“What’s So Special About Pasture-Raised Eggs?”
You may be asking yourself, why would anyone want to raise chickens at home when eggs are available and affordable at every local grocery store?
Let us explain.
Pasture raised eggs means that the chickens are allowed to roam free. Basically, these chickens spend the majority of their life out in the sunshine living a normal, healthy, active life!
From a moral perspective, pasture raised comes as close as it gets to the natural living conditions of chickens.
Eat the 80’s Owner Carlee recently introduced 4 new family members to her home! We are pleased to introduce you to Sophia, Rose, Blanche and Dorothy! Keep on reading to learn why she made the switch.
According to Carlee, there is a lot that goes into raising your own chickens, but she says most of the time her new babies keep to themselves, picking at grass, worms and sometimes even each other. While the chickens do require some work, they aren’t as hands on as other pets. Carlee says they are definitely not as high-maintenance as her two dogs, Buddy and Kona.
Carlee loves the newest additions to her family. She also loves the fresh eggs that they give her. She explained that eggs have always been a staple in her household, but after doing some research she knew she needed to make the switch!
Below are some of the main benefits that come along with making the switch to pasture-raised eggs.
1. Undeniable Freshness and Convenience
Have you ever tried a fresh egg? Well, if you have, you know that they are richer and better-tasting than the eggs you’ll find at your local supermarket. Pasture-raised eggs not only have that undeniable fresh taste that store bought eggs just don’t provide, they also have the power to provide convenience to any home chef. Having a way to grab yourself some fresh eggs right from your own backyard, allows you and your family to have eggs at your own convenience.
2. Enhanced Flavor
Chicken owners, like Carlee, claim that fresh eggs just all around taste better. This comes from the specific nutrients your chickens are feeding on. Who knew that the slimy worms your chickens were eating would be so beneficial to you later on!
3. The Healthy Option
- Less cholesterol
- Less saturated fat
- Increased vitamins A, E and D
- More Omega-3 fatty acids
- More beta carotene
The list goes on and on! The nutrients listed are essential for your body to function daily. They also help prevent diseases in the long run. Vitamins A, E and D are extremely beneficial to your diet. Fun fact: Pasture-raised eggs are known as one of the best food sources of vitamin D. In addition, raising your own chickens means lower amounts of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a very important part of your diet because it helps maintain calcium levels in your bloodstream.
Want more information about the labels you see on grocery store eggs? Check out the differences below!
Cage Free: There is no legal definition for this term. Hens laying eggs labeled as "cage-free" are un-caged and generally have a bit more space than commercialized hens. But they're still crammed inside warehouses, unable to exhibit their normal behaviors, and usually without any access to sunlight or outdoors. Beak cutting is permitted. "Cage-free" has no control over the hens' diets. There is also no third party auditing of this term/system!
Free Range: The USDA has no defined "free range" standards and allows egg producers to freely label any egg as such. Free-range hens are un-caged inside barns with some degree of outdoor access. Also, there are no restrictions regarding what the birds can be fed. There is once again no third-party auditing of this system!
Certified Organic: These hens are uncaged inside barns and are required to have outdoor access. However, that outdoor access could mean a tiny door on one side of the barn which opens to a "yard" big enough to hold only 3% of the hens living in the enclosure. Beak cutting is still permitted. The good news... they are fed an organic, all-vegetarian diet free of animal by-products, antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones. These feeds cannot be genetically modified or grown with chemicals/synthetic fertilizers. Compliance is verified through 3rd party auditing.
Pastured/Pasture Raised: While there is no legal definition for this term either, it refers to chickens allowed to roam in open pastures and not just having access to outdoors. They spend the majority of their life out in the sunshine living a normal, healthy, active life! Usually used in conjunction with "organic", indicating that the hens are fed an organic diet. These two elements (organic and pastured) are a best choice for the quality of the eggs you are consuming!
