The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Housing, Health & Hatching
To wash or not to wash?
Birdcrazy:
Don, I don't actually wash or dip my eggs in Tex-Trol. I put my eggs that I gather in hatching trays while waiting to accumulate enough for the incubator. As I tilt the eggs daily and every few day use a Tex-Trol solution in a spray bottle and spray the eggs liberally and let them drain while sitting over paper towels. Some of the eggs may get sprayed this way several time during the accumulation process. I do wash my eating eggs letting them sit in a Tex-Trol solution bath. I hope I am not toxic.
Birdcrazy:
--- Quote from: Susan Mouw on April 03, 2015, 12:39:38 PM ---For those of you who are using the Oxine, are you mixing the citric acid with it or just using the diluted pure Oxine?
--- End quote ---
Susan, This does not relate to washing eggs, but I do use Oxine to sanitize my poultry houses. I use straight Oxine mixture. I did buy the citric acid and a respirator mask as recommended when using them with the Oxine solution. I have not been brave enough to use the citric acid in the mixtures due to all the additional warnings when using the product this way.
Sharon Yorks:
I use to dip (not wash) my eggs in diluted Oxine (6 oz per gallon) but really didn't notice a difference so I stopped. All of my eggs are very clean to start with. I do, however, run the Oxine solution of 4oz per gallon in my incubator a few days in advance when I'm getting my temperature and humidity leveled out as I feel it helps disinfect my machine. Then, right before I place the eggs in there, I top of the water levels with straight clean water that helps dilute it more so I don't possibly hurt the chicks breathing...although it might actually be good for them to breath when diluted. I have found that there is also no odor after the hatch, even if I don't clean my incubator for a day or two after the hatch.
greeneggsandham:
--- Quote from: Sarah Meaders on April 03, 2015, 06:30:35 AM ---Did any of y'all once NOT wash, and then begin to? Did you notice a significant difference in hatch rate and chick survival?
--- End quote ---
Yes. Didn't wash for years, but also didn't have a good humidity reader. Poor hatches. This year, I washed but also have a better reading on humidity. My first hatch of the year has been the best I have ever had. My last hatch I didn't wash, numbers down a bit. The ones I have in now I did wash, so I will see if the numbers go up again. Having a bit of trouble getting humidity down though. It's been quite rainy so humidity has been running high even with little water in there. So, it might be a combination of both. Sanitizing and getting the humidity right.
I use warm water, at least 90 to 95 degrees, with a TBSP of bleach per gal of water. I dip each egg and if soiled, rub lightly with sponge then set the egg on a towel and pat them lightly with the towel to dry. If I use Oxine I do not use the citric acid.
One thing some may not have considered in trying to determine whether to wash or not to wash is Mareks. If you vaccinate for Mareks, why put dirty eggs in the incubator? Why expose the chicks to the virus that might be hanging out on an unwashed egg?
Susan Lussos:
I use MannaPro Egg Cleanser on all my eggs, particularly if they are hitting the incubator. 3 minutes seems to do a good job. I wipe everything that is loose afterwards and then like the directions say, rinse again and barely wipe the second time if they are hatching eggs. Otherwise it's a full 20 soak for eating or selling.
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