Dirty eggs

[Hobofarm]

hi everyone!
Thoughts on eggs with lots of poop on them.......is there something that I need to do?

Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Check their bottoms for stuck poop. Clean as necessary. Otherwise some hens poop when laying an egg. There's not much you can do about that except cull, or don't breed from them. Also make sure your nests are clean.

 

[Chickenlover24333]

There is nothing else you can do other than collect the eggs more often and wash them.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there. hope you are enjoying BYC!

Make sure nobody is sleeping or hanging out in the nest who doesn't belong as they often leave droppings behind. Any non broody for sleeping or non layer during daytime.

Also might need to do a bumm clean up. Some gals get muddy bumms. I usually do this at least once a year.. flock check.. making SURE there is no angry skin indicating possible mite or lice issue...

Make sure entry into the nest has plenty of dry material for those entering who might have stepped on something. For me extra hay during the rain season helps dry feet off a lot.

Beyond that.. I pretty much agree with Oldhenlikesdogs... I had one gal who always seemed to pass a dropping after laying an egg. Sometimes there can be an issue that causes this.. And another who always had muddy bumm even after cleaning up and fecal floats to check for parasites etc... If they ruin their own eggs and the ones already in the nest... I won't cause another keeper that frustration so they go to freezer camp once all other options have been ruled out. Washing may not seem enough a reason to cull a hen... but when she messes all over would be hatching eggs that sell for $65+ per dozen... choices get made more easily!

Also, worth mentioning.. my dearest friend has an awful set up that causes dropping in some nest even when birds are roosted correctly. I wish she would change it... but.. eh, we all got issues!

Best wishes for clean eggs!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A couple of things come to mind. How many birds do you have, how big is your coop, and how long in feet is your roost? If there is not enough room for all the birds to roost comfortably, some may sleep in the nests, and they poop at night, resulting in poopy nests ... and dirty eggs. That's one possibility. Second: are the roosts set up in such a way that when the hens are on them, they can't poop into the nests? Is there a poop board under the roost?Pictures would help. Third: what do you use as bedding in the nests, and how often do you change it? Clean nests usually equal clean eggs, unless, as others have said, you have an unusual hen that poops as or right after she lays her egg. Hope this helps. Good luck and enjoy your birds!

 

[Hobofarm]

Thanks everyone. I use hay in my nesting boxes and check it often to make sure it is clean, add to it, etc. All of the girls sleep on the roost at night. So, here's another question.....what is the best method for cleaning their fluffy butts? I can think of one hen that could benefit. Maybe she is the culprit here. Also, I have heard online that poopy eggs could be a sign of worms. And that you should add diamatacheous earth to the food 3 x year.....thoughts on that? Aside from this dirty egg issue,, I do not have any concerns about worms or mites or lice.
Thank you!

 

[aart]

So, here's another question.....what is the best method for cleaning their fluffy butts? I can think of one hen that could benefit. Maybe she is the culprit here.

Yep, Trim feathers to <1/2" from skin around and under vent.
I use 'nose hair' scissors because of small size and blunted ends.
(dedicated to chickens never used on human nose haha!)

Also, I have heard online that poopy eggs could be a sign of worms. And that you should add diamatacheous earth to the food 3 x year.....thoughts on that?

Can be a sign, but other things, primarily diet, will cause loose poops.
Don't use the DE.
If you suspect worms, get a fecal done then if necessary a proper wormer.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

. So, here's another question.....what is the best method for cleaning their fluffy butts? I can think of one hen that could benefit. Maybe she is the culprit here. Also, I have heard online that poopy eggs could be a sign of worms. And that you should add diamatacheous earth to the food 3 x year.....thoughts on that?

I wash butts under warm running water and use dawn as needed to help break up hard chunks. If weather is nice return as is. If weather is cold, blow dry gently. If I didn't keep roosters, I would probably trim them instead but I don't want to cause abrasiveness during mating.

Ya, people SWORE my hen with muddy bumm was caused by worms.. That's why I shared my stories that I had fecal floats done.. they came back negative! (she actually had suspected genetic/liver issues in the end) People spread LOT'S of misinformation... starting with that whole DE to worm thing! It's COMPLETELY ineffective when WET... like the entire inside of the body! And there have been lab results that show this as stated in the following link...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

Copied from link..
"Medical-grade diatomite has been studied for its efficacy as a deworming agent in cattle; in both studies cited the groups being treated with diatomaceous earth did not fare any better than control groups.[16][17]"

and...

• Agriculture

Natural freshwater diatomaceous earth is used in agriculture for grain storage as an anticaking agent, as well as an insecticide.[24] It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a feed additive[25] to prevent caking.

Some believe it may be used as a natural anthelmintic (dewormer), although studies have not shown it to be effective.[16][17] Some farmers add it to their livestock and poultry feed to prevent the caking of feed.[26] "

So far.. by getting fecal floats done when internal parasites are suspected... I have YET to need to treat my birds, dogs, goats, pigs, etc. at MY location. A fecal float and species count will make sure that IF you need to treat you treat with the right product instead of possibly treating what you don't have while not treating what you do. For reference, the only worm that may ever be seen in dropping are large round worms and tape worms and usually only under heavy load. All other will stay inside the intestines and only their microscopic oocysts (eggs) will pass to never be seen. I recommend getting a fecal float done a few times per year and see where YOUR load stands... so many variable effect it from weather to soil type and even wildlife load or stocking density.

I do however ask ANYONE who treats internal parasites with DE... PLEASE get before and after fecal floats and SHARE results with us. So many folks will claim they don't have worms or that they worm with DE.. yet have never actually had a float done. They essentially have a false sense of security.

Adding your general location to your profile can help folks make their best suggestions possible at a glance. Part of the reason I mention this is at MY location.. DE is also completely ineffective against external parasites.. due to humidity... and that stuff isn't welcome here ever as I've seen the plume of particles floating high after a hen shakes out. Pass on having my flock or my family breath that stuff... silica or not.

My local friend who has the poopy nest boxes... her husband insists on using DE. They didn't know that had lice until I picked up a bird and showed them what to look for. I also had lice once... treated properly using permethrin.. repeats are rare. Again this varies according to location, weather, and all that stuff... They aren't bad keepers! There just still figuring their stuff out. DE may work better at drier locations than mine.

Always do what makes sense to you with your current understanding. And keep an open mind to learn new stuff.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I used to use DE, until I got some in my eye! Quickly decided I did not want that in my chicken's eyes.