Fumigation of egg cabinets To reduce microbial penetration of the shell to a minimum, eggs should be fumigated immediately after collection, and preferably while they are still warm. The fumigation room or cabinet should be airtight, Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) gas will kill any bacteria or virus that may be in such cabinet. Fumigation of eggs in setters Eggs should be fumigated within 12 h after setting, when the temperature and humidity return to normal operating levels. The setter doors and vents should be closed, After fumigation, the vents should be opened to the normal operating position to release clo2 gas. Warning: Eggs which have been incubated for 24-96 h should not be fumigated, as this can result in embryo mortality. Fumigation of hatchers Following the removal of all chicks and the cleaning and disinfection of the empty machine, the disinfected egg trays are replaced and the machine is prepared for the next batch of incubating eggs. The doors and vents should be closed, and the temperature and humidity returned to normal operating levels. Fumigation time should be at least three hours, or preferably overnight, using the standard amounts of ClO2 by measuring room. Warning: The above fumigation procedure applies to a machine in which there are no eggs. Eggs and chicks cannot be fumigated using the above fumigation time. Fumigation of eggs in hatching machines Fumigation of eggs in hatching machines is a common practice in certain areas and under certain conditions. The eggs should be fumigated after being transferred to the hatching machines and before 10% of the chicks have begun to break the shell.

Chlorine dioxide Chlorine dioxide (ClO2 ) is used in the poultry industry to clean 'grow-out' barns and hatchery equipment. Used as a liquid,solution, conbine with foam or as pure gas when aquous foam ClO2 solution flows over the surface, traps heavily soiled areas even on vertical surfaces, chlorine dioxide vapours are trapped in the gas bubbles of the foam killing all pathogens. ClO2 gas solutions containing only 30 ppm is ClO2 does not have detrimental effects on the egg shell cuticle, and this natural barrier to microbial penetration is therefore maintained Treating eggs with ClO2 foam (40 ppm Cl) has no adverse effect on hatching viability, while it reduces the number of egg-contaminant bacteria present .