Dirty eggs

[Barry42001]

About 20% of the eggs I collect off the chickens have some kind of fecal matter or goo that has dried to them I'm not sure where that came from and some cases they stepped on the eggs and crack the shell and that's the goo in other cases I'm not sure what it is. With regards to those dirty eggs if it's just light light light light dirt I let it go but when it's got caked fecal matter on it I feel obligated to clean the egg I have been told that want you wash an egg you remove or protective film and that means you have to immediately refrigerated what's the truth to that or do eggs simply have to be refrigerated immediately anyway. Thank you very much
BARRY

 

[Kiki]

That is true.
If you was the egg you are removing the protective "coat" and they need to be refrigerated.

 

[FlyWheel]

The last thing a hen does before it ejects the egg is to add a protective coating called the 'bloom'. This protects the inside from bacterial invasion and keeps it fresh while the embryo develops (a process that takes three weeks at 100+F). Unfortunately the bloom is water soluble. Wash the egg and this protection is gone.

I don't wash my eggs either, unless they have poop on them. I don't worry about the occasional bits of hay or clay spots. I'm not sure if any 'undesirable' matter on the egg can be gently scraped off without harming the bloom. Anybody?

 

[Robin37]

 

[chicmom]

Sometimes, the young chickens learn to sleep in the nesting boxes instead of on the roost, and then they form the bad habit of pooping in the next box. So I block off the nesting boxes when the chickens are babies. This might be why you've got some poopy eggs. If you have time maybe you could block off the nesting boxes each night to make sure none of the hens are sleeping in them. Then open them up first thing in the morning. If I have a little something stuck to my eggs, I just scrape it off rather than wash it off. That works pretty well. Now I used to pick up fresh eggs from a friend and hers were just so poopy.... it was a turn off. So I'd say, if you sell your eggs, it's a good idea to make sure they don't look too dirty.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC Everything that's been said here is correct. I'd like to add that if you choose to wash eggs, make sure the water temp is at least 20 degrees warmer than the egg and don't submerge it. I use an egg brush wet it with hot water and buff the egg clean (my ducks love to give muddy eggs) my chicken eggs never get washed and are never soiled...

 

[kingchickies]

That is true.
If you was the egg you are removing the protective "coat" and they need to be refrigerated.

Can I ask you a question... I occasionally get an egg that has a slight crack in it. Are those ok to use if I put them straight in the fridge? I hate throwing eggs away.

 

[Kiki]

Can I ask you a question... I occasionally get an egg that has a slight crack in it. Are those ok to use if I put them straight in the fridge? I hate throwing eggs away.

I have used a slightly cracked egg...never gotten sick.

 

[kingchickies]

I have used a slightly cracked egg...never gotten sick.

I have gotten a few where it looked like someone pecked it a little to hard, not ruptured but a hole in the shell, I throw those away, but I have 2 right now that have slight cracks in them but you can't see the inner membrane so wondered if that was still enough to "ruin" it. Thanks

 

[Dayrel]

Can I ask you a question... I occasionally get an egg that has a slight crack in it. Are those ok to use if I put them straight in the fridge? I hate throwing eggs away.

Cracked eggs don't have the protection of the bloom. The inner membrane may or may not be broken. They are still edible, but I would minimize the chance of problems by refrigerating promptly and moving them to the front of the queue. If you do spot any problems when you crack them open, it isn't worth taking chances- toss it.

Bacteria multiplies best when given moisture, warmth and time. By refrigerating, cooking and eating quickly, you should avoid problems.