Egg setting and washing

[jerwanman]

People say you should not wash eggs your getting ready for incubating... Can dirty eggs be washed under running water. And what about eggs for setting that have a ruff sand-paper like texture?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Leave all hatching eggs un-washed. You can wash off the "bloom", which is a protective coating that keeps the egg from absorbing bacteria.

 

[<3ChickenForever]

I think you're not s'pose to wash them if you're incubating them (if i'm wrong correct me).

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

My understanding every hatchery washes there. Hot water is what I use an they hatch fine.

 

[Higins00]

Leave all the eggs just as you get them out of the nests. No washing, bumpy eggs are fine just leave them as they are.

 

[Cetawin]

You are not supposed to wash them but if you have one that is really dirty or has poo on it, either do not incubate or take a damp papertowel and remove the poo and dirt. Left on, it is a breeding ground for bacteria in the heat of the bator and can cause death to other embryos and etc.

The egg is covered in a bloom, a shiny sticky substance that protects the shell, when you remove that, the egg has no defense against bacteria and contamination.

 

[BeccaB00]

No - Washing them with water or cleaning products

removes the protective coating on the egg, making it super easy for

disease and bacteria to enter. Plus - The rubbing/wiping tends to actually

PUSH bacteria through the pores into the egg. Do not incubate overly dirty eggs.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Every commercial hatchery I've ever heard of washes and sanitizes their eggs and I do the same. Good hatches.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I love this "your not suppose to wash them" stuff. If you Google "washing hatching eggs" you will get pages of studys an reports on how an why you should wash them. Yet on the forums people propagate a religious belief that the bloom can fight off any attack except one, water....


Do I wash all of mine? No, I'm lazy... But washing them does help.

 

[pkw]

I don't wash mine before setting them.