Dirty Eggs

[mangled]

Hello, all-
While spreading straw today, I discovered where my goose has been laying her eggs. There's 9. I'm sure they're fertile, and I was hoping to incubate, but they're just filthy.
We are just all mud right now, its just ridiculous. She must've mudded them up walking in and out of the nest.
Can they be cleaned a bit? I mean, if I run them under some cool water, will I ruin them or is there a chance?

Thanks.
Blessings-
Em

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hello, all-
While spreading straw today, I discovered where my goose has been laying her eggs. There's 9. I'm sure they're fertile, and I was hoping to incubate, but they're just filthy.
We are just all mud right now, its just ridiculous. She must've mudded them up walking in and out of the nest.
Can they be cleaned a bit? I mean, if I run them under some cool water, will I ruin them or is there a chance?

Thanks.
Blessings-
Em

I'm not sure but I don't think you should clean them up.

 

[Reurra]

I would not run them under water, but rather try this:

Boil some water and let it cool to roughly room temp. Use paper towel and clean hands to gently wipe away the dirt, but dont rub, it could grind the particles into the egg.

From what I read, eggs are porous. It lets in air to help the chick have oxygen for growth. If stuff gets into those pores, it could cause bacterial growth and kill the eggs.

I had one egg that died during incubation. When opened a brownish fluid came pouring out, the chick which was half developed had some sort of brown puss looking stuff all over it. I believe that some sort of bacteria got into the egg and caused it to kill the chick. Warm damp dark areas are where bacteria love to grow.

I wonder if using a UV light on the surface could sanitize it? Ive heard of UV being used to kill viruses and stuff on surgical equipment. Maybe you can look that up.

 

[ChristineR]

Hello, all-
While spreading straw today, I discovered where my goose has been laying her eggs. There's 9. I'm sure they're fertile, and I was hoping to incubate, but they're just filthy.
We are just all mud right now, its just ridiculous. She must've mudded them up walking in and out of the nest.
Can they be cleaned a bit? I mean, if I run them under some cool water, will I ruin them or is there a chance?

Thanks.
Blessings-
Em

If you clean them, you need to do it with water that is warmer than the eggs. Otherwise, the water (and germs) will get pulled through the pores into the eggs. If I have really dirty duck or goose eggs, I run them under the faucet using warm water and gently chip/brush off and clumps of dirt. I try to rub them as little as possible, but I'd rather have to increase the humidity in the incubator than have dirty eggs in there, turning it into a petri dish. I haven't had a problem hatching ducklings using this method; this is my first year hatching goslings.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What about egg under a goose? my gooses eggs are pretty dirty, she isn't sitting yet except for at night, but I cant i magine going out there when she starts and taking the eggs out from under her and cleaning them then putting them back.

 

[ChristineR]

What about egg under a goose? my gooses eggs are pretty dirty, she isn't sitting yet except for at night, but I cant i magine going out there when she starts and taking the eggs out from under her and cleaning them then putting them back.

Yeah, I would imagine they get pretty dirty. I just don't want any nasty, exploding eggs in my incubator.

 

[psue]

What about egg under a goose? my gooses eggs are pretty dirty, she isn't sitting yet except for at night, but I cant i magine going out there when she starts and taking the eggs out from under her and cleaning them then putting them back.

Miss Lydia... from what I've seen if an egg starts to go bad Momma will push it out of the nest. So I wouldn't worry about under the goose. Remember they have been doing this for thousands of years without us

 

[psue]

If you clean them, you need to do it with water that is warmer than the eggs. Otherwise, the water (and germs) will get pulled through the pores into the eggs. If I have really dirty duck or goose eggs, I run them under the faucet using warm water and gently chip/brush off and clumps of dirt. I try to rub them as little as possible, but I'd rather have to increase the humidity in the incubator than have dirty eggs in there, turning it into a petri dish. I haven't had a problem hatching ducklings using this method; this is my first year hatching goslings.

x2 normally my goose eggs dont need anything but the ducks