How to Clean Sloppy Shipped Eggs Before Incubating

[angusb]

I received a box of shipped eggs today and was surprised to see how little care the shipper had taken with the packaging. Multiple eggs were broken, with whites and yolks mixed together and covering the few unbroken eggs. I know that people recommend NOT washing eggs that are going to be incubated in order to preserve the cuticle, or natural protective layer, but what would you do in my case? Will the egg be "sealed in" by a layer of dried yolk now? Should I just do my best to wipe the slime off with a dry cloth and then proceed with the incubating? Or would you recommend washing them at this point? Interested to hear anybody's thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[AlienChick]

I would probably wash them all at this point.
No harsh scrubbing; just rinse off the slime.
Put 'em all in a clean incubator and you should be fine.
Sorry about the broken eggs.
Some shippers ship better than others.
And some postal workers take better care than others.
Good luck with your hatch!

 

[angusb]

Okay, I gently rinsed them and then dried them with a clean towel. I'm hoping for the best!

 

[ParadiseFarms]

I wonder if that would work when a egg breaks under a broody hen? I didn't know you could rinse off the slime, and continue with the hatching! I ended up tossing the clutch, because they were all covered with egg! Please Post how your hatch went if you can.

Oh and, good luck!

 

[Lark Rise]

Sorry to hear about your eggs. I have washed eggs before and they hatched just as well as the unwashed ones. Just make sure your incubator is sterilized.
From my experience, it is eggs that are not individually bubble-wrapped and placed in egg cartons, that suffer the most in shipping. Lately, I've been asking sellers how they pack before I buy from them. I ask them if they will use the double box method. Some sellers never get back to me. I usually send them this link shared by Nancy Garry(Bargain). So far only one seller has been accommodating.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-garry-farm-how-our-eggs-are-wrapped-packed-and-shipped


Good luck with yours!

 

[kraftyladies]

Sorry to hear about your eggs. I have washed eggs before and they hatched just as well as the unwashed ones. Just make sure your incubator is sterilized.
From my experience, it is eggs that are not individually bubble-wrapped and placed in egg cartons, that suffer the most in shipping. Lately, I've been asking sellers how they pack before I buy from them. I ask them if they will use the double box method. Some sellers never get back to me. I usually send them this link shared by Nancy Garry(Bargain). So far only one seller has been accommodating.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-garry-farm-how-our-eggs-are-wrapped-packed-and-shipped


Good luck with yours!

I bought some eggs from Nancy last year, I love the way she packs her eggs. I now have hatching eggs that I sell, and I use her method. So far, out of all the ones I have sent, I think 1 egg ended up being broken. But by being wrapped like they are, it saves the other eggs. I have gotten some horribly packaged, then great ones like Nancy's. And with the postal service, you never know....

 

[LilMissChz]

I DO clean dirty eggs with tepid water and paper towels only. No chemicals or soaps. Just plain, lukewarm water only. I would be more concerned that dirty eggs would have a lower hatch rate in an incubator than how a water only wash would effect my hatch rate.