eggs 101

Cage Free?  Free Range? Organic Eggs? ?!?!?

What should I buy?

As we chat with people about our flock of hens (and about country living in general) we often see many puzzled looks on faces.  That's probably due to the fact that most people did not grow up on a small country farm like we both did - breathing fresh air, handling animals often, and of course all of the fun but tiring chores that need done each day. So, that lack of experience could be part of it, but I think that the food marketing industry has also pulled the proverbial wool over the eyes of many. Yet, it is refreshing to see several people begin the trek towards eating more natural foods and tracking down locally grown produce, meats, and animals products (like eggs!!) That indeed is very exciting to see.


Knowing that many are moving towards a healthier alternative to the over processed and packaged food that lines every grocery store shelf, the food industry is trying their darnedest to miseducate educate the public in order to sell them what they claim to be natural and organic food products.  Since we raise chickens, I would like to share some knowledge as to what the words you see on an egg carton really mean.  Here goes:

Battery Cage Eggs

This is your typical store bought egg! Each hen is in a cage with a floor space of approximately 67 square inches.  For perspective, that is smaller than a letter sized piece of paper.  They are never allowed the pleasure to do natural things like nest, take dust baths, or even open their wings.  They are basically egg factories, and eat food that is passed by them on a conveyor trough. Their eggs drop down a shoot, and are then packaged by a machine. They never see sunlight in their 2 years of life, and after 2 years (or so) they are taken to a slaughterhouse, and well, killed, of course. When you eat those white eggs, this is the hen that produces it.  Each egg is full of all kinds of antibiotics that are given in the feed of the hens.  Plus, the egg is loaded with Omega 6 fatty acids (the bad ones), and almost no Omega 3's (which are the ones that actually lower the "bad cholesterol" and raise the "good cholesterol"). This is due in part because they never see sun, never eat grass or scratch for bugs.  

Free Range or Cage Free

These eggs in the grocery store cost a bit more than Battery Cage eggs, but here is the scoop - they are basically the same thing. Because of several loopholes available in the USDA standards in the U.S., egg producers are allowed to keep their flocks inside long metal sheds with no windows, and still call them "free range" or "cage free". How?  Because they are not in "battery cages".  They can range and roam wherever they want - inside the sunless shed.  How many of these "free range" chickens fit in the average "free range" shed?  About 400,000 birds in one building....basically sitting in their own excrement.  Gee - you think that could explain the Salmonella issue we all worry about? Salmonella is spread by rodents, and rodents are attracted to poo.  Logic should be kicking in right about now, and adding things up to a conclusion...Free Range or Cage Free eggs are a misnomer.  They also do not receive needed sunlight, and rarely if ever get to go outside.  When they do, it is generally through a hole cut through the side of the metal building where they get to go to a grass free fenced mud pit. No exaggeration.  That is what it is. Why?  Because for the farmer who does not care and is trying to compete in the food industry, they save money by doing it this way.  It's the sick world we live in.  So, are these types of hens any better off?  Well, they can "nest" and take "dust baths" - sort of..and they can flap their wings.  But, they are not what you have been told they are.  When people hear "free range" I know they are thinking of a beautiful flock of chickens happily scratching for bugs and grit in the ground, and plopping out yummy eggs chock full of healthy goodness. Fat chance!  What you get is not really any better than the Battery Cage Eggs, and you paid extra money for it!

Pastured Poultry

This is a very rare label that you may find at a whole food store, but most likely not in your typical grocery store.  Often, these eggs need to be bought directly from the source.  Maybe those who market the food industry to the consumer receive pressure from large egg producers to keep the "pastured fed" labeled eggs off of the shelves.  Sad really because this type of egg is as close to raising your own flock as you can get. Pastured poultry usually have a large outdoor fenced enclosure to roam in throughout the day, and get to feel sunlight, eat grass, and look for juicy bugs.  They are allowed to be chickens, and do all of their chicken-y behavior activities.  If you watch them, this type of life seems to give them a certain amount of poultry joy. They get to be a chicken! The supplemental feed they are given may or not be organic, which is something you should look into when buying from a farm that sells pastured poultry, but you are getting an egg with a high level of nutrients and those oh-so-good Omega 3's.


Hope this post helped to educate you about the egg business.  I would encourage each reader to consider raising your own flock (even if you have a tiny backyard you can easily do it!!!).  The benefits are amazing.