Free Range Eggs Vs. Confined Grain Fed Chicken Eggs
Free range chickens live healthier, more productive lives compared to confined grain fed chickens. The eggs of free range chickens stand superior in hardness, coloring and nutrition. Chickens allowed to forage for a variety of natural foods live the life a chicken was meant to live. Chickens are omnivorous, which means they eat a varied diet of bugs, greens, worms and grains to be healthy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Shell Hardness
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Chickens allowed to free range lay eggs with stronger shells. A strong shell insures the contents of the egg remain more pure from outside toxins. Confined grain fed chickens won't have shells as strong as free range chicken eggs, but a hardener like crushed oyster shell can be added. The oyster shell contains calcium that helps the chickens form harder shells. Free range eggs also store better because the shells are thicker. Thicker egg shells minimize breakage and evaporation of the egg white and yolk. Thinner grain fed egg shells break easier and the evaporation rate of the inner egg contents is faster.
Yolk Color
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Free range chickens enjoy a well-rounded diet of greens, bugs and worms. The beta-carotene in the greens cause the yolk of the eggs to turn a yellow-orange color. Confined grain fed chickens lay eggs with yolks that tend to be a light yellow color. The darker yolk means that the egg has more nutritional value. Free range chicken eggs are better for hatching, because the chick embryo benefits more from the higher nutrition in the yolk. Fertility rates are higher in free range eggs than in confined grain fed chicken eggs.
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Flavor
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A noticeable difference in flavor can be tasted when eating free range eggs. The taste differs from other eggs because the free range chickens spend much of their time eating live foods rather than dead food. A free range diet produces eggs with a fresher flavor.
Production
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Chickens allowed to free range tend to lay more eggs than confined chickens. The free range chickens get more exercise than confined chickens, which leads to more oxygen in the blood and better circulation. The chickens with increased circulation of oxygen-rich blood allows for better body function. A chicken needs 14 to 16 hours of light to produce an egg every 27 to 36 hours. Free range chickens get to enjoy a full day of light, whereas confined grain-fed chickens may not always have access to better light.
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References
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
