Dirty eggs

[broomrider]

I bought some eggs from a coworker. She told me she didn't wash her eggs and I told her that was ok because I wasn't planning to wash my eggs either until we were ready to use them. However when I opened the egg carton I was a little shocked at how dirty they were. My hens just laid their first egg yesterday and two eggs today. They are small eggs but not visibly poopy. My son raises quail and their eggs aren't dirty either. How dirty are eggs normally?

 

[chickenmomma16]

For me it depends on how clean my coop is. I make sure the shavings are clean on the floor so they can "wipe" their feet off before getting in the nest box. Also Coop setup plays a part. I had a coop where the chickens slept on and in the nesting boxes, it made for some dirty eggs. Sounds to me like your friend might need to do a little cleaning in the coop and clean out the nesting boxes.

 

[broomrider]

That's kind of what I thought but being new to layers I wasn't sure. She talks about how bad they smell. I'm not trying to be conceded but I don't think my coop smells bad. It's plenty big. I deep litter but use DE and Sweet PDZ and a fan for circulation. My hens do a great job of stirring it for me.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I agree...your friend needs to tend to coop care better. If the eggs are messy and it is smelly, she isn't keeping the litter clean enough either because it needs changing more frequently or the set up encourages pooping in the nests.

In Europe, it is against the law to wash eggs as it hides the sanitation in the farms...if the farmer doesn't keep a clean coop, his eggs are dirty.

LofMc

 

[aart]

I would ask her if her pullets are sleeping in the nests and if her birds are laying in the nests.

If they sleep in the nests they will poop in them, making for dirty eggs.
Roosts(where they should sleep) are best situated about a foot higher than the nests as they like to roost(sleep) as high as possible.

Another reason for dirty eggs can be a muddy or poopy floor in the coop and run...which has a plethora of causes/solutions.

...or maybe you just want to say 'no thank you' the next time she offers you eggs.
Meanwhile, wash those eggs and refrigerate them...or toss them.

 

[broomrider]

I washed them but I'm not buying any more from her.