Wash eggs?

[MyNameIs86]

Last year i incubated my first eggs.
I got the eggs from a local farm here.. 12 eggs in which 6-7 hatched but only 6 survived. At least I think so. I had one that hatched half way and I think it died so I threw it out 1-2 days after the initial 6 hatched. It wasn't moving at all any more, but anyway I didn't think I should wash them before putting them in the incubator. Is that something you should do before putting them in the incubator? When I received the eggs there was 1 lone feather from the chicken. lol.
i'm hoping to get an incubator to hatch more eggs so I am wondering should I wash them before incubating?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

No dont wash them! it removes protective coating!
here are my notes and a paste from them https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

Collection & Storage of Eggs
Sources for eggs are to search the BYC buy sell trade section, Craigslist and eBay. Your local thread on BYC may be the best bet for local eggs! Look for your local site in the “Social section” “Where am I? Where are You!” on BYC.

Choose eggs that are of good size, not abnormally big or small. Do NOT set dirty, cracked, or porous eggs. Try not to wash eggs as you will disrupt the protective barrier. Avoid using cloths to clean eggs because this removes the egg's protective coating and exposes it to entry of disease organisms. The washing and rubbing action also serves to force disease organisms through the pores of the shell. Place the eggs upright in an egg carton with the FAT, air cell end of the egg UP! Allow eggs to sit in a moderately cool, somewhat humid place for storage. Basements are great. Moderately cool means 55-65 degrees. Rotate your eggs a 3 times a day to keep the embryo from sticking. An easy way to turn all of the eggs at once is to place a thick book under one end of the carton, and later remove the book and put it under the other end of the carton, 3 times a day. Before adding eggs to the incubator always WARM eggs UP slowly to room temperature. IF THE EGGS ARE COLD Condensation can cause bacterial growth on the eggs! You can collect eggs up until 10 days or so, but after the 7th day lower hatch rates may result. Stored eggs take longer to hatch (about one hour per day of storage).

It is important to ALWAYS wash your hands before handling your hatching eggs!

Omphalitis, yolk sack infection is caused by a bacterium that enters through the porous egg shell and easily kills embryo's and newly hatched chicks. Unfortunately, incubation conditions are ideal for breeding bacteria as well as incubating eggs.
For more information on storing eggs refer to Recommendations for hatching egg handling and storage​

 

[MyNameIs86]

okay thanks.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

sure!