Is it possible to wash the eggs before placing them in the incubator rather than process them at home?

For the first time, when breeding chickens or ducklings, many questions arise, because the process, although interesting, is quite complex. One of these questions is whether it is possible to wash eggs immediately before placing them in the incubator? Of course, this is not the most important question. But, nevertheless, you need to know such subtleties in order for poultry breeding to be successful.

How to select suitable eggs?

Before laying eggs in the incubator, you need to select in advance those that will definitely hatch into chicks. The most important sign is freshness. The fresher they are, the greater the chance that they will all hatch into healthy, strong chicks.

The second sign is size. This trait is hereditary, so chickens hatched from large eggs will lay eggs well.

Signs of suitable eggs for an incubator:

• The shell should be smooth without cracks or various growths. Fresh ones are usually matte, while old ones are smooth to the touch.
• The shape should be oval. Round or highly elongated chicks hatch into weak chicks.

You can determine freshness by throwing an egg into a glass of water. If it falls sideways to the bottom, it means it’s fresh. And if it floats closer to the surface, it’s old.

Do I need to wash eggs before placing them in the incubator?

Although the question of whether shells need to be washed before placing in the incubator is not the most important, it is still recommended to study it. Here the opinions of poultry farmers are divided. Some argue that it is necessary to wash the shell before laying it, because various pathogenic microorganisms remain on it, which cause diseases in chicks. Even if at first glance a bird is healthy, it can be a carrier of diseases. This is especially true for ducks and geese.

Others, on the contrary, argue that in natural conditions the shells are not processed, and the chicks hatch healthy. The weak die anyway.

Scientific research suggests that treating the shells before laying increases hatchability and the chicks hatch healthier. Farmers, in turn, argue that there is not much difference.

Cleaning methods

Preparing eggs begins with carefully processing the shell.There are several ways to do this.

Washing eggs

The simplest is to wash the shells with water and a small amount of laundry soap. Place the eggs in a large container, fill them with warm water and add a little soap, then wipe the surface with a sponge. After washing, they are dried and only then placed in the incubator.

Formaldehyde vapor treatment

The shell can be treated with formaldehyde vapor. This method requires an airtight container. To carry out the procedure you will need:

• 25 ml formaldehyde;
• 15 ml filtered water;
• 15 g of potassium permanganate.

Formaldehyde is mixed with water. Potassium is added when the container is already installed in the chamber. The temperature in the chamber should be approximately +30-36 degrees.

The humidity level is maintained at 75%. Leave them in the chamber for 40 minutes. At the end of the procedure, the chamber is thoroughly ventilated.

As a result of the reaction, vapors are released, which have a disinfecting effect. After this, the chamber is immediately closed. It is dangerous for a person to breathe these vapors; they can cause serious poisoning.

Formalin solution

Formalin is used to treat hatching eggs. To carry out the procedure, a 0.5% formalin solution is used. The substance is diluted in equal proportions with water. Then the liquid is heated to 31 degrees. The eggs are laid out in a net. Keep it there until the dirt is completely washed off.

Using quartzing

The simplest and safest method of purification is quartz treatment. This method allows you to thoroughly clean the shell from dirt.

Quartzization procedure:

• Place the prepared eggs for laying in the incubator in a tray.
• Place the quartz radiation at a distance of 80 cm.
• Turn on the quartz source and leave it next to the tray for 10 minutes.

This time will be enough to clean the shell from contamination.

Hydrogen peroxide

Another way to remove dirt from eggs is to rinse them in hydrogen peroxide. To do this, pour a small amount of hydrogen onto a cotton pad and wipe the surface with it. It is better to take a new disc as often as possible to thoroughly clean the eggs. After the procedure, dry them and then you can send them to the incubator.

How do contaminants affect eggs?

Eggs, especially those not purchased, often have various contaminants. Although they do not cause significant harm, because under natural conditions no one cleans them, and the chickens are still hatched without problems. But some poultry farmers believe that pollution contributes to the development of diseases in the chicks, due to which they die a few weeks after hatching.

How to disinfect an incubator before laying eggs

But not only eggs need to be prepared before laying. The incubator itself at home must also be cleaned so that it is sterile. This will help prevent diseases in newly hatched chicks.

Chloramine solution

For disinfection, use a chloramine solution. This method is considered the most common of all incubator processing methods. It is used both on an industrial scale and in households. The substance is sold in regular pharmacies. The price for it is quite reasonable.

To treat the shell, 10 tablets are dissolved in 1 liter of filtered water. Then the resulting solution is poured into a spray bottle and the incubator is sprayed from it. It is especially important to spray in hard-to-reach places.

The solution is left for 3-4 hours.Then they are washed with running water. Again, the solution must be washed thoroughly from hard-to-reach places.

Formaldehyde vapor

Just like the shell, the incubator can be treated with formaldehyde vapor. The principle of preparation is the same as when disinfecting eggs. Add 35 g of potassium permanganate to 40 ml of 40% formaldehyde. The resulting solution is poured into a container with a high neck and placed in an incubator.

For successful disinfection, you need to set the temperature to +39 degrees. Close all ventilation openings so that they do not allow steam to pass through.

Leave the container for 45 minutes. After the time has expired, the container is removed and the incubator itself is ventilated for 24 hours. To make the smell of formaldehyde disappear faster, surfaces can be wiped with ammonia.

Formaldehyde vapor

35 ml of a 40% formaldehyde solution is diluted with 35 g of potassium permanganate and 40 ml of water. A clay or enamel plate is placed in the incubator. Pour the resulting solution into the container at the bottom. In the same way as in the case of formaldehyde, all ventilation holes are plugged. To distribute the vapor evenly, you can turn on the fan. The temperature is raised to +38 degrees. Leave the solution for about 45 minutes.

By ozonation method

Another way to prepare eggs for the incubator is the ozonation method. Ozone is added to the chamber in an amount of 350-450 mg per 1 cubic m. The temperature is set within +26 degrees. Humidity for successful ozonation of the incubator should be at 80%. The whole process lasts about one hour.

Ultraviolet treatment

One of the easiest ways to treat the incubator before placing eggs in it. To do this, place an ultraviolet lamp in the incubator and turn it on for 40 minutes.After this, you can start laying eggs in it.

Ready-made purchased drugs

Ready-made preparations can be used to treat shells. For example, Javel Solid is effective. This drug cleans eggs well of contaminants. Regular iodine is also suitable for this purpose. A few drops of iodine are diluted in water and stirred thoroughly. Then place the eggs in water for 1 hour. Then they are dried and placed in an incubator.

Effective preparations for disinfecting incubators:

• "Bromosept";
• "Virocide";
• "Glutex";
• "Delegol";
• "Fiam-super";
• "Ecovid".

Purchased disinfectant preparations are used in accordance with the instructions. During use, it is not recommended to allow the substance to come into contact with the sensor, heating element or motor. Because of this, the incubator breaks down.

Another effective disinfectant is Chloramine B. "Chloramine B" is heated to 30 degrees. Then lower the eggs one by one for a few minutes. After the procedure, each egg is thoroughly washed under running water to remove any remaining substance.