I've been given a dozen fertile eggs to incubate, and some of them are quite dirty (dried chicken poop). I've read not to wash them, so how can I clean them? I feel that washing would be better than trying to incubate filthy eggs, but I'm not sure. Any input appreciated.

-- Elizabeth in e tx (kimprice@peoplescom.net), March 19, 2001

Answers

On closer inspection, the dirt seems to be dried mud, and not poop. I've tried brushing them with a stiff brush, but it's only getting some off.

-- Elizabeth (e TX) (kimprice@peoplescom.net), March 19, 2001.

My Grandmother, said never to wash eggs, or clean them when you are going to set them, that the less you handle them the better off you will be in hatching, si I suggest that you just go ahead and set them, hope that they all hatch out for you.

-- Paul Allen Funk (arrticfox@yahoo.com), March 19, 2001.

DON'T WASH! Wipe with damp rag, no more.

-- JR (jr3star@earthlink.net), March 19, 2001.

I had the same problem as you Elizabeth. Our June last year was very wet. About half of the chicken eggs were filthy, so against what they say I went ahead and washed off the really bad ones. I think I washed about 30 or so. Out of 42 I had 33 that hatched. I have goose and duck eggs in the incubator that I started yesterday and I washed off 3 or 4 of those, so we'll see what happens. I read somewhere that you can use light grit sandpaper or steel wool. I've never had a egg go bad after using the incubator 5 times last year and I washed eggs each time. I don't garantee this though. If after candling the eggs you find a bad one be carefull with it. One of my geese was setting on infertile eggs for about 2 months last summer till I finally gave up on her. The last egg I broke open went off like a bomb!...It splattered everywhere. What a stink!...Took all of my control not to throw up. NASTY...... A bizzare side note. On the way home this morning I heard on the news that a 53 yr old farmer was killed yesterday when he kicked a old sewer pipe and it blew up. After that goose egg bomb I can see how. I'll have to see if it shows up on the news tonight.

-- Kent in WA (kent@premier1.net), March 19, 2001.

It is better to wash the really dirty ones, do it QUICK, they should be washed and dried in under 2 minutes, don't let them stay wet! Use 100 degree wash water with a bit of dish soap in it, and rinse with slightly hotter rinse water as this will keep the dirt from being driven into the pores of the egg. I've hatched 'em both ways, and washed works better!!!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), March 20, 2001.

Anne, I'm glad someone else pushes the limit. I seem to do that a lot without too many problems. Maybe I'm just lucky...LOL...Right now I'm raising chicks, ducks and turkeys together. Wish me luck!...;-)

PS, I didn't hear anything on the news about the guy that was killed kicking the sewer pipe. No, egg bomb stories?...thought that might stir up some good laughs.

-- Kent in WA (kent@premier1.net), March 21, 2001.

What you need to avoid is plugging the pores during the process of washing, which will keep the egg from "breathing" and kill the embryo. Clean, unwashed eggs are best, but a fair percentage of washed ones usually hatch. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), March 21, 2001.