[harry]

hi.... i did know but have forgot............ is it hot or cold water to wash duck eggs (mainly mud not s**t) and what temp. also what are the regs on selling duck eggs i know that some eggs are exempt so can be sold to a middle man, shop cafe etc, not hens but i think quail/ geese are exempt but i need to know about duck eggs. anyone know for certain, no guess work please.... thanks harry

[doganjo]

You can have up to 50 poultry birds without being registered as a producer, but you can't sell eggs unless you are (officially)  Better to have the birds on clean straw or other bedding than to have to wash them.  If mine lay out in the mud the dogs get the eggs.  I prefer not to wash them and allowing bacteria in, although that said, duck eggs are less likely to absorb anything than hens, being less porous.  I only sell to friends and neighbours but I'm sure they wouldn't want mucky eggs.

There has already been a discussion on this subject but I don't know where it is.  If I spot it I'll post the link - found it - there's more than one, so if you do a search for 'wash eggs'  you'll find them all - http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=7310.0

[gavo]

There are NO REGS regarding the sale of duck eggs as per our E.H.O we sell ours at markets, from the farm and through shops(generally butchers)

[doganjo]

This website seems to say differently - http://farmingfriends.com/selling-duck-eggs-for-eating/  But it may be American so I've asked SAC fro a ruling as I'd like to know the regualtions too.

This website is fun - http://www.them-apples.co.uk/2009/11/why-does-nobody-eat-duck-eggs-anymore_10/

[Hermit]

When I had my last inspection , the lady from the egg marketing said that all eggs were being looked at as regards regs in the near future.

[Sylvia]

If it's any help, I don't wash duck eggs, however filthy. I give them a gentle rub when dry with a bit  of green pan scourer. (then stick a feather and a bit of s##t on so folk can tell they're genuine free range"

[Hermit]

Duck poo I hope!

[SallyintNorth]

The only thing I think I know (was told once and believed) about this subject is that it is essential to use water which is warmer than the egg, otherwise the dirt gets pushed through the porous shell into the egg.  (So it is safer to use a dry cloth like Sylvia does.)

It also means that it's safer to put a dirty egg into already hot water to boil than to put in cold and heat up.  (I've always boiled mine by putting in hot water anyway.)

[doganjo]

I advise all my frineds and neighbours to wash their eggs in running warm water immediately before use - then when cracking them into a pan or cake mix the dirt doesn't get in, and if boiling them it's clean eggs that are being boiled, not dirty ones

[harry]

well ive taken some to a deli / butcher and hes sold some dirt included, so i assume regs dont apply to ducks. ive seen really clean duck eggs and i bet they are some sort of shed bird not like mine that live outside all day night with stream to use, mud to root  around in for crawley stuff,  just penned up nightly and let out about 9 am so i dont have to go on an egg nest hunt every day, they all lay before 9am..... impossible to get mine to lay on clean straw, they do for a while then swop places, once one swops they all seem to swop....ive tried supermarket clean ducks eggs... no comparison,...a bit of dirt = quality yokes, mine stick to the roof of my mouth in an egg sandwich ( have to eat these over the sink),....its the same with veg now lettuces etc that have never seen dirt just running water with additives... we will have to buy a jar of dirt soon to get the minerals we need. so carrying on till eu buggers it up.... harry