[Hillview Farm]

I sell my duck eggs, I don't really want to sell them covered in poop.... How do you lot clean your eggs?

[Bionic]

I wipe them over with a damp cloth. If any are very dirty then I keep them for myself.

[Hillview Farm]

Quite often I don't get them until they the poop has dried on and I find it hard to get it off with a cloth

[nic99]

I scratch the worst off with my thumbnail. If they are really gross I don't sell them.

[demonfarmer2630]

Short answer don't people like to see that they are fresh and a little s**t don't hurt

[Hillview Farm]

That is my view but some people i'm sure will turn there noses up!

[suziequeue]

I don't wash my eggs. Washing and wiping takes the "bloom" off which is a protective film which blocks bacteria from entering the egg contents through the shell.... So wiping that off could make your eggs more vulnerable to infections.

My clients like the fact that there is a bit of poo, straw and feathers on them. It adds to the authenticity. If they don't like it then they can go to the shops....

You can get special wipes from poultry supplies which apparently don't wipe away the bloom.

I advise clients to wash the shell just before cooking if they are concerned and they appreciate the explaination I give as to why I don't wash them.

[benkt]

If you are selling them as graded eggs (class A) it is illegal to wash them in the UK/EU. I also believe that this is the case for selling ungraded eggs from the 'farm gate' but I can't find any clear ruling to this effect - anyone?

[HesterF]

If you are going to wash them, use warm water which apparently means the bacteria won't get drawn through the shell which they would do if you use cold water. But the bloom issues remains. I do take the worst off and have just had a quick wipe over of some of mine before I sell them tomorrow but leave it until just before sale rather than letting them sit around post-clean. Certainly I try to dry clean when possible! Also mine always lay in the house so clearly clean bedding helps enormously.

H

[shygirl]

im sure its a wire brush thats recommended, or a scourer. dont wet them though. our eggs used to get filthy if the dogs didnt find them first but i think if you are selling them, it needs to be really clean or rollaway nest boxes.

[northfifeduckling]

duck eggs are different as sold as specialty eggs and are not classed so you are allowed to wash them as far as I was told. As clean as their house is my ducks always manage to roll them through poop outside the nesting boxes, so I have to clean them always. a wire scourer for the dried stuff works fine here. 

[Backinwellies]

I understood that unlike chichen eggs, duck eggs are porous so washing can introduce bacteria ..... clean house often, let out late and find customers who want 'real' eggs!!

[Bionic]

I thought chicken eggs were porous too which is why I only wipe clean with a damp cloth if necessary.

[Backinwellies]

Time for google I think ?

[Backinwellies]

Well that was interesting...... a world tour of egg cleaning .... includes washing in bleach in some countries (ugh!)

seems both are better unwashed (no surprise there!)

Hen eggs.....

Quote.....
Wet cleaning
 
Naturally, the egg has good defenses to help protect the embryo during incubation. The shell is covered by a waxy layer (the cuticle) that helps prevent microbes from entering the pores that allow the passage of gases. The cuticle is not impenetrable and water on the surface of the egg shell can undermine these defenses because water helps bacteria pass through the shell pores into the egg. If the period of contact between egg and water is short, there will be little microbial penetration into the egg (Zeidler, 2002). Therefore, it is important to limit the amount of time that the shell is wet. Soaking eggs in water for as little as one to three minutes can allow microbes to penetrate the shell (Zeidler, 2002).


Duck eggs

similar but as HesterF says water should be warmer than blood temp .....