too wash or not too wash...

[spish]

just curious what people do with their eggs before putting them in the incubator..
i never wash my chickens eggs before going in (they are never really dirty), but i have here some really dried on muddy looking goose and Turkey eggs (they seem to like to bury them!) that id like to try hatching....should i wash them or are they good to go in as they are??

 

[DraigAthar]

I never wash eggs before setting them. I try to avoid setting the poopy ones, but if it's a special egg that is dirty and I really want to set it anyway, I'll use some sandpaper to gently sand off the worst of the crud. Works pretty well!

 

[bHen]

I too use fine sandpaper or even a paper towel to knock the dirt off. I have also set some of these dirty ones without doing anything but watching them closely, so they don't burst, and have had them hatch without issue