Question about Cleaning Hatching Eggs.

[DavidKerk]

I am going to start incubating soon and was wondering how clean the eggs have to be. I understand that your not supposed to clean them with water. Is there any way to clean hatching eggs? Could I just put them in the 'bator dirty? How dirty can they be when they go in the 'bator? Thanks!

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I don't clean them at all since anything can remove the "bloom" on the egg and introduce bacteria into the egg. If they have a few smudges of dirt on them or some poop, you can use a gentle sandpaper to remove it or just let it be. I've done both ways and had hatches. If they are very dirty (more than 50% covered), have been laying in mud, or if the dirt looks imbedded in the shell, I wouldn't bother incubating.

 

[Elke Beck]

I don't clean the eggs unless it is really covered. Last year my broody hen broke an egg, and 4 of the others were coated with the egg. In that case I used warm water to gently clean the egg off the shells, and I had 100% hatch. I would not have done it if there were just a streak on the shell, but because at least half the shell was covered on each I thought it was worth the risk.