dirty eggs?

[enola]

The reason you wash eggs with warm water is to keep the egg membrane from contracting and drawing germs into the egg.

Cold water will cause the membrane to shrink.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

I use a very small stream of hot water in the sink and just rub them clean with a wash cloth.

 

[gritsar]

Check out this link or google washing eggs. There are many many links, usually associated with a university.
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/poultry/factsheets/9.html
I think the best way to deal with dirty eggs is not to have them in the first place. Having nest boxes lower than your roosts and keeping the bedding in the nest boxes clean is a start.
Still occasionally I'll get a dirty egg.
If it's only got a little poo on it I run the water until very hot, wet a paper towel and swipe the spot(s) off.
Very dirty eggs (eggs that were knocked out of the nest to the floor of the coop or the one egg I had that was laid from the roost) are given to the dogs.

 

[Debi214]

Quote:
Wow - that is some great info. Thanks!

 

[Momma_Cluck]

This is what our vet said to do...

refrigerate them 1st for at least 12 hours... this closes-up the pores in the shell as much as possible...
then wash them in COLD water with a soft brush if needed... and if you can find it, an un-scented antibacterial soap-- but very little!

 

[lostsoulhelpmejebus]

digitS' :

You have to do your best to overlook the dirty pictures but here's where poultry specialists at the University of Nebraska talk about cleaning eggs:

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=798

Important ideas I got from it are: "A good water temperature is 90-120°F (32.2-49°C), or as hot as the hands can tolerate. . ." and ". . . unscented detergent . . ."

Steve

Thanks for the link...very useful info!​