Silly Hatching Question

[Biddieacres]

If I purchase a fertile egg and the hen who laid it had disease, then I put it under my healthy hen, do I put her at risk for the disease? Will the baby who hatches be free of disease? Sorry, new to this hatching stuff.

 

[becky3086]

Having hatched, many, many eggs, I have to say that I think it is unlikely but then again maybe it would depend on the disease.

 

[TheDuckCrew]

I don't think thats a stupid question! its got me wondering too, i never thought of that before.

 

[jvls1942]

what disease? usually a relly sick chicken might not lay eggs in the first place.. If you are talking lice or something like that it can be prevented by washing the eggs..

this is a pretty general answer, but that was a pretty general question..

 

[Biddieacres]

say cocci which I hear is very contagious? Could the chick be infected? Does cocci travel on the shell? I am probably starting to sound like a germ a phobic but I just don't know.

 

[Andora]

I had a disease nightmare last summer and so I did a lot of researching. The answer is YES. You can give your hens diseases from outside eggs.

Some diseases are transmitted through eggs--avian leukosis for example. (That's one disease that was in my old flock.) Babies are born carriers. I think there is one "cold" type disease that is also egg transmitted.

If the eggs had poop on them, any diseases transmitted through poop could be given to your hens. Cocci is transmitted through poop, though that's not always deadly compared to some other illnesses that could devastate your flock.

If there are sick hens in the coop where the eggs were laid and they got snot or bodily fluids on the eggs in passing, or from the farmer's hands, then those could transmit to your coop if you put the eggs in...

My disease disaster has made me extremely paranoid.

I now only bring in baby chicks, which are isolated in the brooder. If I ever get eggs for a broody they would only be from very trusted friends.

 

[Biddieacres]

Thank you SO much! Youve helped me out. So now I am wondering, is it OK to wash the egg before putting it under her or will that take the bloom off and make the egg go bad?

This is all new to me. This is my first broody and first hatch.

Thanks!