Difference in store bought vs your own egg shells

[newchickgal]

I heard or read some where that store bought eggs have thinner shells because of the 'living' conditions of the hens. They are all pushed together and don't have much room to move. All they can do is stand there and lay eggs and they are under a lot of stress. I only buy eggs when I really have to. I just don't think store bought are all that good! A happy chicken is a relaxed chicken.

 

[Mak]

Funny, we were at a Christmas party last Friday. There was another couple there who also have chickens and they said their eggs are fairly thin shelled. We never have that problem. Ours are good and hard shelled. It was surprising, actually, the first few we got, how hard we had to whack them to break them. The other couple don't give extra calcium at all. So I told them what I do- I have oyster shell that I put out when I need to, but mostly, I save the shells from all the eggs we eat, dry them in either my dehydrator or a 200 degree oven, and crush them up in a zip loc bag. I put that in a tuna can I have attached to the run fencing. I always have lots of crushed shell for them, and the chickens seem to like the egg shells much more than the oyster shell.

 

[akcharlie1960]

I made 2 quiches early this week with my first batch of eggs and found that they are superior to store boughts in every way. We're so happy we got into this. I am the egg man.....googoogajoob.

 

[PineappleMama]

Not to mention yolks being better and taste being out of this world.

 

[wbruder17]

Im gonna jump on the amazing egg wagon. Of course the shells and all...but the INSIDE is what gets me! Store bought = watery and pale. Dark, thick and able to coat a piece of chicken in a single dip! Who is it? My SUPER- HAPPY CHICKENS! YAAAAY!

 

[fl_deb]

X2



So do you think the differences we see in the quality of of eggs will affect the store egg producers?

 

[wbruder17]

I certainly think there is a wonderful trend in people owning their own chickens. I am converting my friends, one egg at a time. However, I have seen lots of coops and worry that people that should never have pets are doing the chicken thing and keeping them in not so good conditions. Theres still a lot of work involved in having truly happy and healthy chickens. Just because they're eggs you grew on your own doesn't necessarily mean the chickens are being taken care of the way they should. I know most of us treat our chickens like pets, but a 3x3 coop and run is still not good enough in my eyes.

 

[wbruder17]

Just so I am not sounding like a total debbie downer, I know that the urban chicken trend has GOT to be having an impact on the commercial egg business here in Portland Oregon.