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How do you clean your eggs?

Relatively new to chicken keeping but having fun

People have been asking for eggs from our rescue chickens and we have plenty but I am reluctant as I don't want to make anybody ill. Their coop is kept clean but there is usually some dirt on the eggs.

I've been reading about the bloom on the eggs which protects them. I've also read about spraying with a sterilising solution but can't seem to find out what that is.

what is the best way to clean dirt and poo etc off the eggs and does this affect how long they can be stored?

I wipe them with a damp piece of kitchen roll (or dont bother)

If the poo isn't too thick and dried on I just use kitchen roll like dita said.
If not I believe you can wash off with water that is a slightly warmer than the egg.Colder water can force bacteria into the shell through the egg.

You are right in that eggs have a natural bloom and washing can affect this.The bloom helps the egg stay fresh.So try not to wash eggs unless you have to.

I don't like poo-ey eggs - if I wash them I try to use those ones quicker.

You can get an egg sanitiser solution which producers use to clean the eggs.

Kitchen paper like everyone else, and I mark the date on the top in pencil to make sure I use the oldest first.

Do they need to be trained not to sleep in the nest box ? - removing back to roosting bars once they're asleep. Is it worth thinking about covering part of the run so that they don't tread muddy feet over the eggs? I use a showr curtain and bungee cords.
... And can they persuade mine to start laying again now theyve come out of moult!

thanks everyone - great help x

We wipe any excess mud off first before storing in the egg basket, then wash before using with a little antibacterial washing up liquid.
I do keep meaning to buy some 'proper' wash liquid for them, however.

If they're very mucky I wash 'em, but I do think 'real' eggs from your own 'real' chickens should be mucky. It shows that they've come from the chooks' hard work and your own loving care, not some big sanitised commercial outfit. A little bit of muck is a good thing imo.

We've always just brushed off the worst of the dirt, but not cleaned them properly until we're actually going to use the egg. I always thought the shell was porous so best not to deliberately put a cleaning product or water on it and then store...

Just clean them before you eat them ... simple !!

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