you frequently incubate shipped eggs, the incubator design matters.
Vertical (Upright) Incubators — Recommended
Vertical incubators hold eggs upright and gently tilt them from side to side.
Benefits:
keeps the air cell positioned at the blunt end
reduces disturbance to detached or unstable air cells
minimizes internal movement
reduces vibration stress
supports normal embryo orientation
This method is especially helpful when air cell damage is suspected.
Horizontal Rolling Incubators — Less Ideal for Shipped Eggs
Incubators that roll eggs horizontally:
may disrupt air cell position
increase internal egg movement
can expose embryos to additional vibration
may reduce stability after shipping stress
These systems can work for non-shipped eggs but are less ideal for eggs affected by transport.
Why Hatching Eggs Must Be Turned
Egg turning during incubation is well established in poultry science.
Turning:
prevents the embryo from sticking to membranes
supports normal membrane and blood vessel development
improves nutrient absorption
reduces early embryo death
prevents the formation of blood rings
Eggs that are not turned may develop improperly or die early due to adhesion to internal membranes.
Where the “Do Not Turn Shipped Eggs” Idea Comes From
The recommendation to avoid turning shipped eggs is sometimes promoted in backyard incubation communities. This advice is often based on concerns about air cell damage or specific incubator designs, but it should not be applied as a general rule.
Proper turning — especially gentle tilting in upright incubators — supports normal embryo development even in shipped eggs.
Recommended Protocol for Shipped Eggs
Inspect eggs for damage upon arrival.
Determine whether eggs arrived warm or cool.
Rest cool eggs upright up to 12 hours if needed.
Place eggs in an incubator that allows gentle turning.
Use vertical or tilting turning when possible.
Begin standard incubation procedures.
Common Mistakes When Incubating Shipped Eggs
not turning eggs during incubation
using damaged eggs
resting eggs excessively
using high-vibration rolling turners for stressed eggs
ignoring air cell stability
Bryant’s Roost Recommendation
For best hatch results, shipped eggs should be incubated using gentle turning methods that maintain air cell stability and support normal embryo development. The goal is consistent production of healthy, vigorous chicks through proper handling and incubation practices.
Summary
Shipped eggs should be turned during incubation. Gentle tilting in a vertical incubator helps stabilize the air cell and supports normal embryo development. Avoid blanket recommendations to stop turning eggs, as proper turning improves hatch success and chick health.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shipped Egg Turning
Should shipped eggs be turned immediately?
If eggs arrive warm, begin incubation and turning immediately. If eggs arrive cool, allow them to rest upright briefly before incubation.
Why is turning important for embryos?
Turning prevents the embryo from sticking to membranes and supports proper development.
What incubator is best for shipped eggs?
Vertical incubators that gently tilt eggs upright are ideal because they stabilize the air cell and reduce internal movement.
Can shipped eggs hatch without turning?
Hatch rates and chick quality may be reduced if eggs are not turned during incubation.