428 MARKETING THE PRODUCTS 



SELLING EGGS FOR HATCHING. 



Eggs are marketed for two purposes, — for human food and 

 for hatching. When marketing them for breeding purposes four 

 important points must be considered, — namely, securing the mar- 

 ket, method of shipping, chance of fertihty, and value of guarantee. 



Securing the Market. — If a large number are to be sold, 

 the market is usually secured by systematic advertising. Where 

 the breeder has an established reputation, which his birds have 

 maintained for years by winning prizes at shows, and there 

 are pleased customers in all parts of the country, there is little 

 need of advertising. High-class eggs for breeding purposes call 

 for special markets and enormous expense in marketing. The 

 output must be disposed of by making a great many small ship- 

 ments to many customers. In marketing eggs for food all the 

 output, if desired, can be shipped regularly and in considerable 

 quantity to the same customer. To counterbalance the labor 

 and heavy expense of marketing eggs for breeding purposes, an 

 exceedingly high price is usually received for such eggs. 



Method of Shipping. — In shipping eggs for hatching, chill- 

 ing or overheating must be avoided, also breaking or unnecessary 

 jarring. The usual method is to pack them in ordinary market 

 baskets, pasteboard containers being first put in the basket; after 

 the eggs are placed in these, the whole layer is filled with bran 

 or dry sawdust to prevent jarring or cracking. Eggs thus packed 

 are much more likely to reach their destination safely than when 

 they are shipped in heavy and tight wooden boxes, in which 

 case the handler is ignorant of the contents and takes no extra 

 precautions. 



Express companies charge an extra rate for handling eggs for 

 hatching, hence are expected to give them unusual care. The 

 package, of whatever type, should be plainly marked, stating 

 the nature of the contents and the danger of breakage. During 

 extremely cold weather when there is danger of chilling, it is advis- 

 able to wrap each egg in paper before putting it in the container. 



Chance of Fertility. — Since the hatching egg has no value 

 unless fertile, the greatest care should be exercised during the 

 selling season not only to produce fertile eggs, but to handle 

 them so that the germ will be kept alive and will develop into a 

 vigorous chick. The percentage of fertility varies considerably 

 in different seasons, being highest during the natural hatching 



