Laurel YBENEFITS OF FREE-RANGE EGGS
Updated: Feb 26, 2021
How do you like your eggs?
Scrambled. Sunny-side up. EGGS. BENNY.
I like mine made by happy hens. Free-range chicken eggs: this means the chickens are free to roam around in their homes as they please + always have access to outdoor space. They have the freedom to engage in their natural behaviours, like scratching for insects, dust-bathing, foraging and WALKING (no, it is unlikely that chickens who lay your commercial eggs from the store get to walk - unless you’re buying eggs labeled ‘free-run’, which means they are free to move around un-caged, but they will typically never get to experience a day out in the sun). Free-range hens have a FAR better quality of life as compared to commercial hens.
For us, if the weather isn’t horribly miserable (or there isn’t a coyote lurking around the barnyard), our girls are free to explore the entire farm - wherever they want. They forage grass, seeds + insects - which all contribute to an overall more nutrient-dense egg. In the warmer months, when the forage is more plentiful, these nutrients make for a gloriously golden yolk, which is a stark difference from the bright yellow of the caged commercial egg you are likely accustomed to.
Not only is the nutrition superior, something else to think about is the freshness factor. When you buy from a farm, you are buying truly farm-fresh eggs (plus you’re probably also supporting local farmers + their families and you likely have no idea how much it means to them hint hint).
Honestly I am not here to shame you for buying store-bought eggs because before I had my own chickens, I did too - and like 95% of the people I know go store-bought. However, something that has recently become very important to me is educating myself on where my food is coming from, and making better-informed decisions about the food my family and I eat.
The bottom line is this: happy hen = better quality egg.
If you are someone who is concerned about the quality of your food, and animal welfare, please consider making the switch to eggs from free-range chickens (it just so happens that I know 16 gals that would love to help you out with that transition ).
