Farm fresh eggs vs Store bought

[2die4]

Yesterday I finally got some farm fresh eggs from a coworker that was more than happy to unload them. As a prepper and a weightlifter, I wasn't going to turn down free protein rich food! I did a side by side comparison before cracking them, and the farm fresh egg was only slightly bigger than the store bought egg. When I cracked them both the comparison was much more noticeable. The store yolk was much more florescent yellow and runny looking. Egg white was minimal. The Farm egg had a much bigger yolk with a darker yellow/orange tint to it. There also seemed to be a lot more egg white as well.

Bottom line: I hope I get more fresh eggs from my worker and if I can afford it, I'm buying farm fresh eggs whenever I can.


Left=Store eggRight=Farm egg

[rentprop1]

did you notice any difference when you went to crack it, if not double check again next time you do a comparison, supposedly store bought eggs even the " supposed " free range EB crap is pumped so full of antibiotics they said an easy way to tell is the store eggs are harder to crack, they add calcium to the feed to make the eggs slightly harder so there is less shipping loss

there is also a test about floating them in salt water, but I not sure how to tell, have to ask the egg farmer

[2die4]

Funny you asked that. The store egg got cracked first then the farm egg. I used the same force for both eggs. I nearly obliterated the farm egg. The farm egg was way softer than the farm egg.

[helomech]

No comparison, I won't even eat store bought eggs anymore. The taste is so much better.

[bacpacker]

I agree with your evaluation for the most part. Our eggs have much larger and darker yolks. Much better tasting as well. My disagreement would be in egg size, ours varies quite a bit. Some are what I would grade a medium size all the way up to some that barely fit in an extra large carton. I assume that this is from different hens and some drop different size eggs.

One other thing, our eggs have fairly tough shells, some more than others, but they are at least as tough as store bought eggs. Other than some occasional Oyster shell, I don't give them anything other than scraps, and cracked corn feed. Interesting to hear of the differences

[LUNCHBOX]

BP, I agree that the sizes vary but usually due to the different breeds and ages I raised. Another thing I've noticed was that the farm fresh egg will fry hard quicker (maybe due to the thickness of the yolks) As far as taste....don't take our work for it, try them.

[bacpacker]

LB I have all the same breed hens, and they are close to the same age. They do vary in their size though thats all I can figure out.

[Jimmy24]

I have all White Leg Horns. They offer, for me, the best combo for chickens, meat and eggs. I get close to 50% double yolks in monster size eggs all the time. I have used this breed since the early 90s and they have been consistent in their egg size and quality. Also if you have a rooster with your hens, the yolks will always be much darker and more of a deep orange, least mine always have, due to fertilization.

It is apples and oranges to me as far as size goes. You can purchase extra small to jumbo size eggs in the store.

Freshness is the key element, IMHO. If your yolk stands up when you crack it into whatever you’re cooking it is fresh, store bought or yard eggs. If it is flat looking, it is not fresh at all and it will have a defiant loss of quality in taste.

Just my thoughts and experience.

Jimmy

[bacpacker]

I raise Buff Orpington's and they seem to be a good combination bird as well. I would guess my hens weigh between 6-8lbs, The rooster died this week and I have no doubt he weighed 10-12lbs. I'll be replacing him as soon as I can locate another Buff roo.
One thing I have yet to get is a double yolk. I agree on the freshness being easy to determine. The last time we got store bought only one stood up like our fresh eggs do. Taste is no comparison between the two.

Jimmy, what do you feed your birds? I wonder if the breed is that much more likely to double yolk or if feed could contribute?

[Jimmy24]

I raise Buff Orpington's and they seem to be a good combination bird as well. I would guess my hens weigh between 6-8lbs, The rooster died this week and I have no doubt he weighed 10-12lbs. I'll be replacing him as soon as I can locate another Buff roo.
One thing I have yet to get is a double yolk. I agree on the freshness being easy to determine. The last time we got store bought only one stood up like our fresh eggs do. Taste is no comparison between the two.

Jimmy, what do you feed your birds? I wonder if the breed is that much more likely to double yolk or if feed could contribute?

Table scraps, whole corn and every once and a while some laying mash, which they hate.... I have a pretty good size outdoor run for them and I have it divided up in 4 parts, just like you do partures for cattle. I keep planting whatever I have spare seeds for and move them from one "field" to the next. They "graze it off" and I move 'em to the next pasture that's ready and replant where I just moved them from.

One important thing IMO, I keep them plenty of clean fresh water. They do drink a lot.

I only keep about a dozen or so at a time. I keep both wings clipped and put them up at night.

Jimmy