Neon Orange Yolks from the store in comparison to my backyard eggs

[ForFlocksSake]

We still need to supplement our eggs with store bought (don't worry, there are more brooding was we speak haha)

These are the kind we buy from Costco and id love to know what the heck they are feeding these chickens. The yolks are RIDICULOUSLY orange and my husband says they taste better than our eggs (RUDE!). The photo shows a side by side of my 2 eggs vs the store eggs.

We feed ours 20% organic Kalambach Grower. While they are contained they have a ton of space to roam (a little over 800 square feet) and we give them all sorts of table scraps daily, scratch a few times per week and grubs. We occasionally grow food plots for them within the runs though right now it's been completely anihilated.

Im not so much concerned about the color of my eggs, but how can we improve the flavor? What is it they're doing with these store eggs that's different?

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

Likely being fed lots of marigold petals in their feed

 

[Ecarroll]

I think they probably taste better because they are free range, not sure about the color, but the carton does say amber yolks, they probably feed them something like marigolds like @littlecoopnextdoor said.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

I think they probably taste better because they are free range, not sure about the color, but the carton does say amber yolks, they probably feed them something like marigolds like @littlecoopnextdoor said.

I read that free range actually means way worse conditions that what mine live in. Free range only means they aren't in cages and have 2 sq ft of space. They don't even need to be outside to be free range, just a tiny amount of outdoor access. I feel like mine get a wide variety of food, but I could be giving them marigolds without any problem. We have a ton growing in our garden.

 

[Ecarroll]

I read that free range actually means way worse conditions that what mine live in. Free range only means they aren't in cages and have 2 sq ft of space. They don't even need to be outside to be free range, just a tiny amount of outdoor access. I feel like mine get a wide variety of food, but I could be giving them marigolds without any problem. We have a ton growing in our garden.

Oh I didn’t know that! I would consider free range to be no fences completely free. The egg farming industry is weird and can be terrible to birds . Marigolds wont change the taste much I think just the color.

 

[nuthatched]

Add more As, leafy greens, orange veggies to your birds diet, but not too much.
The yolks are dyed since people now believe that egg yolk is a sign if health. It used to be but not when you use natural dyes

 

[talkinboutchickens]

This is what "free-range" chickens look like at commercial poultry factories.

What they say it is (and what we think it is)

vs. what it actually is in reality

 

[ForFlocksSake]

This is what "free-range" chickens look like at commercial poultry factories.

What they say it is (and what we think it is)
View attachment 3877452
View attachment 3877455View attachment 3877453

vs. what it actually is in reality
View attachment 3877449
View attachment 3877451

Yeah when I read this I was horrified. All the marketing terms are bs. I hate that I can’t just let my birds roam our 2 acres (they wouldn’t make it a day with the hawks in our area) but I know they are WAY happier and healthier in the space they have than those chickens who “free range” on commercial farms.

 

[ForFlocksSake]

Add more As, leafy greens, orange veggies to your birds diet, but not too much.
The yolks are dyed since people now believe that egg yolk is a sign if health. It used to be but not when you use natural dyes

How do they dye egg yolk?

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Most of the marketing labels we see on food are completely fraudulent. I knew a man that was an inspector for the dairy industry, and from what he told me all "pasture raised" cows aren't legally required to be allowed outside during "inclement weather"

In his decade working as an inspector not once did he find the cows outside, because the weather is just always considered inclement for some mysterious reason

I always just assume "free-range", "pasture-raised" and so on just mean the cages are slightly larger than the usual torturous conditions we find with factory farming