is sharpie OK for marking eggs?

[loopy]

I have a broody duck and we want to limit her nest. The other hens wll give her their eggs. Can I mark the eggs with sharpie permantent ink? That way I can remove the newer eggs from under her when she gets up. I tried pencil before but it gets washed off.

thanks,
Karen

 

[zimmy]

NOOOOOOOOOO.

Do NOT use sharpie, unless you want poisoned duckies, loopy.

 

[Picco]

I agree, sharpies are no good for eggs. The ink can seep into the egg pores and kill the embryo.

 

[BeckyLa]

Aaalrighty then.....what should we use???

 

[Newchickenmom&kids]

I'm glad somebody finally asked!!! Now that we know what not to use......

 

[Saltiena]

my friend used a crayon,can that hurt them??? Can a highlighter or a magic marker hurt the eggs?i was planning on using a magic marker (washable) but will that be the same as the sharpies?

 

[keljonma]

pencil

 

[BeckyLa]

lead poisoning?

 

[loopy]

Hmmm, this is a problem. Pencil washes off and her housemates give her their eggs. I don't have a place to isolate her. I could try to keep track of the pencil markings and when they get faint, re-apply a mark. I was just not sure the led in the pencil was safe.

loop de loop.

 

[keljonma]

Lead pencils contain no lead. The writing medium is graphite, a form of carbon, which is non-toxic.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/question465.htm