[upert]

afore i eat 'em? i've read warm water but i'd feel happier if i stuck some chemicals in it. (eggs come from their bums apparently!)

[too many girls]

cold water? you won't need chemicals unless you eat the shells too, me thinks...............

[upert]

i should've said that these are dirtyish eggs as my chickens haven't figured out the rest/nest divide yet.

[Bodger]

By preference, I wouldn't wash them at all unless really necessary but if you must, then use cold water. Warm or hot water makes the egg shell more permeable to germs and other nasties

[upert]

lil says to use hot water http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=17802  i've read that in Thear's book too i think.

[too many girls]

there is no way i would wash my eggs in warm water with washing up liquid in it, (antibacterial or not) i would end up with eggs tasting of Fairy liquid, if my eggs are very dirty i rinse them with cold water and pat dry with kitchen roll, if they are not that dirty i don't bother, so far i've had no problems.

[chooknewbie]

*has never washed an egg yet prior to eating and is still kicking*

do the ones in the supermarket come pre-washed?  :?:

[Roughlee Handled]

You could purchase a egg washer!!!

http://www.solwayfeeders.com/ProductsResultsList1.asp?cat=18

[chooknewbie]

an egg washer...OMG.... its a wonder we are all still alive you know..... :shock:

[si-mate]

It's actually illegal to wash Grade A eggs. Eggs have a natural protective coating which if washed off allows bacteria to enter the egg.
So...you're more likely to make yourself ill from washed eggs than unwashed.

If you're worried brush them gently with a nail brush.

Egg washers are used for hatching eggs.

[GrannieAnnie]

I agree, washed eggs are more dangerous than unwashed!   lol

But then I try not to put egg shell in my food!  But then I'm reasonably lucky in that most of our girls lay their eggs in nest boxes, but if I do get the odd one, I just brush off the mud or poo and I'm still very much alive and kicking.

As to saying you'd rather use CHEMICALS on your eggs, rather defeats the object of nice healthy wholesome fresh food doesn't it?  

[Kate and her Ducks]

I don't even wash my duck eggs unless they lay them right in the mud (and then only ti get the clumpy bit off)

[compostqueen]

If the nest box is clean the eggs are usually clean but if they do get a bit of cack on them I just wipe it off with a bit of straw out the box.

[upert]

the "chemicals" thing was an allusion to vic and bob - do none of you know comedy? hoho. i washed mine in warm water with salt in, but then i like salt. however, you have collectedly allayed my fears re. dirty eggs.

[Porffor]

thank goodness you dont' wash your eggs.. or the majority don't.. thought i was doing something wrong for a minute..

i do ALWAYS wash my hands immediately after handling eggs though or anything chook wise and my daughter does the same.