The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[immyjay54]

I have been washing them with mana pro egg wash. It has instructions for cleaning hatching eggs on the bottle. I have had no issues with it and the eggs hatch fine. It is better than using muddy poopy eggs to hatch.

If they are clean I would not wash them. Lots of literature on hatching eggs says to fumigate them.

I think sometimes you just have to try something and if it works for you then that is what you do. A lot have forgotten what these birds do without human help. lol

 

[Fred's Hens]

To me it is far less philosophical and much more practical.

There are times when the nests are clean and the eggs are retrieved in spotless condition. I don't wash those. But sometimes out in the breeding pens, there are muddy days and days with far, far less than clean eggs, filthy even.

During hatching season, I'm sure not going to discard dirty eggs. A quick rinse and air dry and I set those eggs that once were dirty. It doesn't seem to negatively effect the hatch rate, and may even improve it a bit.

I don't think any of this matters. Do what works for you and warms your heart.

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[RedRidge]

Yes, how you handle your eggs is the same as how you incubate... Do what works best for you.
We are back to the same philosophy of there being more than one way to skin a cat - just depends if you want the skin or the meat. ;-)

I use a layer of pine pellet horse bedding in my breeding pens. .. so I just wipe the sawdust off of my eggs as i put them into cartons - usually I wipe them on my pants. lol

 

[immyjay54]

Yes, how you handle your eggs is the same as how you incubate... Do what works best for you.
We are back to the same philosophy of there being more than one way to skin a cat - just depends if you want the skin or the meat. ;-)

I use a layer of pine pellet horse bedding in my breeding pens. .. so I just wipe the sawdust off of my eggs as i put them into cartons - usually I wipe them on my pants. lol

I've read on here over the years where folks would say make sure you wash your hands before touching the eggs because of the oil on our skin. I just laugh at a lot of these things. I can still remember how my dad used to be out feeding pigs and cattle and when he was done would go gather the last eggs. I'm sure he probably had a little pig or cow poo on his hands and I'm sure he didn't run somewhere and wash his hands before he gathered the eggs. Gosh, we used to all have coal furnaces and us kids used to eat the snow and icicles that would hang off the roofs. I'm sure there was probably soot int them and how we'd pick tomatoes of the vine and wipe them on our pant legs and sit in the garden and eat them. Geez. dad was 81 and mom 97 when they passed so I don't think it bothered them. lol I'll go with the old way anytime. All this artificial stuff is not for me. I love all the old memories.

 

[ronott1]

I think sometimes you just have to try something and if it works for you then that is what you do. A lot have forgotten what these birds do without human help. lol

That is so true!

A lot of it is our own fault I suppose. Even with domestication, there is no substitute for a Broody Hen.

 

[immyjay54]

That is so true!

A lot of it is our own fault I suppose. Even with domestication, there is no substitute for a Broody Hen.

Back to basics. We may not raise as many that way but this is what I'm going back to. A lot less work for us. Also, I think we would be getting chicks with a stronger immune system. Just my thoughts.
Jim

 

[RedRidge]

 
That is so true!

A lot of it is our own fault I suppose. Even with domestication, there is no substitute for a Broody Hen.

      Back to basics. We may not raise as many that way but this is what I'm going back to. A lot less work for us. Also, I think we would be getting chicks with a stronger immune system. Just my thoughts. 
Jim 

And from what I've seen these Underwoods are more than willing to go broody. I've had 2 so far already this year who hatched for me... determined mommas so. .. I have them eggs.

 

[immyjay54]

And from what I've seen these Underwoods are more than willing to go broody. I've had 2 so far already this year who hatched for me... determined mommas so. .. I have them eggs.

My RC's haven't went broody yet but a few of the SC's did. I have one right now but don't have her in the right place right now for eggs. Very gentle girls also. The worst ones that I have for wanting to go broody are the few light Sussex that I have in the layer pen. Big girls, could cover a good many eggs. Nothing any cuter then an old hen walking around the yard clucking with a group of these little biddies around her. Love it when momma gets them a worm. lol They are so funny.
Jim

 

[SallyinIndiana]

To me it is far less philosophical and much more practical.

There are times when the nests are clean and the eggs are retrieved in spotless condition. I don't wash those. But sometimes out in the breeding pens, there are muddy days and days with far, far less than clean eggs, filthy even.

During hatching season, I'm sure not going to discard dirty eggs. A quick rinse and air dry and I set those eggs that once were dirty. It doesn't seem to negatively effect the hatch rate, and may even improve it a bit.

I don't think any of this matters. Do what works for you and warms your heart.

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For the eggs you wash, do you wash them shortly after gathering them, let them air dry and store them until time to put them in the incubator. Or do you wait till just before you set the eggs to wash them.
We have mud this week so of course eggs are not by any means spotless. The pen was moved every other day but still there was mud just about everywhere in our yard.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I prefer to wash them, if I am going to wash them at all, upon gathering. No point in them stewing in the dirt that is on them. Again, my last hatch was spectacular and they were all washed, dirty eggs. We had a horrid winter.

This past week, everything has dried out beautifully and all the eggs I'll set this weekend will be unwashed, as there was no need. Hope that helps. I'm not phobic or freak about any of this. It is all just matter of common sense to me.



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