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Good thread, thanks. I appreciate seeing the Trader Joe product.
I'd think from looking at the pics and adding the white egg into the equation, that TJ's birds are leghorn crosses, of some sort. Regular commercial layers, in other words.
Some assumptions can also be arrived at by looking at the SKU carton.
I am certain the TJ product is from floor reared hens, with cocks in the flock. How many males is anybodys guess, but I'd wager the ratio is low. After all, cocks don't lay eggs and only consume precious feed in a laying environment - not exactly a commercial success, you know?
BUT, keeping unproductive cocks in the flock is really a nice marketing gimmick. Now the cartons can be marked as "fertile," and so appeal to the urban myth mentioned earlier.
I also note it says nothing about "free ranged," "happy hens," or anything like that, only the comment "cage free". This certainly indicates strict floor rearing in houses, on litter... which used to be standard practice up until the mid 60's.
Someone suggested these were organic eggs. Well, sad to say, that's not the case. There is NO mention of the word organic, only the statements,
"no antibiotic * no hormones * all natural feed."
This, too, is relatively meaningless, except as a marketing hook for unwary consumers.
- Antibiotoics are hardly used in commercial layers these days, except in extreme cases of outbreak; given the right management, they are hardly needed.
- Hormones have been banned now, for decades. Some hormones were pulled from use as far back as the early 60's.
(I live in the middle of commercial poultry country. The state of the commercial business really has leaped beyond the dire imaginings of most consumers or YouTube devotees.)
- "All natural" feed means it is agri-sourced: corn and soybeans, most likely, without chemical supplements. Although, it likely has a non-chemical blend of nutrients and commercial protein 'enhancer' in it *.
I'm willing to bet it's the same feed regular commercial layers receive.
* DONT ask what this is if your at all squemish.
But if it doesn't clearly state and certify it's organic status, then it isn't. That's a federal law.
All in all, a nice marketing gig old Trader Joe has going there. "He" reinvented some older practices and now sells eggs for what I suspect is a hefty sum over "inhumane" cage laid eggs.
If you could secure them right after packaging and wanted Leghorn X layers in your flock, or something akin to them, they are indeed some cheap hatching eggs!
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But now Im wondering how the OP is doing with the refrigerated eggs. Any word?
