[meebh]

hi

I have just got an incubator and want to set it up soon.  My only question at the moment is how do you collect clean eggs for hatching when the hens are so muddy from this inclement weather?  Does anyone have any experience of muddy eggs and if so did you clean them, if so what with? 

Oops seems I have more than one question already  

cheers

[Eggs, Chicks & Hens]

My eggs were all muddy as well so I used Brinsea Egg wash to wipe them clean, dont rub too hard though, I used a bit of kitchen roll & let them dry. Hope this helps

[bamford6]

try to put in clean shavings .i dont like touching the eggs when collected just clean out and collect whots needed

[OhLaLa]

The best way to have clean eggs is to keep the nests clean and collect the eggs frequently.

 

[Castle Farm]

Hi Meebh.
Putting dirty eggs into an incubator will contaminate the incubator and all the other eggs.
Any virus present on the egg will multiply under these almost perfect conditions and infect the chicks.

Washing them makes it worse, as using anything other than dry removal will result in the egg shell allowing germs through into the egg. The pores of the eggs will get blocked and problems with oxygen/carbon dioxide may arise.

Try to collect when the ground is dry and remove eggs that are going to be used for hatching as often as you can from clean nestboxes.

I know this all sounds over the top, but whats the point of asking for hatch problems by setting contaminated eggs.

If you have to wash eggs use warm water, as using cold makes the inner membrane contract and more germs are sucked in.

[meebh]

thank you for all these replies, will have to be more vigilant to collect clean eggs, the hens are bringing dirt in on their feet onto the clean nest boxes.  My poor hubby was out yesterday in torrential weather cleaning the nest boxes and refreshing with clean straw and shavings