Does anyone use egg wash on their hatching eggs?

I don't wash my eggs before incubation, this takes off the bloom (a protective coating). But I don't set dirty eggs either. If there is a small amount of dirt on an egg, I just pick it off. Some people that wash eggs have asked me why their hatch rate is low, I tell them it was because they washed their eggs. Just my .02. We never washed the eggs when we were setting thousands at a time commerically.

 

I dont wash either. But I do clean them=spot clean..If there is a spot where it wont just flick off I take a washcloth theat has a little water on it and spot clean.

 

I have heard of some using Oxine to wash their eggs. But, I have never used it on hatching eggs, I use it for sterilizing feeders, waterers and pens.

 

Oxine has been recommended to me as a dip, not a "wash". You don't need the activation crystals. It has a ton of other uses too. http://www.eggcartons.com/product-exec/product_id/894/nm/Oxine_AH_1_Gallon_OXI

I did dip/wash my eggs for a while in a mild bleach solution and it didn't really affect my hatch rate. The only stinkers I've had in the incubator have been shipped eggs.

 

The last two eggs that went bad on me were also the dirtiest. I tried to get the 'stuff' off without actually washing them with fine emery cloth and spot cleaning like I normally do but that stuff was really stuck this time so I had to leave it. They may have just been bad or infertile anyways. I know some universities and such do wash thier eggs but I don't know what they use. I have read that it is okay to wash the eggs as long as you do not use cold water because cold water will cause the pores of the eggs to contract and draw the bacteria into the egg.

 

I only hatch clean eggs.

However, I will say that last year I had a broody hen that pooped all over her eggs. It was absolutely the smelliest more awful stinky mess you ever saw.

I couldn't leave them that way, so I carefully rinsed them off in clear, warm water, being careful not to hold them under the water, not wanting to drown the babies.

These were fairly expensive eggs that I had sent for.

They all hatched.

Catherine

 

I'd like to know if it works as well. I have never tried any egg washes but if it worked, I would love to try it. I hate setting dirty eggs in my incubator and I will wash mine if they are dirty with just water. I believe the "bloom" theory to be ...well crap since I have had too many eggs that I have washed hatch. Still I would love to have a wash that killed the bacteria.

 

I usually dip or spray and wipe down the eggs before putting them in the incubator. I use the brinsea incubation disinfectant. I also mist down my chicken eggs weekly with the stuff.