Do you wash eggs before placing them in incubator?

[jlgoinggreen]

I just received my Black Copper Maran eggs and my Bourbon Red Turkey eggs. They came super dirty and I was wondering if we were supposed to wash them first? I here washing them is bad, but then hear that they shouldn't have gunk on them. So what should I do? Maybe brush the gunk off lightly with a soft brush? Is there a special soap I should use if I wash them?

Any advice would be appreciated?

Here are some pics of my new eggs

:

BCM:

Bourbon Red Turkey:

Together

 

[Mom2Munchkins]

I wouldn't wash them... They don't look that bad. You should see my duck eggs every day!

 

[speckledhen]

Nope, never wash mine, but I never put poopy eggs in the bator. Yours look good.

 

[klf73]

I've heard to use a stiff brush....but those don't look too bad IMO

 

[ranchhand]

Dirty? Those are quite clean and pretty. If you really feel you MUST do something, a dry brush or fine grit sandpaper might help. Though I still say those are very clean eggs!

No water, certainly no soap.

 

[Soccer Mom]

I'm with the above posters. Those don't look dirty at ALL to me! You should see duck eggs if you want to see a dirty mess. I don't put poopy eggs in the bator, but those just have a little dirt on them. I use a toothbrush sometimes to get the big clumps of mud off.

 

[jlgoinggreen]

Thanks. I feel so blessed to have you guys to help me in my learning curve.

 

[RAREROO]

I agree with everyone else, your eggs don't look dirty.

But if you do have dirty eggs one day maybe with lots of poop, mud. or dried egg yolk on them, I have had good results soaking dirty eggs for a few minutes in warm water with betadine in it. Lots of people tell you not to wash them but I have had good results with eggs that were soaked like that and refrigerated eggs.

 

[Illia]

Your eggs don't look dirty. And no you should never wash them when hatching. . . Just don't put in truly dirty ones like ones with poop smeared all over them. Dirt on the other hand can sometimes be lightly dusted off, and at other times won't harm the egg.

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh man, you got some Black Coppers! I tried, but I was a min late.

So, I found some Cuckoo Marans/Americanas and also, one of the roos was a pure Cuckoo...plus had some black starrs...so, I picked out all of the dark ones she had left..hoping for a Maran, even if it isn't a Black Copper, they lay beautiful eggs, and my grandkids will love it! Your eggs are beautiful..look cleaner than mine. I've had some in the past that were dirty..hatched fine. Good luck, I envy you!

Seriously, good luck..is your bator a still air? I would turn them at least three times a day, and move them around to different places in the bator...

Cynthia