washing egg off of eggs

[georgia2]

Hi, I have a hen, my favorite, who used to be the alpha. We got 2 roosters by mistake, they started jumping on her, we got rid of them. Ever since then she has been laying soft eggs. Now they're so soft they break and the other eggs get all dirty. I know I 'm not supposed to wash but doesn't the egg all over send bacteria in the openings anyway?

Is it okay to eat them? If I do need to wash them, how do I do it? I have used a just wet paper towel and rub it as little as I can to do the job. BUt I don't want to contaminate the eggs, don't know what to do.

ALso, I do feed oyster shells and egg shells back to them. SHe is the only one with this problem. Is there another food that is high in calcium?
Thanks!!

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

why aren't you supposed to wash?

 

[vstoltzfus]

I wash my eggs in plain warm water, and then dry them with a terry cloth towel.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

There's no reason not to wash them if they dirty. I just use a wet washcloth to wipe dirty eggs. If it especially tenacious I use a scotchbrite pad under some running warm water.

 

[georgia2]

everywhere I've read says that washing them can contaminate the inside of the egg through the holes in the shell. I've been doing some more research and there seems to be system of washing then disinfecting. the water is supposed to be a certain temperature also. I was hoping it was just as easy as washing them with water like you say but I'm afraid someone will get sick. Especially neighbors who want to buy the eggs.

 

[corcor55]

I always wash my eggs, just a quick rinse under the sink. I or my neighbors have never gotten sick from them.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

The USDA says that the wash water should be at least 90 degs and at least 20 degrees warmer than the egg. Eggs aren't allowed to soak or be submerged in water. If you want to sanitize them you can spray them with a 200 ppm solution of chlorine bleach. I'm sure there are other sanitizers that are available too.

I sell a couple hundred dozen a month to friends and neighbors and it is pretty much understood that they are farm fresh eggs and that they are ungraded and unprocessed. I haven't had any problems.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Just to be clear, I only wash the ones that are dirty. The rest I leave alone. Most states have laws against selling dirty eggs, yet they may or may not have laws about selling unprocessed and ungraded eggs directly from the farm (or producer's residence).

 

[Tala]

If they are dirty I rub them with a dampened washcloth. If it's a big glob of stuff, I have a block of very fine sandpaper that I use to blast it off before wiping them down.

If the egg is stained such to require further cleaning, I keep those for myself and give the nice white ones to the "customers"

If they are clean enough I don't do anything to them - which is my goal. I try not to have to get them wet.
(However in Arkansas humidity if you get cold eggs out of the fridge room temp air condenses water on them very quickly anyway.)

 

[FortWorthChicks]

Does she eat oyster shell?