Cleaning Poopy Eggs

[LisaMarie81]

My girls have just started laying. They are not consistent yet and it's not all of them, it's just starting, but they have laid eggs in the run and in the coop. Problem is they roll them around and by the time I get to them they are disgusting. I don't want to wash them because I want to keep the bloom on them, but they are far from pretty to put in my kitchen.
Anyone have any suggestions? Half the problem is they ALL still sleep in the damn nesting boxes too. I've tried everything. I even blocked them off for 2 months and they went right back to them so they are also laying where they sleep which is a hot mess.

 

[SueT]

What is the coop/nest situation? Is there room to roost higher than the boxes?
If I get a poopy egg, I cook it for the chickens....

 

[LisaMarie81]

Yes. Plenty of roosts above and away from the boxes. Thing is the nesting boxes are close to the door to the run so they sleep there anticipating going out the next day. In was thinking maybe if I convert the other end away from the door to boxes I'll have better luck? ?

 

[oregonkat]

If possible try taking each hen at night and putting her on the roost so she has to stay there for the night. You may need to do this several times until they get the message. Double check that there is no other reason for them not wanting to use the roosting bars: is there an ant colony that is using the bar as a walkway? Is the roosting bar round or slippery for them to hold on to? Are the roosts easily accessible with room to get up and down from them without too much of a crash landing or not enough space for wings to fly up to if the roosting bars are higher up?

 

[oregonkat]

Oh, and as to the poopy egg question, until you figure out getting the hens out of the nesting boxes washing the eggs is pretty much the only option and then keeping them in the fridge. The eggs are fine to eat after they have been washed.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I had a bright idea of using those cheap dollar store hand sanitizer to clean eggs with........ deal or no deal?

 

[LisaMarie81]

Sooooooo... We found her spot where she's laying and it's nowhere near to nesting boxes they sleep in near the door. It's an area we were checking and since nothing was there we stopped looking. Looked yesterday for hahas and 5 little eggs. Nice clean area. Clean eggs. Perfect. Old nesting area they sleep in will now be converted so they can continue to sleep there.
Poopy egg issue solved!