I use a sharpie, and if they have white bellies like the OE and FBCM, I color the bellies green/blue/brown whatever so I can remember what color of eggs they came out of. I used to color the legs and toes but it comes off really fast. The bellies stay stained for quite a while. As they grow, I have leg bands to put on them, ones that fit around 4 weeks and then LF size. They have numbers on them so I can record who is who...
I use oxine. If you don't have oxine, water with some bleach in it works just fine, spray it down, rinse, and let air dry The ratios listed on the bleach bottle for disinfectant is how I have mixed it.
I was outside taking care of chickens. I knew the mail had come, but hadn't looked at it yet. All of a sudden, my DH comes outside and yells..Cal Ranch has their still air incubators on sale! I looked up at him, and just stood there! What? I mean, I did hear what he said, but what? Ha ha..he said it again. Cal Ranch has their still air incubators on sale, and he says the price. He knew I was looking to get another bator and sell my old one, so he let me know. I had actually already bought anther one off the internet..but...we headed for Cal Ranch.
I use half bleach, and half water solution. I spray the bottom of the bator..not the top. I let it set for a min. Then I rinse with really really hot water. Then I rinse with really cold water. I get as much water out as I can. I put the lid on, turn the bator up to around 108 and let it stay there for a couple of hrs. Then, I take the lid off and let it set until it's time to use again. When it's time, I turn it on real hot again for a bit, then turn it down. Steam clean. Gets the top with all of that humidity from washing it out..and then turning it on for a while.
I was outside taking care of chickens. I knew the mail had come, but hadn't looked at it yet. All of a sudden, my DH comes outside and yells..Cal Ranch has their still air incubators on sale! I looked up at him, and just stood there! What? I mean, I did hear what he said, but what? Ha ha..he said it again. Cal Ranch has their still air incubators on sale, and he says the price. He knew I was looking to get another bator and sell my old one, so he let me know. I had actually already bought anther one off the internet..but...we headed for Cal Ranch. He knows I have the other one coming.
Squee! I can't wait to hear how your hatch goes, Clucking! I hope you get lots to pop out.
Silly, I'm happy to do egg transportation for you and Cynthia.
To clean my incubator, I use mild dish soap and soak the parts that can be soaked, and use a paper towel dipped in the soapy water for the rest. Then, I let it air dry out in the sun.
HAPPY NEWS!!!! First I have to describe the family tree of the chicken protagonist...
So, here is my very first California White rooster that we got from IFA in my very first batch of chickens several years ago. We gave him to a local farm. This is him....
Well, he was bred with a Barred Rock (I believe)... I hatched out his baby in my homemade incubator seen below:
So we kept the chicken that hatched, and that is Lady Cluck (a hen I still have). So she is a California White x Barred Rock. Here she is (the one on the left):
Well, then I got some FBCM eggs from Wendy (you rock!) and hatched out all boys. I kept one, and named him RUFIO! (Seen below)
Well, I bred Lady Cluck and Rufio, and got two hens, The Twins. They are the two with the light combs. (Their brother triplet got processed a few weeks ago. RIP):
Well, today, after 6 months of waiting, almost to the day... one of them finally laid their FIRST EGG!!!!!!!!!
So, Lady Cluck (mom) laid a light tan egg, and Rufio (dad) came from a mega-dark egg. So, I was interested to see what The Twins would lay... The one on the left is a store XL egg, the middle is Lady Cluck's, and the one on the right is The Twins' first egg. It is an almost smack dab in the middle hue of the tan egg and a super dark marans egg. The first picture is with flash, the second without. (The second is more accurate.)
(sorry this is so long, I just had to share my very long chicken saga. It was almost a story from the old testament! CW knew a BR, and they begat Lady Cluck. Lady Cluck knew Rufio, and they begat the Twins....!)
What time and where did you want to meet on Saturday? I cleaned out the bator today, and it sat in the sun for about 4 hours. I'm going to go turn it back on tonight. I'm kind of thinking of doing what Cynthia was suggesting with getting it wet and turning it all the way up to steam it out. But I think it will be good. I hope.
How many eggs are you bringing me? I have 12 Americana that I'm going to set for a friend in scouts. I really hope I don't screw her eggs up. She only wants 6-8 of them, so I'm hoping I at least get 6 to hatch, with my luck she will cave and buy chicks from Cal Ranch. LOL. Then I guess I will have more to choose from if they lay a nice blue egg. HeHe.
Cynthia if you want to get some eggs, not sure if we can swing it, but if he can get them to Wendy, I can get them on Saturday and meet you in Orem if that works. Not sure what you were thinking, but I would be willing to do bring them down if you want. I would love to get another BO.
The ratios listed on the bleach bottle for disinfectant is how I have mixed it. 
