Clean the eggs or not for incubator?!

[Smiller1090]

I’ve asked several people on whether to clean the eggs or not before incubation. What does everyone do and why?

 

[The Happster]

As long as there is no major dirt, poop, ect, they should be fine.
If there is major dirt, choose some different eggs.

 

[muddy75]

It depends on source of eggs and how dirty they are and if homegrown as stated earlier choose different cleaner eggs.....if shipped and really dirty I would clean with dry cloth as possible and never order from that source again

 

[britesidefarm]

In my opinion, cleaning the eggs are only used if we eat them. If their going in the incubator, we use a dry towel. Using water or a wet towel can rub off an important covering on the egg that helps give the embryo the right nutritions it needs.

 

[Magnolia Ducks]

Agreed, I use a dry paper towel to dust them off. No need to be pristine, just the majority of the poop off. I never wash.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I agree with everyone else and I usually do not clean my hatching eggs. I don't want to wash off the bloom, it helps protect the embryo from bacteria. I did use a cold, damp paper towel on some eggs a friend gave me that where caked in mud. I still had a decent hatch rate.

 

[Smiller1090]

Thank you all. I found a hidden nest under my duck coop with 12 eggs in it. I ordered an incubator and received it months ago but haven’t utilized it until now. I candled the eggs and didn’t see veining big went ahead and put them in the incubator and will candle them again in a few days.