Dirty eggs - what do I do???

[MarineCorpFarmr]

Ok, so when the hen got off the nest for her daily five minute stretch and snack I had a good look at her eggs. They were filthy - covered in a thick layer of yolk, with broken egg shell, feathers and straw stuck to it. I didn't want to interfere but I could not see how any little chicks could possibly peck their way through this thick layer (if they made it that far anyway, because I doubted the eggs could 'breathe' properly with all the pores covered). So I cleaned them with some warm water and a smooth cloth. It didn't take too long, a couple of minutes each egg and then it was tucked back under mother hen. I really hope I have done the right thing. We are at day 14 now so hopefully everything progresses ok from here. I candled the eggs when I cleaned them and all look good.
The other thing was I kept adding straw to the nest and the hen kept moving her eggs to places without straw. She was getting grumpy at me between cleaning and candling the eggs, and insisting she nest on something other than wooden boards. We seemed to have arrived at some sort of compromise and she is nesting on a little straw - better than nothing. In return I have vowed to not interfere any more and will let her do her job on her own for the next week (harder than it sounds!! haha). In the meantime another little silkie hen has gone broody, so I may just get her some fertile eggs too, just incase this first batch are doomed. But for now it's a matter of wating and hoping!

If they are that nasty take a warm wet rag and scrub em down while shes off the nest. Dry them gently and place them back. Easy as pie I mean think about it, do you really think the hen enjoyed being all nasty like that? Probably not.

 

[mariathesilkie]

If they are that nasty take a warm wet rag and scrub em down while shes off the nest. Dry them gently and place them back. Easy as pie I mean think about it, do you really think the hen enjoyed being all nasty like that? Probably not.

I just want to make clear that my hen was not left "all nasty". I take good care of my silkies and she was cleaned up. My initial query was whether or not to clean the dried muck off the eggs as they were dirty but I had heard that cleaning them isn't good for them. I am very much a novice in this area so I was just looking for advise as to what was the lesser evil (dirty eggs which could 'suffocate' the eggs, spread bacteria, and make it mor difficult for any chicks to peck their way out of the egg versus cleaning the eggs which can sometimes cause other complications). As mentioned in a previous post I decided to clean the eggs as even though the yolk etc had dried up, it came off reasonably well with some warm water and a soft cloth, and without a need to scrub, and they were back under mother hen within a couple of minutes. So now it's just a matter of waiting with fingers crossed.

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

I just want to make clear that my hen was not left "all nasty". I take good care of my silkies and she was cleaned up. My initial query was whether or not to clean the dried muck off the eggs as they were dirty but I had heard that cleaning them isn't good for them. I am very much a novice in this area so I was just looking for advise as to what was the lesser evil (dirty eggs which could 'suffocate' the eggs, spread bacteria, and make it mor difficult for any chicks to peck their way out of the egg versus cleaning the eggs which can sometimes cause other complications). As mentioned in a previous post I decided to clean the eggs as even though the yolk etc had dried up, it came off reasonably well with some warm water and a soft cloth, and without a need to scrub, and they were back under mother hen within a couple of minutes. So now it's just a matter of waiting with fingers crossed.

Yes i read that you cleaned her up. All i can say is i have cleaned many eggs and so has my wife. Never effected them in any adverse way, So i hope the same applies to your eggs as well I have seen plenty of dirty poopy eggs hatch out just fine as well. The yoke is what worried me too. How long do they have left do you reckon?

 

[nothingbutbirds]

I just want to make clear that my hen was not left "all nasty". I take good care of my silkies and she was cleaned up. My initial query was whether or not to clean the dried muck off the eggs as they were dirty but I had heard that cleaning them isn't good for them. I am very much a novice in this area so I was just looking for advise as to what was the lesser evil (dirty eggs which could 'suffocate' the eggs, spread bacteria, and make it mor difficult for any chicks to peck their way out of the egg versus cleaning the eggs which can sometimes cause other complications). As mentioned in a previous post I decided to clean the eggs as even though the yolk etc had dried up, it came off reasonably well with some warm water and a soft cloth, and without a need to scrub, and they were back under mother hen within a couple of minutes. So now it's just a matter of waiting with fingers crossed.

I hope that all goes well, u said u candled the, was there movement in the eggs if so u should be fine

 

[mariathesilkie]

Yes i read that you cleaned her up. All i can say is i have cleaned many eggs and so has my wife. Never effected them in any adverse way, So i hope the same applies to your eggs as well I have seen plenty of dirty poopy eggs hatch out just fine as well. The yoke is what worried me too. How long do they have left do you reckon?

I think about six more days to go - I think waiting is the hardest part! I am pleased to hear of your success with cleaning eggs, I hope we have a good result too (even just a couple of chicks would be lovely).

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

I just put 3 in lockdown. Out of 40 they are the only ones my kids didnt smash. I did just set a big set of 70 last week, and going for i hope another big set this thursday

 

[mariathesilkie]

I noticed the hen off the nest earlier today so I candled one of the eggs. I don't want to annoy her too much now so am trying to leave her be, and she's only ever off the nest for a couple of minutes a day so I just candled the one egg. It was in the daytime so a little bit more difficult to see, but I think I saw movement. I'm hoping it's not just wishful thinking!! I will let you know how things go. Fingers crossed! She is not delicate at all with her eggs!

 

[MarineCorpFarmr]

lol most hens ive seen with eggs arent too gentle with em

 

[mariathesilkie]

I am very plesed to report that hatching day arrived on Sunday and mother hen is now doting on three super-cute little silkie chicks - a white, I think a buff and I have no idea what the other one will turn out to be (partridge??). Shortly after my last post the hen smashed and kicked out (or kicked out and then smashed) another egg, leaving her with only 5 eggs and I had serious doubts any eggs would make it through to hatching! Those remaining five eggs made it and we had these three chicks arrive right on time. the hen moved herself and her chicks away from the other eggs today (day 23) so I opened them up - one was probably not fertile to start with and the other had started to develop but something went wrong because all that was left was a bit of bloody gunk and the rest was rotten egg matter

I'm not sure but I doubt that whatever went wrong at that point was a result of the dirty eggs as that happened at about day 14 and I would have thought there would be more development than there actually was. Anyway, I am thrilled with these three little chicks (as I didn't think we would even get to hatching time at one stage) and the first-time mother hen seems to be a doting mum.

 

[KnobbyOaks]

Awwww. Congratulations. They look so cute.