Should I clean off dirty eggs before I start incubating?

[jvls1942]

Hi There, Have you ever hatched Sebastapol Geese? We had a few mailed to us, and one is very muddy, not poopy. Do we wash them? We are concerned that if we contaminate the egg-the hatching will be dismal. Thanks in advance!! We also read that Sebastapols use less humidity. We also contacted Pete55-

Hi,

Yes, I have hatched Sebs.. Goose eggs, to me , are the most difficult to hatch.

I agree with misschickchick, people are too overly concerned with worry about contamination.
I can understand it if you are commercial and doing thousands of eggs at a time.. but us homesteaders have more freedom.

I have done it both ways, washed the eggs , or put them into the incubator au natural.
I do wash the poopie ones.
there is so much humidity present when incubating goose eggs, so how much more can they get wet by washing. ?
I know people who actually give the goose eggs a dunk in warm water during incubation.

If your eggs are too soiled, wash them if you feel like it.

......jiminwisc........

 

[CknNewbee15]

Hello!  I just rec'd 18 hatching eggs in the mail......These eggs are kinda dirty.  Should they be washed or cleaned before I incubate them?   And if I should wash them, how do I do that?


Thank you!

So how was your hatch rate chicmom??

 

[chicmom]

Hello!

This was so long ago, I can't remember which hatch I was referring to. I will say that I never wash the hatching eggs with water. The only thing I might do is very gently scrape off any dirt or chicken poo.

 

[Jacquieh]

Do NOT wash the eggs before putting in the incubator or the bloom can be destroyed. If they are heavily soiled you can brush them off. I have put eggs in the incubator that had a bit of nest dirt on them/stains and they were just fine. Only remove what would easily come off by gently wiping with a scotch scrubbie... or a very fine gritt sand paper... gentle is the key!!!!

Ok....if WASHING WITH WATER removes the "bloom"....how is the heck can you USE a "scotch scrubby" or "sand paper" on an egg and have it keep the bloom? Am I crazy? THIS doesn't make any sense? Scrubbing and SCRATCHING with sandpaper would nut ONLY remove the "bloom" but part odd the egg shell too! Can someone explain this please. Cause, I'm sorry, but saying "don't wash the egg, but Scrap it with sandpaper" is the silliest thing I've heard? And I can't understand how no one else saw this and didn't think the same thing!

 

[jvls1942]

Ok....if WASHING WITH WATER removes the "bloom"....how is the heck can you USE a "scotch scrubby" or "sand paper" on an egg and have it keep the bloom? Am I crazy? THIS doesn't make any sense? Scrubbing and SCRATCHING with sandpaper would nut ONLY remove the "bloom" but part odd the egg shell too! Can someone explain this please. Cause, I'm sorry, but saying "don't wash the egg, but Scrap it with sandpaper" is the silliest thing I've heard? And I can't understand how no one else saw this and didn't think the same thing!

If they are "dirty" we wash them.
there is a lot of bacteria in the "dirt" that I don't want to incubate.
bloom is grossly over rated IMHO .

I've been at this hatching game for about 50 years. I have done up to 1500 eggs at a time..
I have no problem with the purists,as long as they don't have a problem with me..

 

[Jacquieh]

If they are "dirty" we wash them.
there is a lot of bacteria in the "dirt" that I don't want to incubate.
bloom is grossly over rated IMHO .

I've been at this hatching game for about 50 years. I have done up to 1500 eggs at a time..
I have no problem with the purists,as long as they don't have a problem with me..

You are EXACTLY who I've been looking for then! Besides agreeing that that statement was very silly! "Scratch the egg shell, but don't put running water on it" Wth? Lol....anyways....This is my second hatch. I have 12 sillies eggs, and I've read both sides to the argument. If the hen sits on them, then they are dirty, so it seems natural....but, putting them in a different environment with all the dirt on them seems like it wouldn't bbc a good idea! But I want someone who has been hatching for awhile and can help me decide. I think I would like to slightly clean them off....what do you use to clean them? And any other suggestions you might have for me, would be greatly appreciated! Thank you jvls 1942.

 

[Bryam]

I can't' help myself! If an egg has poop on it I wash it off. They hatch just the same! Better than putting all that bacteria into the incubator!

I hope you have a great hatch! ☺

 

[jvls1942]

You are EXACTLY who I've been looking for then! Besides agreeing that that statement was very silly! "Scratch the egg shell, but don't put running water on it" Wth? Lol....anyways....This is my second hatch. I have 12 sillies eggs, and I've read both sides to the argument. If the hen sits on them, then they are dirty, so it seems natural....but, putting them in a different environment with all the dirt on them seems like it wouldn't bbc a good idea! But I want someone who has been hatching for awhile and can help me decide. I think I would like to slightly clean them off....what do you use to clean them? And any other suggestions you might have for me, would be greatly appreciated! Thank you jvls 1942.

just plain well water.
prevention is the best remedy.
keep the floor and nest boxes clean.
just a fresh layer of shavings or straw will suffice..
the egg in the nest under a hen is usually not covered with poo..

 

[Bryam]

Yup, I was rinse them under warm water and use a paper towel to wipe off any stuck poop. Works like a charm. I never use soap.

I hope that helps!

 

[Master Hatcher]

I know this is an old post but i wash all of my eggs with 50/50% solution of water and peroxide and i average a 99% hatch rate most of the time 100%. so its a myth not to wash them ! but you do you and i will do me !