dirty eggs

The percent of eggs that are dirty has gone up lately. They have smears on them like poop. It used to be only one out of a dozen but is now 4 or 5. Is this because the chickens are cooped up due to the snow? They used to free range?

I had been giving the dirty eggs to the neighbors pig. I read somewhere that you shouldn't wash them because there is some kind of coating that protects them from bacteria. I don't want to give the dirty ones to neighbors. Can I wash them off?

[mare]

i wash mine if they arent too bad. the real dirty ones get cooked and fed to the dogs and the mild one i dont wash until i use, because i dont want to wash the coating off (i dont know if this is the right way or not but i havent gotten sick yet) usually have to clean out the nesting boxes alot in the winter. they will lay in there and poo or knock the bedding out or sometimes i get two in a box and they break the eggs fighting for the spot. i have an 8 box nesting stand for them but they really only seem to use two or three for laying in

[birdman1]

Yes go ahead and wash off your eggs sooner the better to avoid stains most eggs sold in stores are washed in winter there is more mud so more foot prints and smears also younger hens often have bleeding at the vent I'm sure you could feed more hole corn or wheat to solid up there manure . there is a Bloom or natural coating on eggs you schould not wash off them if they are for hatching .I have heard a few differint things to keep them fresh longer like addind a coat of wax or lard,or cooking oil to seal the poors I'v never tried this submerding them in water glass keeps them fresh for months with out refridgeration .BUT WHY wash off dirty spots keep em in the fridge and they still last for weeks rotate the older ones out .If your like me I'v got to many chickens but can sell or give any away befor they get to old and If your not like me and are just getting enough or not enough they won't last long enough to spoil.I use warm lightly soaped water with dish washing liquid to soak and wipe off then another pan of clear warm water with a tablespoon of bleach for a dish pan then dri em and put in a recicled egg carton small end down .and so far so good not having a roster and thus unfertile eggs are supposed to last longer but I would'ent know as my free range hens are accumpenid by roosters

[whodunit]

We wash ours, but we refrigerate them and tend to go through them pretty quickly.

[kudzuvine]

I've got one hen that I think she "anoints" hers every time. I gather my eggs often and just take a wet paper towel and wipe. If too bad, I do wash. We either sell or eat eggs quickly, so they don't stay in fridge or back room (where its cold) too long.