How can I help my hens’ keep their eggs clean?

For nest-clean eggs, it is crucial to help hens keep their feet clean. In the chicken coop, keep solid flooring entirely covered with bedding litter composed of absorbent, non-toxic, plant based organic material. It should support dust-bathing behavior and be of a dry and easily crumbled consistency.

In the nest box, there should be a substrate that can be cleaned and/or replaced and that birds can manipulate. For instance, hay or straw, wood shavings or padding such as AstroTurf. The latter, plastic nest pads, are easy to remove and hose down for cleaning. Manipulable nest pads with more than a third of the fingers eroded should be replaced.

Also, consider using a roll-away style nest box to allow the eggs to roll into a clean compartment away from the hens’ feet. Roll-aways are a technique to minimize egg eating as well.