Broody hen with dirty eggs - do I clean them?

[Kotiya]

Not sure how it happened, but many of the eggs she's keeping are covered with poop. Should I wash then, or rinse them in warm water? I just don't want the babies being born into that, and then, doesn't the momma eat the shells? Ewwww!

 

[chicken delighted]

you can wash them but make sure it's just with water and use very warm water rag and dry quickly. do not want to cool the egg,then roll quickly under hen

about shell eating i have only seen one of my 8 broodies do that. i usally i am in watching and i wll toss out the shell once the chick is free and dry
i had a broody do this in the winter and in the early spring i did as i told you and all was fine.
some times if this is their frist batch broodies will do that. it all new to them too .you should fine she will get off to do the dump next time.