I hope I am putting this under the right forum topic:
I have had complaints over the last couple of months from 2 people that I have sold eggs to and from my parents who I give eggs to that my chickens' eggs taste funny (one of the buyers complaining grew up on farm-fresh eggs, and my Mom grew up with farm-fresh eggs as well--so they should know when something's not quite right). The complaints seem to have started since I switched from Purina Layena pellets to Southern States laying pellets in order to save some money--$3 per bag cheaper. I looked on the bags, and the ingredients look VERY similar. Let me give you some background information: my chickens are kept in a henhouse/large run because of red-tailed hawks and occasional loose-running dogs in my area. I feed them mainly laying mash. I give them cracked corn for treats daily and I give them stale bread and leftover scrambled eggs, oatmeal, rice, etc., that I have as leftovers whenever possible. I am very careful not to give them spicy food or anything with garlic and onions in it. We have recently started giving them yard clippings, too. I have checked the temp. of my refrigerator--that's fine. I put 2 of those frig. baking sodas in the frig. where I have the eggs stored to absorb any flavors/smells that the eggs might absorb. I store the eggs in cartons on the bottom shelf of the frig., and I try not to keep them much longer than about 2 weeks although I've heard they'll keep much longer. I had been washing the eggs by soaking them in cold water--I recently discovered that that is not the right way to do it. I now take the eggs that are not dirty at all and put them straight in the frig. I take the ones with a little dirt or poo on them and gently wipe them with a warm, wet little scrub pad. I do not give my chickens any medications or anything of the sort.
Please help me figure out where I might be going wrong. Should I switch back to Purina? And, if so, how long would it be before I taste any difference in the eggs?
Thanks for all your help!
I have had complaints over the last couple of months from 2 people that I have sold eggs to and from my parents who I give eggs to that my chickens' eggs taste funny (one of the buyers complaining grew up on farm-fresh eggs, and my Mom grew up with farm-fresh eggs as well--so they should know when something's not quite right). The complaints seem to have started since I switched from Purina Layena pellets to Southern States laying pellets in order to save some money--$3 per bag cheaper. I looked on the bags, and the ingredients look VERY similar. Let me give you some background information: my chickens are kept in a henhouse/large run because of red-tailed hawks and occasional loose-running dogs in my area. I feed them mainly laying mash. I give them cracked corn for treats daily and I give them stale bread and leftover scrambled eggs, oatmeal, rice, etc., that I have as leftovers whenever possible. I am very careful not to give them spicy food or anything with garlic and onions in it. We have recently started giving them yard clippings, too. I have checked the temp. of my refrigerator--that's fine. I put 2 of those frig. baking sodas in the frig. where I have the eggs stored to absorb any flavors/smells that the eggs might absorb. I store the eggs in cartons on the bottom shelf of the frig., and I try not to keep them much longer than about 2 weeks although I've heard they'll keep much longer. I had been washing the eggs by soaking them in cold water--I recently discovered that that is not the right way to do it. I now take the eggs that are not dirty at all and put them straight in the frig. I take the ones with a little dirt or poo on them and gently wipe them with a warm, wet little scrub pad. I do not give my chickens any medications or anything of the sort.
Please help me figure out where I might be going wrong. Should I switch back to Purina? And, if so, how long would it be before I taste any difference in the eggs?
Thanks for all your help!