Egg handling and management techniques 0758943235 0786712645 The most important step in the safe handling of eggs is the production of clean eggs. Several steps can be taken on the farm to minimize the potential contamination of eggs: Make sure that there are enough suitable nests. Typically one nest for every five hens is sufficient, but the nest ratio can go to one nest for every eight (1:8) hens without an increase in floor eggs. The problems arise because all the hens will try to use the same nest. It does not help if you have five nests but all 25 hens try to lay in the same one to two nest boxes. This leads to possible breakage as well as increased potential for fecal contamination. Try to get the hens to use all of the nests. Hens prefer nests that are out of the way and a little darker than the rest of the house. Unless you are using roll-away nests (the egg rolls out after the hen leaves the nest), make sure that you have enough clean bedding to reduce the incidence of breakage by cushioning the eggs and to help keep the eggs clean. Supplement or change nest litter as needed Provide roosts, and make sure the roosting areas are higher than the nest boxes. Hens will typically roost at the highest perch. This will discourage the hens from roosting in and thereby soiling the nest boxes. Do not place the perches over the nests. Collect the eggs as frequently as possible, but at least once a day Twice a day is better. Maintain a healthy flock with these practices: 1.Keep litter and nest boxes dry.This provides a comfortable laying area for the birds. 2.Use safe drinking water and keep water and drinkers clean. 3.Keep feed dry and feeders clean. 4.Control rodents, flies, and beetles. 5.Sanitize any equipment received from other farms. To Wash or Not to Wash eggs??? There is a big debate on whether to wash eggs, with both sides making good arguments. The state you live in largely determines whether to wash all eggs. Some states require that you wash eggs, while others do not. Even poultry specialists cannot agree, with some strongly recommending washing, while others say that eggs should not be washed several key recommendations are made for egg cleaning in commercial egg-processing facilities in the world 1.Do not attempt to clean excessively dirty eggs. 2.Avoid the use of wash water containing more than 2 ppm of iron. 3.Do not recirculate the wash water. 4.Use odorless cleaning materials. 5.Wash eggs as soon as practical after they are laid. 6.Maintain wash water at a temperature that is at least 20ºF (~11ºC) higher than that of the eggs through all washing operations (wetting, cleaning, and rinsing). 7.Moisten eggs with stained shells and adhering dirt before eggs are submitted to cutting-spray wash and brushes. 8.Have a water spray with sufficient force to cut away loose dirt before brushing. 9.Use abrasive materials in brush bristles to increase the abrasive power of ordinary brushes. 10.Maintain an accurate control of the sanitizer-detergent level within the wash water. 11.Use a final rinse for the washed eggs. 12.Dry washed eggs completely before packing them. Always keep your birds in a stress free mode by supplementing them with APSA AMNOVIT, this improves production. Find t in all vet shops around the country. Vet JUMA. 0758943235, 0786712645.