Does touching the eggs hurt them?

[Sharksandguitars]

I am hatching my first batch of eggs, and my husband says he read that touching the eggs can kill them. I have to touch them because I have to turn them several times a day. What precautions need I take?

 

[Orpingtons4U]

You can touch the eggs

 

[Sharksandguitars]

Yay!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

The only time that you should not open the incubator or fool with the eggs is from day 18 on. But from day 1-18 touching the eggs is fine. Good Luck on your hatch.

 

[Sharksandguitars]

Thank you! I will be candling them in a week or so

 

[jt813]

i normally wash myu hands before i touch them because if their is any thing on mty hands i dont want to put it into the incubator but if you do that you can touch the however much you want

 

[Kelly G]

You can even write on your eggs!!!

I write in marker - breed and date they were laid. 90%+ hatch rate every time.

Touch them all you want...........until lock-down!

 

[Sharksandguitars]

I wrote on mine with marker too, and then my husband was like "I read that the marker can seep through the egg and kill the chick." And I was like, "Too late now!" haha. It is probably a good idea to use only non-toxic markers, like the ones the kids use. I will have to look up about permeability of the egg shell. I sooooo want to take an embryology class...just none of the universities around me teach it

 

[speckledhen]

Wash your hands before turning eggs as oils on your skin can clog the pores of the eggs, but other than doing that, yes, you can touch them. You have to if you're hand turning them.

 

[Minister Marc C]

I wrote on mine with marker too, and then my husband was like "I read that the marker can seep through the egg and kill the chick." And I was like, "Too late now!" haha. It is probably a good idea to use only non-toxic markers, like the ones the kids use. I will have to look up about permeability of the egg shell. I sooooo want to take an embryology class...just none of the universities around me teach it

I just use a crayon. A no.2 pencil works as well. The crayon is easier to see! Same with a marker.