Stuck in the Mud

[Grumpy Gus]

My two Khaki ducks recently started laying eggs but refuse to lay them in their nest box. They always go outside to the muddiest part of their run (they are ducks) and lay their eggs in the mud or in puddles in the mud. My question is - Are these eggs safe to eat? They've been sitting in "duck run muck" for a few hours or more.
Their duck hut has no doors so I cannot restrict their exit. I have moved their run to a somewhat drier location, but they have quickly created more "mud flats".
They seem happy and pleased with themselves. I just hate having to throw all those eggs away.

 

[SolarDuck]

I would at least try them before throwing them out

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

feed them back to the ducks if you won’t eat them! just scramble them up with the shells included and some veggies!

 

[Grumpy Gus]

My concern is with possible bacterial migration into the egg from the mud/muck. I am assuming that the protective bloom is no more water resistant than with chicken eggs, but I don't know if that is true or not. I just don't want to risk getting sick.

 

[Grumpy Gus]

For anyone interested, here is the response I got from "a trusted source".
https://farminence.com/cleaning-and-storing-farm-fresh-eggs/