dirty eggs for incubation

swayne · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:39 am **Posts:** 118

Hi
i have some duck eggs with dirt or soil particles on them, no duck poo on them..
does this matter if i want to incubate them in an incubator?
do they need to be perfectly clean?
thanks

OakA · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:59 pm

Eggs to be set in an incubator should be spotlessly clean or you are introducing bacteria that will thrive in the warm dapm conditions.
A soft damp cloth can be used for stubborn soiling, but a piece of dry scotch brite or steel wool is usually all that is needed to gently clean the eggs.
If it is essential to set the eggs and they are badly soiled they can be washed in tepid water and dried but it can allow the bacteria to enter the egg through shell pores and the results are not always 100% satisfactory.
They eggs should also be cleaned as any soiling reduces shell surface area for the absorbstion of vital oxygen for the egg and duckling/chick to breath.

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

I concur with Oaklands, warm water is preferable to cold water if you need to clean your eggs

swayne · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2011 8:39 am **Posts:** 118

so if i wash them, it obviously removes the protective layer...and if the incubator is new and clean theoretically bacteria levels are low, just whatever is drawn in from the incubator vents..

and the cons for not washing are , the eggs which are moist when they are layed have landed in a fine dusty soil, too fine to pick off, or remove with a scourer,bacteria levels are hard to judge, having said that ,the eggs has a natural protective layer that fights to protect the egg..and as Oaklands has said oxygen flow is reduced through pour blockage..

Thanks for the input..

RONDA-T · **Joined:** Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:07 am **Posts:** 1

Can I use a little dish washing liquid in the warm water to get the tough bits off my egg?

OakA · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:23 pm

NO SOAP OR DETERGENT.
Just use as a last resort tepid water and a thumbnail or piece of scotchbrite or steel wool.
Soap or detergent will strip all natural protective coating from an egg and you may as well chuck it NOW.

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