Free Range, Cage Free, Organic Eggs, Vegetarian Eggs-What is the difference?

Shelia
Jan 11, 2015
3 min read

Well now, farm fresh, free roam is always best in my opinion. The yolks of these eggs are deep orange/yellow. Full of wholesome goodness as the hens forage for a variety of foods they love and are good for them (and you in the form of eggs or chicken meat). If you have your own chickens, you can gather your eggs fresh every day through the warmer months. The number of hens you have will determine the amount of eggs you can gather each day. Nasty you say? Yes, chickens can be dirty and there is daily housekeeping required when you raise chickens to keep them healthy and their coop clean. They poop everywhere (and I do mean everywhere) unless you have a large area for them to roam during the day. This however, can be dangerous for the hens if you have hawks, coyotes, or wild dogs near.

Now, if you are not into the upkeep for even a small flock or can’t have them where you live, there are alternatives. If you know of someone that has a flock and has enough to share, I highly recommend trying fresh eggs. They are rich, flavorful and fresher (of course). And yes, there are the ones at the grocery store that are pasteurized and come in a variety of sizes and colors. Some say free range, some say cage free. Others still say fed a vegetarian diet, but what does it really mean?

Cage-Free Eggs

These eggs are from birds that are not raised in cages, but in floor systems such as open barns. The hens have bedding material such as pine shavings on the floor, and are allowed perches and nesting boxes to lay their eggs. However, they are still in close quarters with many other hens. Space can be limited but depends on the farm.

Free-Range Eggs

Free-range eggs are laid by hens that have the opportunity to go outside. Smaller farms may keep hens outside under a canopy. Some farms may allow the hens to travel in and out of the barn at free will or spend some portion of the day roaming about outdoors.

Organic Eggs

Organic eggs are laid by hens that may be kept in any type of caging system, but generally are cage free. They are fed organic feed and do not receive any vaccines or antibiotics. In order to qualify for USDA certification, the grains fed must be produced on land that has been free from the use of toxic and persistent chemical pesticides and fertilizers for at least three years. Genetically engineered crops are not permitted, and hens must be free of hormones, antibiotics and other drugs.

Vegetarian Eggs

Vegetarian Eggs are laid from hens that are only fed a vegetarian diet, free from meat or fish by-products. Hens are kept in cages or indoors and do not receive any grubs, worms or other insects.

Pasteurized Eggs

Pasteurized eggs are eggs in their shells that have been put through a pasteurization process and heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for three and a half minutes. It is important to note that eggs are not required to be pasteurized. Pasteurized eggs are recommended for young children, the elderly or people with compromised immune systems. However, if they are your own eggs and you handle them properly, you should not have any issue with salmonella. Besides pasteurization does not assure eggs are salmonella-free.

So which is safest? I personally love farm fresh eggs. A good second is free-range eggs, which is what we have available at Healthy Harvest. Regardless, any egg should be checked to make sure there are no cracked or leaking eggs which could transfer any bacteria present. It is recommended that eggs are immediately refrigerated, but growing up my grannie never refrigerated them for up to three days (this was in case she wanted to “set” some under a brooding hen or a hen that insists on hatching younglings). Use pasteurized eggs for any recipes that call for raw eggs. If you are lucky enough to find a friend or farmer willing to sell you fresh eggs, ask if they have been refrigerated within 36 hours of being collected. If so, try some. You won’t be disappointed.

Till next time,

Shelia