How to handle eggs?

[Kosta2476]

I would like some guidance on how to handle my eggs after I collect them. Can I leave them out for days? I have heard that you don't have to refrigerate them. Do I wash them with soap and water? I have been doing research online and some people say that washing them can get bacteria back into the egg. Some say to use sand paper or a brush? I am quite confused. Thank you.

 

[andreanar]

I do not wash my eggs. I keep them out on the counter. If one happens to be dirty, I just wipe the yuk off with a dry paper towel. If I happen to stick them in the fridge, I still don't wash them.

 

[LittleWillowFarm]

you do need to refrigerate your eggs, because the hens will start to eat the eggs or they will get rotten. I do the same thing a @andreanar , I just stick em in the fridge

 

[andreanar]

I'm sorry, but that is not true. Yes, the hens may eat them if you leave them in the coop, but who does that? I wouldn't leave fertilized eggs out if its extremely hot in your house, but they will not rot on the counter unless you leave them there forever.

 

[JedJackson]

You can leave them out of the fridge for a few days if it isn't really hot out. The best way to deal with soiled eggs is to prevent that from happening, if possible, by putting lots of litter in the nest boxes and checking them frequently. It's better to lightly sand them than wash them if you have to, but if you're going to use the eggs within a few hours I don't see a problem with washing them.

 

[LittleWillowFarm]

I was not talking about fertilized eggs, what I meant about rot is get bad and dry out, get all gross

 

[Molpet]

at house temps under 80 I leave them on the counter unwashed for months.... if it gets above 80 in the house I put them in the basement or frig

 

[JedJackson]

at house temps under 80 I leave them on the counter unwashed for months.... if it gets above 80 in the house I put them in the basement or frig

Months? You are brave. I worry if they're out of the fridge for more than 5 days.

 

[Molpet]

eggs the hens hatch may take quite a while in a wild bird to accumulate enough so she starts sitting on them.. if they started to rot right away we would not see geese and turkeys with 16 babies following them.

the USA store bought egg producers have 30 days to get them in the container washed and refrigerated (then the carton is dated 30 days out) ... Most countries it is illegal to wash eggs and they are not refrigerated....
if you wash an egg the protective bloom is removed and it has to be refrigerated... if an egg has been refrigerated, when taken out the condensation removes the bloom and they will go bad.