We all want our chickens to produce clean, pristine eggs. Dirty eggs can be a hassle to deal with and may even pose health risks. Luckily, there are ways to help your hens lay cleaner eggs more consistently.
In this article, we’ll explore some simple yet effective methods to improve egg cleanliness. These easy tricks can make a big difference in the quality of eggs your flock produces. By making a few adjustments, you can enjoy fresher, more appealing eggs straight from the nest box.
Worm Your Chickens
Chickens that scratch around outside can pick up worms. Giving them dewormer every year or two can help. Many chicken keepers think eggs with poop on them mean the hens have worms. After deworming, eggs often come out cleaner.
We like to use Safe-Guard brand Fenbendazole dewormer for our hens. You can buy it at feed stores as Goat Dewormer. Don’t worry – it’s safe for chickens too. You can even hatch eggs from hens taking this dewormer.
How to Use Liquid Dewormer
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of Safe-Guard per gallon of water. Give this as the only water for 5 days. Change it each day. Don’t put the syringe in the dewormer bottle – pour some in a cup first.
Easy Dewormer Recipe
For 6 hens, mix 1/8 teaspoon Safe-Guard in 1 quart of water. Add 1 teaspoon of molasses to make it taste good. Put this in a clean bowl. The hens will drink it fast. Do this for 5 days.
Deworming Ducks
Ducks can take Safe-Guard too, but they need less. Use 0.25 ml per duck. This is about half of what chickens get.
Are Eggs Safe During Deworming?
It’s best to not eat eggs from hens taking dewormer. But Safe-Guard doesn’t show up much in eggs. You can feed these eggs to dogs or chickens. You can even hatch them.
Add Diatomaceous Earth to Feed
Diatomaceous earth can help clean out hens’ guts. It’s easy to use – just dust some on mealworms before feeding them to your hens.
Is Diatomaceous Earth Safe for Eggs?
Yes, it’s safe. It’s not a chemical – it’s tiny sharp bits that cut up parasites. It doesn’t hurt the hens or end up in the eggs. We use it daily when we want perfect eggs for hatching.
Use Straw in Nest Boxes
The stuff you put in nest boxes matters. Eggs laid on straw stay cleaner than those on pine shavings. Pine bits can stick to eggs, making them messy. Change the straw each week for clean eggs.
Key Points for Cleaner Eggs
We can take several steps to get cleaner eggs from our hens. Clean nesting boxes are crucial. We should line them with fresh straw or wood shavings and change the bedding often. Collecting eggs frequently helps too. This stops hens from stepping on or breaking them.
Keeping the coop clean is also important. We need to scoop out droppings daily and do a deep clean weekly. Good ventilation in the coop reduces moisture and keeps the air fresh. This helps prevent dirty eggs.
Proper nutrition plays a role in egg cleanliness. We should feed hens a balanced diet with enough calcium. This leads to stronger eggshells that are less likely to crack or get dirty. Clean, fresh water is also essential.
Here are some quick tips:
- Use roll-away nesting boxes
- Train hens to use nests, not floor
- Trim overgrown feathers around vent area
- Provide enough nesting spots (1 per 4-5 hens)
- Keep hens healthy to avoid runny droppings
By following these practices, we can significantly improve the cleanliness of our laid eggs.
Joseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, he completed the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. He currently raises over 1400 chickens on his 7.5-hectare farm. He keeps sharing his experience on raising healthy and happy chickens on Chicken Scratch The Foundry.
