Should the eggs be washed?

[jimnjay]

I don't wash my eggs in so far as scrubbing them but I do sanitize them with 1 oz of clorox to 2 gallons of warm water. Leave in there for 1 minute two minutes for soiled eggs. I found instructions on the instructions to my top hatch. They do not recommend sanitizing but I know that the big hatcheries do sanitize to minimize bacteria in those huge units they use. I have never always had good results.

 

[giffy]

Same procedure as Mawark that I have been using for years is mixing a Betadine (Equate providone-iodine) solution (8 oz bottle from WalMart) and warm water in a pan. I add enough Betadine to make it look like weak tea. Solution is about 110 degrees, the eggs are placed in it for about a minute +/- each, then rinsed (clean water 110-115 degrees) and set on dry clean towels. When they are dry, I mark the eggs with pencil the breed and date laid or collected. If I am going to store them, I put them in cartons, small end down, in the basement...........I rarely put eggs in the bator that are more then 7 days old.

giffy
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GiffsFarm

 

[RedTailRanch]

I'm a newbie to hatching (just hatched my first two days ago!) but I've read ALOT of books and posts on chickens.

From what I gather, it is ok to wash them before hand, but use warm water. Cold water can make the shell contract, apparently, and cause bacteria to enter into the egg.

I did not wash the eggs of the chicks that I just hatched (from my own chickens). But, I did just put three more eggs into my r-com mini and those I did wash. We'll see if it makes any difference.

I think it's probably best not to wash them, if possible, and to use eggs that are naturally "clean" and free of dirt/feces/etc. I remember reading somewhere that the eggs have a natural coating that protects during incubation. I am also reluctant to use any chemicals in the cleaning process, since eggs are porous and I wouldn't want anything absorbing into the embryo.