Questions about discolored eggs and washing the eggs.

[Sylviaanne]

This is not solely about incubation.

Some of the duck eggs I put in the incubator on the 26th of April became discolored and did not hatch. I have been following the ATTENTION NEWBIES TO INCUBATING thread and read how a bad egg will stink up the incubator. My incubator did stink but when I sniffed the eggs, none smelled bad so I left them in. Now all the eggs that didn't hatch have been in the incubator for 3 weeks and 3 days so I took them out. My chicken eggs are 99% brown and blue/green so I can't see through them but the duck eggs are all white or a shade of white. If the eggs are discolored, are they any good? Should I bother to put them in the incubator. Oh, I left out that I did do the water test to see if the floated, floated at all and they didn't.

When it rains here the dirt sticks to the eggs like clay, especially the duck eggs. They seem to like to play in the mud. When speaking of washing the eggs, does that refer to just clear water or soapy water? In other words, does clear water remove the protective film? Some of the eggs have to be washed with soapy water and a rough cloth to remove the dirt.

Is it safe to incubate washed eggs?

Thanks, Sylvia

 

[Strader]

I know some people say don't wash the eggs. I've washed mine, but only the area with the dirty spot, and just with filtered water.( No Soap). The ones I washed hatched.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

A light buffing with sandpaper also works to clean eggs before sitting them.

 

[Sylviaanne]

Thank you. I appreciate the information. Sylvia