PELE!! Chicken/egg question

rusngl2

I went to the grocery store on Sat and saw that my market now carries "vegetarian, grain fed, free range" chicken eggs. In your opinion is that even possible? I thought that if a chicken was free range they would pretty much eat the grain provided plus whatever else that they came across that struck their fancy??

Peledreamsofrain

aaaaaarg, TK ate my post, and it was a bigger one! 

Peledreamsofrain

repost:

Hm... I think I am going to have to preface this with a warning:  If anyone is not interested in getting grossed out by the chicken and egg products they buy in the store, don't read below.





To answer your question, all those terms are bunk.  They are just justification for charging you more.

Firstly, you're right on track with the 'vegetarian' question.  Chickens are omnivores.  They are also aggressively predacious (as the sparrows and snakes in my yard have learned).  If they can get ahold of a nice protien source, they'll eat it.  Especially high production hens that are losing a lot of resources daily to eggs.  Another item to keep in mind for corporate farms is that any place you store large amounts of grain WILL have rodents and insects.  These rodents and insects would not be ignored by hens, even if said hens were caged.  Anything in reach and smaller than them is fair game.  I get pretty amused when I see 'vegetarian' chicken products.

Secondly, the terms 'free range' and 'cage free' are not strictly defined in the legal sense.  Technically speaking, you can over-cram a small pen with hens, and just have one side exposed to the elements, and legally call them 'free range" AND "cage free".  This is why corporate hens have most of their beaks removed.  Their stress response to over-cramming is to fight for space with pecking and cannibalism.

"Free range" is the biggest joke on meat products.  The hybrid that coporations use (cornish cross), is genetically manipulated to overgrow (similar to lygers, but faster).  They get so grotesquely large so quickly that they cannot walk.  They sit in their own filth all day to the point where they wear off all their feathers on their stomachs.  Every time I see them, they make me sad. 

The above reasons, plus the starvation cycles (to force molting.  Egg production increases after molting), throwing out the hens after a year and a half of age (chickens live 10 years), and the general lack of nutrients in the end product (eggs are not supposed to have yellow yolks.  Hens that are not malnurished produce orange yolks).

I'm no PETA person, but I'm really happy that I got out of contributing to that system.  I'll have an additional flock of meat birds of a breed that can walk once I get enough space.  I'm very excited about that, and hope to turn it into a business some day!

MrsMack10612

I have a question re: what you said about yolk color.

How orange are talking?  Like an orange the fruit?  Or just not quite so blazenly yellow like the smiley face in the toolbar?

I'm just curious what the differences in shade/color is.

Thanks.

rusngl2

COOL! Thanks for the thorough answer, the market did get me to shell out about 40 cents more for the eggs, the yolks were more orange than the ones I normally buy, and tasted different. Not better, not worse just different. 

I am trying to talk SO into moving into a house where I can have chickens. (we're in an apt right now, so no dice). I have fond memories of my aunt and her chickens from growing up and SO currently HATES the taste of store bought chicken so he's onboard, just got to get finances together. 

rusngl2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:7f5b654e-0e31-486b-a617-d2afa2d8bfb5">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]I have a question re: what you said about yolk color. How orange are talking?  Like an orange the fruit?  Or just not quite so blazenly yellow like the smiley face in the toolbar? I'm just curious what the differences in shade/color is. Thanks.
Posted by kjhowd[/QUOTE]

<div>For the ones I bought from the store they were somewhere in between</div>

Peledreamsofrain

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:7f5b654e-0e31-486b-a617-d2afa2d8bfb5">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]I have a question re: what you said about yolk color. How orange are talking?  Like an orange the fruit?  Or just not quite so blazenly yellow like the smiley face in the toolbar? I'm just curious what the differences in shade/color is. Thanks.
Posted by kjhowd[/QUOTE]

<img style="background-color:#fff;width:248px;height:176px;" class="mainImage" src="http://www.justtherightthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/DSC00929.jpg" alt="" />

It can change with the time of year (less items with keratine in them to eat), but they are definitely darker than store eggs)

Peledreamsofrain

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:ad2a4b24-93db-4a7a-9cd4-0d54314b89e1">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]COOL! Thanks for the thorough answer, the market did get me to shell out about 40 cents more for the eggs, <strong>the yolks were more orange than the ones I normally buy</strong>, and tasted different. Not better, not worse just different.  I am trying to talk SO into moving into a house where I can have chickens. (we're in an apt right now, so no dice). I have fond memories of my aunt and her chickens from growing up and SO currently HATES the taste of store bought chicken so he's onboard, just got to get finances together. 
Posted by rusngl2[/QUOTE]

This is what you want to look for if you are testing the honesty of the company in how they treat their hens.  The orange means that the hens are being fed better, and that they are getting ahold of live plant materials (likely from free ranging).  It sounds like you found a relatively good brand.

MrsMack10612

Thanks for the pic.  That will help in the future.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to find any better than the grocery store, I live in a fairly urban area, but I'm sure going to keep an eye oiut.

Peledreamsofrain

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:30c0b03c-add0-45a7-91a9-ea309b3613fb">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]What exactly would be the purpose of "vegetarian" chicken anyway? ETA:  NO OFFENSE INTENDED.  I'm honestly just interested and confused by the concept.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

lol that's what I've always wondered too.  I can only speculate it's the result from the whole Mad Cow issue several years ago.  People found out that animals were being fed their own species in feed, and it squicked them out (rightfully so). 

Either that or it's somehow viewed as healthier.  I'd scratch my head over that one just as much as I scratched my head over the fertilized eggs I found in Whole Foods.

MoonlightSilver

OP, you should definitely look around your area and nearby areas for fellow citizens that sell chicken eggs. It can be harder to find them in cities, and there's always risks with anything you buy that's not regulated. But we love our eggs from our neighbors. 

rusngl2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:90e46a6f-3be6-4c69-a705-88f5311e6a61">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]OP, you should definitely look around your area and nearby areas for fellow citizens that sell chicken eggs. It can be harder to find them in cities, and there's always risks with anything you buy that's not regulated. But we love our eggs from our neighbors. 
Posted by MoonlightSilver[/QUOTE]

I wish I could! I know there is a farmer's market on Thurs in my area but it's hard to get there when they are open. I'm right outside of DC and I'd love to know anybody in the area that has chickens.

rusngl2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:30c0b03c-add0-45a7-91a9-ea309b3613fb">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]What exactly would be the purpose of "vegetarian" chicken anyway? ETA:  NO OFFENSE INTENDED.  I'm honestly just interested and confused by the concept.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

Heck if I know! I was buying eggs anyway and I noticed the new package on the shelf. It just struck me as odd cause I remember watching the chickens my aunt used to raise when I was little would chase bugs and whatnot to eat. It was hilarious.

Peledreamsofrain

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:281a9aea-8638-4c76-b545-5655d74aa3c3">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question : Heck if I know! I was buying eggs anyway and I noticed the new package on the shelf. It just struck me as odd cause I remember watching the chickens my aunt used to raise when I was little would chase bugs and whatnot to eat. It was hilarious.
Posted by rusngl2[/QUOTE]

Heehee, yeah they sure aren't vegetarian, the little dinosaurs.  My H jokes that we have to be careful not to hit out heads and pass out in the pen.

MoonlightSilver

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:a5506a99-30f8-4e44-9b4e-83a3ddc9b524">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question : I wish I could! I know there is a farmer's market on Thurs in my area but it's hard to get there when they are open. I'm right outside of DC and I'd love to know anybody in the area that has chickens.
Posted by rusngl2[/QUOTE]

<div>If you know there is a vendor at the market that sells eggs, you could probably ask them if you could pick up eggs at their house / farm on other days and times than when the market is run. </div>

rusngl2

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:fc64b0b4-d1a3-46e5-9347-7f13d06b326b">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question : lol that's what I've always wondered too.  I can only speculate it's the result from the whole Mad Cow issue several years ago.  People found out that animals were being fed their own species in feed, and it squicked them out (rightfully so).  Either that or it's somehow viewed as healthier.<strong>  I'd scratch my head over that one just as much as I scratched my head over the fertilized eggs I found in Whole Foods.</strong>
Posted by Peledreamsofrain[/QUOTE]

Speaking of Whole Foods eggs, did you ever figure out what Brand X were?

Peledreamsofrain

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_pele-chickenegg-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:5446f16c-4af9-4fef-aa76-a8c1a785b307Post:55dc2a77-c140-495c-83aa-9fba827eb6db">Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: PELE!! Chicken/egg question : Speaking of Whole Foods eggs, did you ever figure out what Brand X were?
Posted by rusngl2[/QUOTE]

<div>Yes I did!  I researched the company, and they had Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds.  So these were a cross of the two.  I sold the hen on Craigslist because she was higher strung than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.  Made me exhausted to look at her.  </div>