What do you use to mark eggs? Does it matter?

[Calebs Acre]

I can't find food coloring or anything organic to mark some Jersey Giant eggs I am about to put in the incubator. All of my other eggs have come to me pre-marked. I'm concerned about ink or lead from pencil (or whatever they are now using in pencils) being toxic to the embryo. Am I overthinking?

Thanks...

 

[Guitartists]

There's no lead in pencils anymore.... its graphite. Because it dry it won't leak into anything. Don't use any pens or markers as these can contain chemicals and solvents.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Yep... pencil.

 

[Calebs Acre]

THANK YOU!!!! While I sit and wait for the dewlaps to hatch, I'll start marking eggs. Gotta do something while I wait! The TV starts infomercial programming soon, so I will be bored. LOL

 

[shmooborp]

ive always used a pencil... never hurt the eggs...

 

[priszilla]

I have used a pencil- a crayon, a colored pencil-- but a pencil is the best choice

 

[CindyS]

I always use a sharpie on mine and it does not hurt a thing.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I use pencil.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Pencils are the only thing that you should mark the eggs with. The lead is actually not lead anymore, due to the lead poisoning issue with kids now. Markers are a no, no however!

 

[farmgirlie1031]

I've used pencil, permant marker, and dry-erase marker. Dry erase doesn't work. Duh! I should have know the humidity would make it disolve. Stupid me! Now I have eggs unmarked and don't know what hen they are from anymore.