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I heard on the news it was a strain of salmonella carried by rats and the chickens pick it up from the rat droppings. It's actually inside the chicken and consequently is inside the eggs by the time they are layed not on the outside. Before I heard that I was wondering if it wasn't from the "free range" they say they are doing with the chickens verses caged. The chickens are still cramped but on the floor and they live in their poo all day every day. Cages are inhumane but so is packing them in on the floor in poo and 1 sq ft of space. I'd be willing to bet when it comes to the big producers the chickens eggs would be cleaner with the chickens in cages. One other point, I have a WSDA egg handler license and one of the requirements for washing the eggs is to wash the eggs with water at least 20 degrees warmer than the internal temp of the egg and at a minimum of 90. A washing solution colder than the egg causes the egg content to contract and thus allows the polluted water to be drawn through the shell. So, that said, for us small farmers, be diligent with the pest control, keep pens coops and nest boxes cleaned and wash eggs properly. If the cause was rats we could have the same problem.
Been meaning to get on this thread anyway to see if anyone knows of someone with Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies in Western WA.
