eggs - to wash or not to wash

Hi everyone,

I'm new at this so if my query sounds silly please bear with me. My girls have just started to lay and sometimes an egg or two gets dirty. I've been told it's not good to wash the eggs before storing because it removes natural protective oils. However, storing without cleansing doesn't seem right either. What are the thoughts on this out there?

We wash.Better to lose the "protective mucus" than chance transferring salmonella to our food.

i just clean off the "stuff" that is nasty..and make sure there is nothing else on them..

Generally a very light rinsing while using a scratch pad is sufficient and takes only seconds. To store dirty is a nasty habbit. I have seen those who do store dirty and would never eat those eggs. Wash gently. Haystack

I keep extra shavings in the nest box that they seem to never use.. Then I can grab a handful and keep the surface of the nest area cleaner.

I cook the dirty ones and feed them to the dog or chickens.. Just grosses me out to eat poopy eggs. LOL

Actually I hardly ever get a dirty egg, mostly mine have shavings stuck to them from the mucus and I just use my thumbnail to pick the few shavings off. Keeping the nest clean is a priority and that keeps the eggs clean. Haystack. No ZZ's, no poppy eggs here either.

yes thats what i do too..lots and lots of shavings..the worst they get on the eggs is mud from playing outside..

Good question! So - for the future (hope I will get some eggs) - the bleach dilution cleaning is not necessary?

Jenks, I wouldn't wash..

Egg shells are porous.. who knows what can penetrate the shell?

salmonella?

Cootiez!!

Poopiez!

I know I've read that it's only a concern in large, un-clean places.....I just don't have the 'sperience! I can clean the crate they are in now....but when I move them to the wooden coop?? Should I line anything for disenfecting purposes? Or ....?? I hope they can run free in my pasture.,...but I get a little nervous about my Chihuahua who can go through....

This message was edited May 29, 2009 9:01 PM

My Chihuahua is scared of the chickens.. (even the little ones) she tries to get close, but the chickens make sure she doesn't!

I just provide plenty of clean shavings.. or sometimes alfalfa, so if they wanna pick at it.. That's it in my coop! :)

I just want to say "Thanks" to all who responded.

i was told cool/cold water makes the pores suck shut keeping anything bad outside. Warm/hot water open eeg pores up and allows bacteria to enter. I keep eggs uncleaned but when ready to use I wash them in cold water if they are dirty.

Hi Filaluvr--I always get confused about this because I think what you say about cold water making the pores close makes sense--but I think it is different with eggs. The pores do not open and shut like the pores in your skin. When you have to wash eggs to incubate (it is not a good thing to do, but sometimes you have to) everyone warns you to use water that is warmer than the eggs to keep microbes out. Apparently the contents of the egg expand as they warm and that helps push the contaminants out. Commercial egg producers also have to use water that is at least 20 degrees warmer than the warmest egg on the line when they wash eggs to sell.

This is a helpful site:

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=798

Catscan, Geez, At least I have not gotten sick from the way i am doing it, or was doing it. Great to know and appreciate the info. I also use a little ACV in my wash water, maybe that helped keep me well. Thanks very much for the info, Kathy