Large variance in egg laying behavior and quality, anything else we can do to help her?

[Bawkbok]

Some people over dry or microwave them-I just wait for them to dry

I assumed they had to be baked or boiled or microwaved, heated in some way; I don't know where I got that impression. If letting them air dry is all one needs to do that is obviously so much easier. Is there a benefit or some bacterial reason why folks heat dry them vs. air drying?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If letting them air dry is all one needs to do that is obviously so much easier. Is there a benefit or some bacterial reason why folks heat dry them vs. air drying?

I don’t know honestly. I am sure there is some logic but I have never had an issue air-drying them. I did have issues accidentally toasting them though so I stopped baking them. I don’t own a microwave to try that method.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I assumed they had to be baked or boiled or microwaved, heated in some way; I don't know where I got that impression. If letting them air dry is all one needs to do that is obviously so much easier. Is there a benefit or some bacterial reason why folks heat dry them vs. air drying?

My guess is the main concern is bacterial, though I don't know of any evidence that proves that you should (or proves that you don't need to) process the eggshell in some fashion to make it "safe."

The way I handle it is I collect shells on an oven safe tray, then on days when I'm baking something I put it in during preheat cycle. The oven's already on so might as well use it, and the heat bakes off any sticky residue and makes the shells crunchy so they're easier to crush.