[dixie]

Checked broody earlier to fill feed and water, noticed she's poo'd in the nest! Eggs now covered in poo! due to hatch this weekend, should I clean them or leave alone??

[Roxy]

Well, having seen the colour of the bantam eggs that our broody hatched the other day, they were disgusting, and  healthy chicks emerged.

I never interfere with the eggs - one reason being, it may well cause the broody hen to go off the nest if you touch her eggs, and also I don't like to fiddle with the eggs so near hatching, in case something happens to the chicks.  If it worries you that much, perhaps you could gently wipe the poo off the eggs without moving them too much?  In fact, the hen may well roll the eggs over, dislodging the poo herself maybe?

[dixie]

1 is completely covered in poo! I will leave them, just hope it doesnt spoil them?

[Roxy]

Well, if you clean them, then they don't hatch for whatever reason, you will think its cos you cleaned them - on the other hand, if you don't then they still don't hatch, you will think the same.

We are told not to wash eggs for eating ourselves, so I would assume the same applies to hatching ones, you could do more damage by washing, but thats just my opinion.  Like I said, the eggs hatched this week were virtually black, with her walking in and out, and pooing in the nest etc.  But they did hatch ok.

With the hatching due so soon, if it were me, I would leave them be ......

[Rosemary]

I'd leave them alone too.

[Newby]

I'd leave them be.