To wash or not to wash eggs?

[TulsaChick]

Ok I just read something about molting in the fall. I don't know how to post the gray reference box. What is the molting about and do they all molt in the fall?

 

[MemesChicks]

There's a lot of great info on this subject. Like many of you mention here, after wondering the same thing, I started searching up info. I don't wash my eggs. They are usually clean from the laying box, but sometimes they might have a bit of dirt. In this case, I wipe it away with a dry cloth. If I must wash an egg, I use RUNNING water that is at least 40 degrees warmer than the egg. Here is why, based on what I read elsewhere on this wonderful site:

Egg shells are porous. Bloom is the protective coating that goes on the egg last before it is layed. It dries very quickly and protects the egg by keeping bacteria from entering through pores in the shell. Washing the egg removes the bloom. If you wash an egg in water that is cooler than the egg, the shell shrinks, opening the pores nice and wide. Bacteria is drawn into the egg, contaminating the contents. If you let your eggs sit in the cool water, the are basically in a bacteria bath.

So, if I feel I have to wash an egg, I do it just before I use it, and under a warm stream of running water. I do store my eggs in the fridge, but I don't mind if they sit out for a few days. I've shared this same info with folks that get to enjoy my eggs.

 

[jackhorn01]

Molting is when chickens loose feathers and grow new ones. All chickens molt, but in different ways. Some will drop all feathers at once and be ugly as sin for a awhile others will loose a couple at a time. Chickens lay alot less some stop altogether during this process due to the calcium needed to grow new feathers. My chickens, at least the ones I had last winter, ( new hampshire reds and barred rocks ) didn't seem to miss a beat. It all depends on the chickens you have. I feed a good layer pellet and always offer oyster shell free choice whether I think they need it or not. This will help you make sure they have all they need.

 

[glendor787]

I noticed that in UK and Turkey they keep them at room temperature...well most of the places, that was sort of odd, but they were good.

 

[nsp135282]

It appears that this is a long running thread. Here's my opinion for what it is worth. The bloom as mentioned many times earlier, is a protective anti-bacterial coating secreted by the hen when laying the egg. If washed the egg has lost the bloom and thus is subject to contamination of bacteria through the shell and membrane. So if you want your eggs to be most protected until they are used, don't wash them. Keeping clean laying boxes will provide you with the most nice clean eggs day after day. I use sawdust in my coop, on the floor and in the laying boxes. Keep it clean and rotated and you will have few dirty eggs. Refridgeration of unwashed eggs is not manditory but if you want your eggs to stay as fresh as possible, you will cool them as soon as possible and keep them refrigerated until used. As with any biological substance, the protein in eggs will degrade beginning when they are laid. They will be usable for weeks or even months without refrigeration but the quality declines beginning within a few hours after they are laid. It is slowed when the bloom is in place but it does proceed without refrigeration. The warmer the temperature the more rapid the decline. Yes, I too have left eggs in the coop for even 48 hours when it could not be helped and yes the eggs are still better than those purchased in the store but they are not as good as those collected two or three times a day and cooled immediately. So the answer rests in the question, "How fresh do you want your eggs?" For the very best quality, collect frequently, cool and refridgerate as soon as possible and wash only before using.

 

[jackhorn01]

So even if you spot check with the sandpaper egg brush, you have to refrigerate right away since you rubbed a small area of the bloom off right?

 

[krzy4klukkluks]

I don't wash my eggs at all, in my mind scrubbing poo OFF of them, is actually just scrubbing it through the porous shell. I rarely have one with poo on it and when I do, I just crack it on an opposite side. I do wash my customers eggs for them however. (I know, everyone say ewwww)
Also there was a program on TV not long ago about the huge chicken farms that lay eggs for mass production. It said it actually took something like 6 weeks from the time the chicken laid the egg, to getting it moved through production, into a truck and into the store. No wonder they put them in the fridge in the stores!

 

[foreverlearning]

So, are people afraid of their girls? The way I figure it, if my girls are sick and send a germ to me than I didn't do a good enough job taking care of them. You have to bring most of the illness to them (not counting biting bugs) by not keeping their area clean enough, not having protein high enough to help build a healthy immune system, introducing sick new birds, or visiting another flock without properly cleaning before going back to yours. How many of you have forgotten to wash your hands even once after handling money or your own steering wheel? From the store, you handle money that has human crap and coke on it, then touch your steering wheel (transferring it), then what drive threw with fries??? How about the ice bin at any fast food place? That large drink you got had someone you don't know touching the ice and hand filling the tank that they get it out of for your cup. Do you trust they washed their hands? Teenagers, I think not!! I trust my unwashed eggs much much more knowing how I care for the girls than any of the other things that can and do get 100,000+ people badly sick each year.
All my life I have eaten unwashed eggs, and never once did I get sick from them. I think that speaks for itself.
Off my soap box for now...

 

[trooper]

I forgot to add that if your coup is clean so are your eggs : )

Not necessarily,The cleanness of your coop has nothing to do with rather the hen decides to poop in the nest box or that they get in the mud that is in the run and they drag it in the nest boxes.

 

[houseofknauss]

well, i'll probably get some flack for this---I'm a prepper--the reason I got into chickens was because I am a prepper. I already had ducks. I learn as I go from knowledgeable chicken people in the area and from this website. chicken eggs with the bloom on them or a food grade oil, (mineral, canola, olive) will last anywhere from 6 months to 1 year at 40 degrees. (don't believe me? experiment!) I only wash if the egg is dirty.