We sell our hatching eggs here on our website (best value for our customers) and on eBay, Amazon and Preloved.

However, in May 2025 eBay decided to ban the sale of all hatching eggs across its entire platform.

Why might this be?

eBay has a ‘live animal policy’ that bans the sale of live animals on its site. In May 2025 they decided to add hatching eggs to this policy.  Although they have not explained why (to over 10,000 sellers across eBay UK), we might have an explanation from DEFRA for you.

APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency & DEFRA department) have a Poultry Health Scheme (PHS) Handbook which mentions hatching eggs. However this only applies to large scale premises intending to export breeding poultry, day old chicks and hatching eggs from GB to the European Union and/or Northern Ireland. (not us).  However they do ‘define’ hatching eggs as “‘Hatching eggs’ means eggs, laid by poultry or captive birds, intended for incubation”.  The word INTENDED is important here.

When an egg is laid – there is no embryo inside of it.  There are a few cells on every egg (whether fertile or not) that can be seen on the yolk when you crack it.  In a fertile egg, these only start developing if the egg is incubated correctly.  After about 4 days of correct incubation a circulatory system (veining) and a tiny heartbeat can be just visible if an egg is candled.  This then becomes a ‘live animal’.

We only send out eggs that are freshly laid.  If any egg has been partially incubated and is then sent out through the post, the embryo will die very quickly and not survive the process.  This is why (in our advice slip) we advise all our customers to not touch the eggs for 7 days after the start of incubation (other than rotating) as the embryo is so very fragile.  Research shows that increased handing in these first 7 days reduces hatch rates considerably.

DEFRA definition: ““Hatching eggs” are defined as eggs for incubation laid by poultry.” Guidance only applies to import and export of these eggs. (not us).  Defra also specifies the reason they class them as ‘live animals’ is that they have a heartbeat and circulatory system.  As explained – they do not when they are just laid.  So we are assuming eBay is just using this as a strange reason to ban the sale of them on their platform.

APHA have regulations “relating to the production and marketing of hatching eggs...” but this only applies to establishments that have

• pedigree breeding establishment: for the production of eggs for hatching intended
  for the production of grandparent stock, parent stock or utility chicks (not us)
• breeding establishment: for the production of eggs for hatching intended for utility
  chick production (not us)
• hatchery: for the incubation of eggs for hatching and supply of chicks for any
  purpose. (not us)

SO… eBay have decided that all hatching eggs are live animals – irrespective of the facts that when freshly laid they are simply not!

At least you can still buy them from us here!