*Hides* I can't tell the difference between our eggs and store eggs..

[Wildflower_VA]

If they are not free-ranging at all and they are eating the same commercial feed that the confinement houses feed commercial hens, then you will not taste much difference. They will still be fresher and more nutritious just because the store eggs are already one to two months old when you buy them.

Add some fresh greens to their diet and you will notice a difference. Pull them some weeds and give them grass clippings if you have a mulching mower to chop the clippings to a short length. They will eat most nay garden veggie and that will improve the taste, as well.

 

[rungirl]

I'll tell you when I first noticed the difference.... When I started eating them, I didn't notice a huge difference and I was sort of disapointed.... but then after a few months, I went out to breakfast and ordered eggs over easy and WOW, I was really disapointed with the LACK of flavor. They tasted watered down and flavorless. That's when I realized what great eggs I had! More recently I bought some extra eggs to serve for breakfast when I had family staying with us. I bought what was supposedly "organic, cage free" eggs....still tasted like nothing. I'm now an egg snob!

Lisa

 

[Zonoma]

Quote:
Meh, I can't tell a difference, either. I am hoping changing their diet will amend that but time will tell. In all honesty, I just like having chickens and eggs on my property. Being able to feed myself and my family/friends without having to rely on grocery stores was - and still is - my ultimate goal. I'm getting there and the eggs were an especially fun part of that journey.

 

[Aemelia]

I'm quite happy with our tiny flock and "free" eggs though my husband would be quick to point out how much he has spent making their coop and run and how long it will take the girls balance out. Blah blah. My kids and I love the chickens and looking for eggs everyday is still quite the thrill. I really like knowing that our chickens are happier than poor caged chickens, even if they aren't free ranging I know they have a better quality of life than commercial laying hens.

 

[billl2099]

we can't tell any taste differant eaither

 

[annaraven]

I've found differences between the different breeds. Some seem to be better foragers than others or something because their eggs are better. All of them are better than store-bought though.

 

[AlbionWood]

As others have already pointed out, feed makes the biggest difference. To get those orange yolks and rich, velvety flavor, they need to eat a lot of green stuff. Free-ranging on pasture is best, they get the greens plus bugs plus exercise, all of which concentrates the flavor. If you don't have the room for that (or the predator protection to make it safe), try growing or scavenging green leafy vegetables, as much as you can get. Once they develop a craving for greens, you'll be amazed how much they can consume. If you get more than they eat, just pile up the excess and compost it, then let them tear the pile apart for the bugs!

I've read here that you can also add alfalfa meal to their feed to increase the color and flavor in the yolks. Haven't needed to try it myself so can't vouch for that.

It also probably depends on the breed - some aren't going to forage as much and might not even eat the greens you offer them. I wouldn't know about that either as mine are all older breeds that forage enthusiastically. What breeds do you have?

 

[yinzerchick]

I noticed the difference right away, so did the DH. I dropped one in the barn (only my 4th egg, I was trying to save up to make us a dinner) and it cracked, so when I got into the house I broke open one of the store boughts next to it in a bowl. Besides the shell being so much thicker and harder, my chickens egg yolk was very gold/orange compared to the store bought, and was alot firmer and held it's shape much better, so did the white part. The store bought one sort of flattened and spread out all over the place. With the store bought it was hard for me not to break the yolk when trying to fry an easy over. When I cook ours, the yolks don't ever break and the flavor is more intense. For me, scrambled is the way to go though... so fluffy and yummy! My DH say's they taste "eggier." Ours do get to free range quite a bit, with all sorts of treats dished out daily, along with layer feed thats available in the coop all the time. I also just love having the hens around doing what they do...I guess I feel just a little more self sufficient.

 

[anderson8505]

Quote:
I'm with you and just had this conversation yesterday with my daughter. We're going to try a taste test soon. I know they do LOOK very different, and I feel better knowing my eggs come from hens that aren't cramped up in a tiny cage doomed to live a short life of just producing eggs.

 

[kareninthesun]

I hear ya with the hawks. Not long ago I was sitting in a crowded parking lot with a bunch of busy stores (mall) around. A few trees, and squirrels looking for goodies dodging cars, trying to look cute for hand outs. A hawk swooped down and grabbed a squirrel right in front of a driver waiting for a car to pull out. I've never seen hawks go after squirrels before, much less try to work around traffic. Another time I was sitting in a toys r us parking lot and watched a hawk flying low with a big rat in its talons.