How to Clean and Store Eggs Before Incubation

If you're planning to hatch chicks, you may worry about eggs that appear dirty. The good news is that in most cases, cleaning eggs is unnecessary. However, that doesn't mean there's nothing to do in preparation for incubation. To ensure that the chicks hatch healthy and strong, it's important to store the eggs for 3-10 days in a stable environment before incubation.

Do not wash eggs unless they are extremely dirty. Eggs have a natural protective membrane on the shell to prevent bacteria from entering. Washing eggs can damage this protective layer more than it helps. A little dirt on the eggs doesn't affect the incubation process, so you don't need to worry about keeping the eggs spotless while storing them.

• It is recommended to store eggs for at least 3 days before incubation. If you're worried about dirt accumulating during storage, you can cover the carton with a lid or place straw or paper on top.
• If you're concerned that clean eggs might get contaminated, you can separate clean eggs from dirty ones and incubate them separately.

Dampen a soft cloth with water slightly warmer than the eggshell. Warm water will cause the eggshell to 'sweat' and push dirt away without harming the embryo. Gently wipe the eggshell surface to remove debris. Use a dry cloth to wipe off the moisture before storing the egg.

• Another way to clean eggs is to use ultra-fine sandpaper to brush off dirt. However, this can crack the shell and damage it, so be very slow and careful.
• Never wipe eggs with cold or room temperature water. Hot water can also damage the eggs.
• Absolutely do not use any cleaning solutions, soap, or chemicals to clean the eggs. These will only ruin the eggs.

Yes, if the eggs are completely dry and stored properly. Even after being washed, the eggs won't spoil or cause problems. You should just avoid incubating cracked eggs, misshaped eggs, or eggs that are unusually large or small. These eggs are unlikely to hatch, and if they carry bacteria or pathogens, they could spread to other eggs.

• Washing eggs doesn't make them unviable, but it does increase the risk.

Store eggs in an environment where the temperature remains between 13 to 16°C, with humidity levels between 70-75%. Turn the eggs daily to prevent the embryo from sticking to one side of the shell. Store the eggs for a maximum of 10 days before starting incubation. If stored longer, the chances of hatching will decrease significantly.

• Wash and dry your hands before turning the eggs to ensure you don't accidentally introduce bacteria to the shell.
• Clean the incubator and run it for 2-3 days before removing eggs from storage.
• Other than maintaining stable temperature and humidity, there's nothing special you need to do to prepare the eggs for incubation. Just let the eggs warm up to room temperature (21 to 27°C) and discard any cracked eggs right before placing them in the incubator.

You can only tell which eggs are likely to hatch after incubating them for 10 days. To check, take a flashlight or penlight, and turn off the lights in the room. Carefully hold the egg up and shine the light through the shell. If the shell is white, unfertilized eggs will shine through like a light bulb, while healthy eggs will remain dark. If the shell is brown, healthy eggs will show a small reddish area resembling a spider web. Brown unfertilized eggs will display a hollow red circle instead of a cluster of blood vessels.

• This method is called 'candling'.
• Dispose of any white shining eggs or brown eggs with a hollow red circle. These are unfertilized and will not hatch. Furthermore, if the embryo has died due to contamination, such eggs could pose a risk to the other eggs.

• If you're purchasing eggs for incubation, only buy them from certified hatcheries to ensure they are healthy.
• Incubation temperatures will vary slightly depending on the chicken breed. Generally, most eggs need to be maintained at a humidity level of 56-62%.