20210227 Post 3 (Copy)
Blog 20210227
“Why should I buy Sterling Family Farms’ eggs? Eggs are cheaper at the grocery store!”
This is a frequently asked question, and it is actually a good one. It leads to a discussion of the quality of a product contrasted against to the price. There are many ways to raise chickens, but the three most common commercial methods are: battery cage, free-range, and pastured.
The battery cage method is by far the least expensive, safest method for collecting eggs from hens. Hens are raised in cages, with two or more hens in each cage. The cages tend to be small, and as the hens lay, the eggs roll to a collection area outside the cage; frequently the eggs are moved by a conveyor belt to the processing room. There is little chance for breakage or other mishaps, so a maximum number of eggs can be collected quickly and efficiently. There is no predator issue for either hens or eggs. Food for layers is easily controlled, and there is little waste; water is readily available, and medications can be dispensed uniformly and easily in the watering system. Hens tend to peck each other because they are in close quarters, so their beaks are frequently cut to prevent harm. A typical battery cage set-up looks like:
The free range method allows hens the run of an area without being caged 24/7. Again, there is protection from predators, and hens have access to controlled and readily available food and water. Eggs are usually collected from nest boxes, although sometimes an inexperienced hen lays an egg on the floor. Hens have freedom to move around the enclosure, and sometimes they have access to an outside area for part of the day. California recently passed legislation mandating that commercial chickens be free-range rather than battery cage raised. A typical free-range system looks like:
(www.newsweek.com)
Pasture-raised hens have the run of an outdoor area much of the day. Hens have access to sunshine, unlimited movement, and fresh air. They are free to eat grass and bugs and anything else they find; laying hens frequently have laying mash provided in addition to the “all they can find” food. At night hens are sometimes housed in a predator-free coop. During the day, there are a variety of predator controls including fencing, livestock guardian dogs, overhead netting, and shotguns. Although nest boxes are provided, hens sometimes choose to lay elsewhere, making egg collection more difficult. Pastured Hens typically look like:
So back to the original question, “Why should I buy Sterling Family Farms’ eggs?” Eggs can be cheaper at the grocery store, yes. The cost of successfully raising pastured laying hens through the production years will be higher than that of battery-cage or free-range chickens. However, many people prefer eggs laid by hens raised humanely with access to nature and sunshine.
Furthermore, eggs from pastured hens have a slightly different nutrition content than eggs from other types of chickens, and the taste and texture tend to be slightly different. Many people choose eggs that have those differences. And our eggs are always very fresh, unlike eggs that may sit in a grocery store refrigerator for several days.
Sterling Family Farms’ have roosters as part of the flocks, too, and we hatch our own chicks. As of last year, all of the chickens, layers and roosters and meat chickens, were hatched on our farm. As soon as chicks are old enough to roam the pasture, they are in the sunshine and on the grass. Our laying hens tend to be quite healthy, and they pass that health on to the nutritional content of their eggs. We rarely use antibiotics and never administer hormones for fast growth or production.
If cost is the bottom line for acquiring eggs, the grocery store is the best source. However, if nutritional quality is a consideration, and you want food from humanely raised animals, pastured chickens are the best you can get. Of course, you can always raise your own chickens. If you want to begin that adventure, send me an email through our Contact Us form on this website; let’s talk!