We get a lot of questions from our members about chicken eggs. Everything from wanting to know what the chickens are fed, where they sleep and which eggs will have the richest flavor. With so many different labels for eggs, such as organic, free-range, and pasture-raised, it can get a bit confusing to decipher the best choice for your family. This blog will help you navigate the loose definitions, the different options available through our delivery service, highlight the benefits of each option and provide you with our best recommendation.
Organic, Cage-Free Eggs
Definition: Hens must be given organic feed, which contains no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides and no GMOs or animal by-products. They must never be caged, and they are given some sort of outdoor access, although the parameters are not well defined.
Chino Valley Ranchers
The organic, cage-free eggs offered in your Online Farm Stand come from Judy’s Family Farm located in Petaluma, CA (for northern CA customers) and Chino Valley Ranchers in Colton, CA (for southern CA customers). The laying houses include comfortable nests where the hens can lay their eggs in seclusion since even hens like a little bit of privacy. Hens also enjoy roosting slats, similar to a tree and have free access to food and water. These hens are raised without antibiotics or hormones and are fed an organic, vegetarian diet. Both farms do not clip the wings of their chickens.
Judy's Family Farm
At Judy’s Family Farm, the eggs are produced in hen houses that allow the sun to shine in and use 100% natural ventilation, except during the cold winter months when the hens need protection from the elements. Chino Valley Ranchers’ hen house environments are controlled in order to protect their hens from the outside elements. The flocks are protected against disease with vaccinations. Sold for $5.99 per-dozen.
Free-Range, Fertilized Eggs
Definition: Hens must live in an open space, not a cage or a coop, but the "open space" can be inside large aviaries or barns. Birds do have some degree of outdoor access—though the amount, duration, or quality of that outdoor time is not specified. The egg is described as fertilized because the hens have access to a rooster.
Vega Farms
The free-range, fertilized eggs offered in your Online Farm Stand come from Vega Farms in Davis, CA. These hens enjoy access to a strip of outdoor pasture alongside their barn, a clean shelter with wood shaving bedding and a constant supply of fresh, clean water and feed. At night, the hens sleep in the barn to protect against natural predators. The eggs are described as fertilized because the hens have access to a rooster, but their eggs will look and taste just like an unfertilized egg. Although they do eat grass and bugs, the majority of their diet comes from a vegetarian corn and soy-based feed that is not certified organic. Vega farms doesn't clip wings or force their hens to molt. They also don't use hormones, antibiotics, animal by-products or additives of any kind, and their flock is protected against disease with vaccinations. Sold for $6.99 per-dozen.
Pasture-Raised
Definition: Hens are allowed to range on fresh pasture. Often they are housed in mobile trailers that can be towed to different fields. Most often the hens are given feed to supplement their diet.
Che's Free Flying Eggs
The pasture-raised eggs offered in your Online Farm Stand are raised by our farm, under the brand Che’s Free Flying Eggs (in honor of our late brother Che). Located in Yolo County, these hens enjoy unlimited access to green pastures and orchards during the day, foraging on grass and bugs to their heart's content. The natural grazing makes for dark orange yolks that are rich in flavor and more nutrient dense than hens limited to store bought feed. At night, the hens walk into their custom-built, mobile chicken homes for a safe and comfortable night. The hens are offered organic fruit and veggie leftovers from the farm and their diet is supplemented with feed. While the feed is not certified organic, it is domestically grown, and includes natural supplements like crumbled oyster shells for added calcium. Che’s Free Flying Eggs doesn’t trim beaks, clip wings or force the hens to molt. The flock is protected against disease with veternarian visits and vaccinations. Sold for $7.99 per-dozen.
Organic, Pasture-Raised Eggs
Definition: Hens are allowed to range on fresh pasture. Often they are housed in mobile trailers that can be towed to different fields. The hens are given organic feed to supplement their diet.
Pasture Fresh Eggs
The organic, pasture-raised eggs offered in your Online Farm Stand come from Pasture Fresh Eggs located in Sonoma and Marin counties. In addition to their serene pasture-raised lifestyle, their diet is supplemented with organic foods and feed. The hens are never given antibiotics or hormones, and they are allowed to graze on grasses and feeds that are naturally higher in Omega-3s, producing an egg that is delicious, rich and naturally higher in Omega-3s. Pasture Fresh Eggs' approach to farming allows the chickens to act in their natural behavior; being able to run, jump fly, roll and dust their bodies in rich soils for natural skin protection. Their coops allow for ample perching and nesting to lay their eggs. Each flock has a mix of different breeds of chickens, which means that egg in your carton may be brown, white or a combination. This gives the eggs a unique look that is not typically found in the grocery store. Pasture Fresh Eggs doesn't clip wings or force their hens to molt and the flock is protected against disease with vaccinations. Sold for $8.99 per-dozen.
While we highly recommend a pasture-raised egg option, our goal is to provide you with a variety of good options and enough information to make the right choice for your family and lifestyle. We support farmers that are working hard toward sustainable practices that will leave a positive effect on our livestock, ecosystem and personal health.
Vega Farms
The free-range, fertilized eggs offered in your Online Farm Stand come from Vega Farms in Davis, CA. These hens enjoy access to a strip of outdoor pasture alongside their barn, a clean shelter with wood shaving bedding and a constant supply of fresh, clean water and feed. At night, the hens sleep in the barn to protect against natural predators. The eggs are described as fertilized because the hens have access to a rooster, but their eggs will look and taste just like an unfertilized egg. Although they do eat grass and bugs, the majority of their diet comes from a vegetarian corn and soy-based feed that is not certified organic. Vega farms doesn't clip wings or force their hens to molt. They also don't use hormones, antibiotics, animal by-products or additives of any kind, and their flock is protected against disease with vaccinations. Sold for $6.99 per-dozen.
Pasture-Raised
Definition: Hens are allowed to range on fresh pasture. Often they are housed in mobile trailers that can be towed to different fields. Most often the hens are given feed to supplement their diet.
Che's Free Flying Eggs
The pasture-raised eggs offered in your Online Farm Stand are raised by our farm, under the brand Che’s Free Flying Eggs (in honor of our late brother Che). Located in Yolo County, these hens enjoy unlimited access to green pastures and orchards during the day, foraging on grass and bugs to their heart's content. The natural grazing makes for dark orange yolks that are rich in flavor and more nutrient dense than hens limited to store bought feed. At night, the hens walk into their custom-built, mobile chicken homes for a safe and comfortable night. The hens are offered organic fruit and veggie leftovers from the farm and their diet is supplemented with feed. While the feed is not certified organic, it is domestically grown, and includes natural supplements like crumbled oyster shells for added calcium. Che’s Free Flying Eggs doesn’t trim beaks, clip wings or force the hens to molt. The flock is protected against disease with veternarian visits and vaccinations. Sold for $7.99 per-dozen.
Organic, Pasture-Raised Eggs
Pasture Fresh Eggs
The organic, pasture-raised eggs offered in your Online Farm Stand come from Pasture Fresh Eggs located in Sonoma and Marin counties. In addition to their serene pasture-raised lifestyle, their diet is supplemented with organic foods and feed. The hens are never given antibiotics or hormones, and they are allowed to graze on grasses and feeds that are naturally higher in Omega-3s, producing an egg that is delicious, rich and naturally higher in Omega-3s. Pasture Fresh Eggs' approach to farming allows the chickens to act in their natural behavior; being able to run, jump fly, roll and dust their bodies in rich soils for natural skin protection. Their coops allow for ample perching and nesting to lay their eggs. Each flock has a mix of different breeds of chickens, which means that egg in your carton may be brown, white or a combination. This gives the eggs a unique look that is not typically found in the grocery store. Pasture Fresh Eggs doesn't clip wings or force their hens to molt and the flock is protected against disease with vaccinations. Sold for $8.99 per-dozen.
While we highly recommend a pasture-raised egg option, our goal is to provide you with a variety of good options and enough information to make the right choice for your family and lifestyle. We support farmers that are working hard toward sustainable practices that will leave a positive effect on our livestock, ecosystem and personal health.
How To Add Eggs To Your Delivery: CSA members - head on over to our online Farm Stand Market to customize your upcoming delivery. The Market is open from noon on Thursday until 10 am, 2 days before your scheduled delivery day. After you confirm your produce items, click the orange button "Confirm and Continue To Other Farm Products" to add the products to your delivery.
Not part of our farm family? Find out if we deliver to your neighborhood.
Not part of our farm family? Find out if we deliver to your neighborhood.
