Eggs taste like regular ol' store ones

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Store bought vs home grown. Y'all can figure out which is which. My chickens free range daily nearly all day and there is always something green for them to forage on with our weather. Their feed is Purina Layena pellets which has marigold extract in it.

I believe the Nutrena brand has marigolds in it as well. I have a rooster so I feed All Flock. I have OS on the side. Also with home grown eggs is that you know the hens have a good quality of life.

 

[tn_artist]

17%

In my opinion, protein level and "snacks" can effect the taste and color. I noticed that when we have plenty of meal worms or other high protein snacks, the yolks are darker and thicker. We have also noticed that too many meal worms add a flavor that we don't particularly care for, so we have to be careful with generosity.
Our birds like cat food too, for extra protein, but the best eggs seamed to be when we had lots of pumpkins from the fall. They LOVE them! Dark, yummy eggs!
Unfortunately, I think it comes down to what you feed them, flavoring the eggs and finding the flavor you like.

 

[50-45-1]

Alfalfa hay

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	89.4	2.9	76.1	94.8	1151
Crude protein	% DM	18.2	2.6	11.3	25.3	1358
Crude fibre	% DM	28.9	3.8	19.4	38.2	877
NDF	% DM	44.8	5.7	31.3	59.4	1038
ADF	% DM	33.4	4.3	22.5	44.5	1038
Lignin	% DM	7.6	1.3	4.8	11.1	770
Ether extract	% DM	2.1	0.4	1.2	3.2	721
Ash	% DM	10.7	1.6	7.2	16.0	1109
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	18.2	0.4	17.2	18.8	12	*
Minerals	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Calcium	g/kg DM	16.8	3.3	8.4	24.5	674
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	2.6	0.5	1.6	4.0	682
Potassium	g/kg DM	24.6	6.0	13.2	36.3	17
Sodium	g/kg DM	0.3	0.3	0.1	0.7	7
Magnesium	g/kg DM	2.3	0.5	1.4	3.6	636
Manganese	mg/kg DM	43				1
Zinc	mg/kg DM	27	4	20	30	7
Copper	mg/kg DM	9	2	6	12	8
Iron	mg/kg DM	587				1
Amino acids	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Alanine	% protein	4.6	0.9	3.1	5.2	5
Arginine	% protein	4.5	0.8	3.6	5.8	7
Aspartic acid	% protein	10.0	0.9	8.4	10.6	5
Cystine	% protein	1.2	0.1	1.1	1.3	4
Glutamic acid	% protein	7.8	4.0	0.6	10.5	5
Glycine	% protein	4.3	0.5	3.4	4.6	5
Histidine	% protein	2.1	0.4	1.7	2.5	7
Isoleucine	% protein	3.6	0.6	2.3	4.1	7
Leucine	% protein	6.3	1.1	4.0	7.3	7
Lysine	% protein	4.3	0.7	3.1	5.1	7
Methionine	% protein	1.3	0.2	0.9	1.6	7
Phenylalanine	% protein	4.2	0.5	3.1	4.7	7
Proline	% protein	7.1	0.6	6.5	7.9	5
Serine	% protein	4.3	0.5	3.4	4.7	5
Threonine	% protein	3.8	0.5	2.8	4.3	7
Tryptophan	% protein	1.4		1.3	1.4	2
Tyrosine	% protein	2.6	0.6	1.9	3.5	5
Valine	% protein	4.7	0.7	3.3	5.2	7

 

[ChickNanny13]

I feed mine Flock Raiser (20%) which I ferment, oyster shells in a separate dish, grit in another as my (4) girls are confined in a 8x12x7 Chicken House. I toss in a handful or two of scratch at close up & recently started a handful or two of chopped kale. I used to feed scrapes but stoped as it was affecting their weight.
Hubby can tell the difference by taste my eggs vs store eggs ... I can't My sister recently took some home/Maui, they can taste & see the difference with the eggs, says whites not running all over & the yolk isn't flat. She got an order in for when she returns, told her raise her own since I'm keeping my elderly relatives (90s) supplied ... They're Asian, put a raw egg over HOT rice & some kind of sauce I've seen it on the Asian programs but will not try it, my Aunt says has to be fresh eggs, ok.

 

[rosemarythyme]

No, I suppose not, but I feel like they could taste better, too.

I know some folks say they can taste the difference, but if I scramble up some of my home grown eggs and then some store eggs, then close my eyes (to remove the appearance part of the equation... you eat with your eyes first) and eat them... well, taste the same to me.

What does differ is the texture and consistency, along with appearance.

The color of the yolk is just a reflection of what the hens have eaten. Darker yolks are considered more appealing to many people which is why they're desirable. Personally I don't need them THAT dark (gets creepy to me when they're super orange!) but some greenery, especially carrot greens, goes a long way in adding some color to them.

The big difference I’ve noticed is the whites are tender not rubbery and the yolks are almost orange and are less likely to break. I think the main difference between commercial eggs and “home grown” are the amount of time the commercial eggs sit around before they are consumed.

x2. I've literally waited for an egg to get laid, run inside and had it poached and ready for lunch 10 minutes after it popped out of a hen's butt. Can't say it tastes any different being THAT fresh but certainly a 10 minute or 10 day old home grown egg is going to look and feel very different in texture and consistency than a grocery store egg which can be a month or two old by the time you buy it.

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[K0k0shka]

The difference in taste I notice between (cheap) store eggs vs. homegrown eggs is that the latter taste more eggy. So it’s the same taste but stronger. The store eggs are milder and more bland. So not different per se, just the intensity of the same taste is different.

 

[Kiki]

Just did. I learn something new every day!

https://www.straightdope.com/column...hem-to-eat-vast-amounts-and-spread-the-seeds/

Not so cruel.

 

[igorsMistress]

View attachment 2036338
Mine are fed nutrena all flock. No alfalfa and minimal supplements this winter.

That's what I feed as well. I do give greens in Winter and Rooster Booster Poultry Cell on occasion.

 

[21hens-incharge]

That's what I feed as well. I do give greens in Winter and Rooster Booster Poultry Cell on occasion.

This winter has been extra nutty here....like nuttier than a squirrels full acorn stash.
I am a bad chicken keeper. I keep forgetting to get a bale while I am out.