Dirty eggs under broody hen - do I clean them??

[jlw848]

My broody girl has 8 eggs under her. Today when she was up getting a drink, I noticed the eggs are pretty soiled. We clean the area she's in every couple days but it seems that lately she either stepped in stool or went in the nest. Do I take the eggs out and clean them or will this introduce more bacteria??

 

[junebuggena]

You can wipe them gently with a cloth, but do not do anything to them that might remove the bloom. Removing the bloom will let bacteria in. No washing, no rinsing, no scrubbing.