Reasons to Switch to Eating Free Range Eggs

Health and Wellness - Nutrition

By: markgordonbrown 29-Jun-2011

Introduction:

There are many reasons to eat free range chicken eggs. You should note that the color of the shell has nothing to do with the egg being from a free range bird or not, this is only an indication of the breed of chicken.

Happier Birds, Less Cruelty

Free range hens have far better lives than those who are kept in battery cages, so when you buy free range eggs you are supporting a less cruel industry. If more people switched to free range eggs the whole industry of keeping hens packed into cruel, tiny, cages would be forced to change.

Battery hens live in cages so small that each one has less space than standing on a sheet of paper. The United States has some of the poorest standards for keeping laying hens than other parts of the world. By switching to free range eggs you are eating eggs from happier hens.

Healthier Birds

Free range birds have a slightly more natural diet than those kept in battery farms. They can eat grass and bugs in addition to their ration. This is a more complete, natural, diet for chickens. Battery laying hens are feed a ration that is geared towards egg production. When you eat eggs from a free range bird you can often tell because the yolk is darker, indicating a better diet.

Healthier birds means healthier eggs!

Better Looking, Better Tasting Eggs

The eggs look and taste better when they come from free range birds. If you have two eggs one from a battery hen, one from a free range hen, you immediately can see the difference. The battery hen egg has a pale yellow, flat, yolk, while the free range egg will have a deeper yellow yolk that stands higher. The taste of the free range egg is superior to that of the battery hen egg.

Free Range Eggs Are Healthier

Free range eggs are healthier for you. Free range eggs have up to 30% less cholesterol, more vitamin A and E. They have less saturated fat than eggs from battery hens, and have more beta carotene. They are often fresher, especially if you get them from your own hens.

Almost Free Food!

You can produce free range eggs yourself if you have laying hens. These birds make terrific pets where allowed. You do not even need a rooster as hens lay eggs regardless. All you need is a chicken coop (for them to sleep in at night and to lay their eggs in), a chicken waterer, feed bowl, laying ration, and chicken scratch (a sort of treat).

Final Thoughts

I encourage every one to try free range eggs. Sadly in some places they are more expensive than battery hen eggs, but I feel the benefits are worth it.

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Comments

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SimplyAbundantLife 7/10/2012
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Fantastic list- A need read. I get my eggs from my neighbor who is a natural farmer & loves his birds:-)
joshuamorrison 7/16/2011
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Excellent list. I'm with you 100%.

H5
goodselfme 7/2/2011
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Great list and the reasons why I buy from a couple at my church who raise free range chickens and sell eggs to me.Well presented facts!