[LivvyW]

I know you are not supposed to wash eggs, but how do you stop the dodo from going in the bowl when you crack them.

I wash mine just before boiling them, because it takes the pleasure off my brekkie, if i'm looking for  a clean spot to break into it. 

I imagine this is ok? Anyone got an alternative approach?

[treacleminer]

Where do your hens lay their eggs? - if the nest boxes are clean the eggs should be too!
Mine sometimes will roost in their nest boxes & so I check the contents each morning and chuck out anything that shouldn't be there. 
I did see something where someone had created a pile of rubble for the hens to walk over before getting to the nest box which then cleaned their feet so keeping mud off the eggs.
Otherwise, I just wipe the eggs with damp kitchen towel if they are really bad.

[beki]

i have the same problem. mine all sleep in the nest boxes, save one or two. and the eggs are almost always dirty and covered in poo.

not quite sure how to get them to roost on the bars... they've never done so, and we spent weeks trying to get them to roost... oh well 

i'm open to suggestions though! 

[Foxy]

i have the same problem. mine all sleep in the nest boxes, save one or two. and the eggs are almost always dirty and covered in poo.

not quite sure how to get them to roost on the bars... they've never done so, and we spent weeks trying to get them to roost... oh well 

i'm open to suggestions though! 

beki are your roosting perches higher than the nest boxes? They do like to roost as high up as possible

[poultrygeist]

You can rinse eggs before you use without any problems. But they're better stored without washing. If the cuticle is washed off, the egg may absorb bacteria.

To get them to perch, you can try lifting them onto the perches at night. If the perches are higher than the nest boxes, and free from draughts, they should hopefully get the hang of it.

Rob

[beki]

the perches are higher than the nest boxes... i'd say probably 2" higher than the top of them.

it's so odd... our old chickens never had this problem. but these ones quite often cram into one nest box.. all 8 of them! looks so funny! lol

[nicchick]

Mine all used to sleep in the nest box but since the cold spell I have been putting my tetrapak hot water bottles in the house just under the perches and they all line up along them now. Makes poo-picking easier too - all in one place! Nic

[nicchick]

Oh, I meant to say that I have always been told to store theggs dirty and out of the fridge and if they are really dirty then wash just before using. Nic

[karlooben]

mine only get washed for boiling an a very quick rinse for any other use , they are stored on the work top and never touch the fridge but then again they are never around long enough  .

i sell mine as they come an ppl seem to prefer that as they know they are fresh that day or the day before at the most. the other week i had a girl lay one rite in the middle of the run it had about 1/2 inch of mud on it an only one speck of pink shell showing ,lmao.

i've never bothered to block of the nest boxes of a night time as mine lay anywhere they want .
p.s i had given to me the other day 7 small baskets and i am so glad as i was having a little mishap nearly everyday with the eggs  basically i dropped a few or dropped the egg box its self... mum was getting pretty mad at me for it .


p.s i had an egg the other day { was brought from tescos mum still buys from there if we run out an the girls dont lay } well it was meant to be used by the 23rd of jan which i did not know until after i crack it , it was gross the yolk had gone yukky an white 
 give me fresh anyday 

[Roughlee Handled]

the perches are higher than the nest boxes... i'd say probably 2" higher than the top of them.

it's so odd... our old chickens never had this problem. but these ones quite often cram into one nest box.. all 8 of them! looks so funny! lol

I had this problem and it turned out that I had red spider mite.




Just check the ends of your perches if you can remove them.

[woodburner]

I know you are not supposed to wash eggs, but how do you stop the dodo from going in the bowl when you crack them.

I wash mine just before boiling them, because it takes the pleasure off my brekkie, if i'm looking for  a clean spot to break into it. 

I imagine this is ok? Anyone got an alternative approach?

As others have said, washing just before using is fine. I use a dry spongey scritcher pad if they're that bad that they're going to 'lose bits' lol

[drumcrow]

hi
as far as i know you can wash your eggs in warm water.

[Roughlee Handled]

If you sell your eggs you should not wash them. 

[LivvyW]

All interesting stuff, thanks for your comments. Most of you seem to have the approach of prevention rather than cure. Which makes a lot of sense.

Drumcrow, i posted the same question on another site, and that was the answer i got from someone.  Basically, if you wash the egg in water colder that the contents of the egg then the pores in the shell contract and absorb potential germs, thus possibly contaminating the egg. But if you use water that is warmer than the egg then this is less likely to happen.

So for anyone else interested in the same poo covered egg question.

1. Do what you can to keep the nest boxes clean and encourage your hens to lay in the nest box.

2. Swift wipe of the worst of the muck upon collection.

3. Store away from the fridge. ( i have a nice egg box OH made for me that is hung on the wall)

4. Wash in warm water just prior to use.

5. Do not wash eggs that you will sell. Perhaps suggest to buyer to use warm water method prior to use.

Right, that's that then. Off to make a frittata!!

Thanks all.