Dirty eggs & run smell query

[chris]

Do the eggs get dirty, as poo is squeezed out of the chicken when she lays - if she's not 'empty' ? Couple of my eggs now have been really dirty.. I've had to wash them under taps, and try and use them up first -but its not always possible... I hate wasting anything but have read that it's advisable to use these washed eggs up within a couple of days.

Also, my run seems to smell quite bad now.. it's not really covered is that a possible reason? I've replaced the flooring with pea gravel, as before the mud was getting bad and putting straw down there soon turned to mush. I'm planning on building a new aviary type thing for them soon - and covering the top with either onduline, or clear corrugated plastic, whichever is cheaper (leaning towards plastic to let more light through). Will this help, or is it a fact I need to live with? It's really wet in there, so hoping that's the cause!

[Flummery]

I think the wet is the main cause. I have a covered run and the flooring is a chopped hemp bedding which sort of dries up the poo into coherent lumps so I can pick them out regularly. Covering your run area will help. I know you can't do this with free rangers but they have far more room to spread their droppings and you don't get the concentration.

[Glutton4...]

I scrape any gunge/poo off with my fingernail. I sell them like that too, with bits stuck on them. I've only had to wash one or two, I just make sure they get used quickly.

[shirlthegirl43]

I wipe off any wet muck as I collect the eggs, they are stored and sold with muck on them. I was always told that the egg has a natural sealing layer which keeps stuff out but that is removed when you wash the egg. I tell customers that the muck is all mud (as it is only in wet weather that I get mucky eggs) and advise them to wipe or wash just before using. Never had any grumbles

[RichmondHens]

Wipe off the mud/muck with kitchen paper when you collect them. If you want to give them a wash do this just before you use them. They will be fine stored a bit muddy. It may look unappealing but really won't do you any harm. Have to say though I tend to use muddy and poopy eggs for our own consumption and only sell the clean ones.

Muddy runs are a hazard at this time of year but if this is your permanent fixed run then you need to put down a layer of something like woodchip to keep the hens off the mud. Straw is a cheaper option but you will need to change it quite often. If you can get a cover on the run to stop it getting so wet that will help.

[chris]

Thanks for the advice, RH -I'm changing it all around and they're not really in it now, but will give it a wash out tomorrow and throw some shavings down. Can't wait to get started on the new one!

[chris]

Ahh, the reason why I was washing is that we keep the eggs in the fridge (no idea why - I used to keep them out of the fridge). I'll have to move them out I think, as I don't want pooy eggs in the fridge

[grenhouse]

I built a run with a cover on in my latest run and it has made so much of a difference. It means the run is always dry. I use fallen leaves which I collected from the park in the autumn (15 bags in the shed!). They are perfect for scratching around in and then it goes into the leaf mould for next year!

steve

[RichmondHens]

I built a run with a cover on in my latest run and it has made so much of a difference. It means the run is always dry. I use fallen leaves which I collected from the park in the autumn (15 bags in the shed!). They are perfect for scratching around in and then it goes into the leaf mould for next year!

steve

Dry leaves are great for runs, and FREE! I piled loads into my cock pen in the autumn and they were very much appreciated.

[Bramble-Poultry]

dont just restrict it to the hens RH! i put 4 wheel barrows full into the pig pen the other day and they went beserk! throwing it up into the air and nesting in it! they loved it.

once they have finished grinding it into the run with their "manure" it will be welcomed on the veg plot!

[mr darcy]

i restraw the run every two weeks, taking out thze old stuff and putting in my compost; my poopy eggs are because my ls has decided to roost on edge of nest box and poo in it all night

[Glutton4...]

Yup - mine sleep and poo in their nest-boxes. It's so cold at night that I don't blame them! Come spring they'll get a surprise!

[Bramble-Poultry]

are your nest boxes higher than the perches? sometimes the dominant hens like to get to the highest perch, which might even mean they get into the nest, otherwise the could just be lazy b**gers and get as far as the nest box and think "that'll do"