Our eggs taste.... normal.

[Bound to Sea]

I notice a richer "eggy" flavor when they have access to a variety of grasses, weeds and bugs.

I definately think our free range eggs taste better than store bought. My hens get layer feed, scratch, sunflower seeds, corn, mealworms, a variety of herbs, probiotics, brewers yeast, any vegitables I have in the house. Basically follow Lisa Steele's breakfast of layers. Works for me.

 

[jolenesdad]

Pure alfalfa?
I wish I knew more about hay, I do know that there can be a mix of grasses and other plants in a bale....and those with enough experience can tell by looking at it.
You're a horse guy, is it true that pure alfalfa hay can be too 'rich' for horses?

Some horses yes...

I like alfalfa because it has a higher calcium content for chickens. Nothing major but I feel like I’m throwing things LESS out of whack. Lol.

the other thing I like about alfalfa is the stems. A lot of people do hay for their chickens either in the run or coop or bedding or treats, but it’s really easy for hay to lead to impactions. Not really so with alfalfa.... they hay is made up of thick stems and leaves.

A lot of times alfalfa is mixed with grass because of what you mentioned, most horses don’t really need pure alfalfa especially if you want them to have constant access to hay. But lots of feed stores have pure alfalfa too. It’s a tad more expensive than finding a grower, but way more convenient. In fact, Standlee sells a compressed bale of Alfalfa through many stores including Tractor Supply. That Standlee stuff is totally pure alfalfa.

I’ve seen some people do soaked alfalfa pellets for their chickens, but, I’m really mostly into the boredom buster aspect so I like the whole bale.

 

[aart]

I’ve seen some people do soaked alfalfa pellets for their chickens, but, I’m really mostly into the boredom buster aspect so I like the whole bale.

Have done this, it's a PITA...and dry is better in winter up here.

In fact, Standlee sells a compressed bale of Alfalfa through many stores including Tractor Supply.

Might splurge on a compressed bale...if they have them.

 

[cmom]

During the winter months when I can't cut grass for the birds, I buy alfalfa bales. I have a lot of chickens and put the alfalfa in all of the pens. The birds do pick off the little green leaves and before you know it only the stems are left. I also give them flock blocks. They always have something to peck at. I do put vegie scraps out too but don't have enough for all of the birds so I rotate who gets the vegie's.

 

[jolenesdad]

Have done this, it's a PITA...and dry is better in winter up here.


Might splurge on a compressed bale...if they have them.

I didn’t even think of the wet problems in winter. You know.... Texas.

there is a TX feed company that uses alfalfa in the feed and I really liked it when I had like 4-6 chickens. It’s THIRTY DOLLARS a bag. It’s non gmo, non-soy, but not even organic. What the heck.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Thanks @BarnhartChickens98

I’ve done quite a lot of testing and comparing eggs.... especially with yolk colors. I also keep a lot of individuals of one breed, so I can really monitor which egg comes from which hen. Not all of them but at least 10-15 of the eggs I know right where they came from.

I’m just going to go through a few things I’ve found and thought about.

In general it’s freshness that makes eggs taste “better”. Fresh eggs taste a little better than store eggs. In many cases that may be the only thing that can set your eggs apart if you aren’t free ranging. As many have pointed out, it’s free ranging that will give you the absolute largest differences in taste and color.

Without free ranging, many times the nutrition of a backyard flock is actually LESS than commercial chickens. I hate to burst bubbles.... but when you can buy feed in bulk, it’s straight up fresher than anything a backyard producer can get their hands on, across the board. In fact many commercial farms or larger farms are actually milling the feed. Feed efficiency is a science and a huge part of profits, and it’s a well known fact that feed quality degrades rapidly. Those bags of feed we can get at the feed store have been sitting in multiple warehouses on the way to us. But now that I’m. Using in bulk, if I’m early to pickup, theyre grinding my feed right then.

so, feed additives....

You can supplement certain things into the diet, but you do need to be cautious that you don’t offset the balance of required nutrition elements. But, some things can make eggs taste a little bit richer, I have found. The best thing I’ve found is basil. It really darkens the yolks and I personally believe there’s a pleasant change to the flavor of the egg.

anything that you do add, will take 10-12 days to become noticeable in the eggs.

One of the easiest and best things you can do is a bale of alfalfa hay if you can’t do any free ranging. Just buy a bale and put it in the run. It’s a long lasting boredom buster too.

greens are only a part of the mix and the real missing piece without free ranging is bugs. I tried growing mealworms so I could free feed them without having to watch the protein ratios of dried and I haaaaaated it. I don’t know how many chickens you’ve got but two ways to drastically increase bugs safely for confined chickens is a Black Soldier Fly larvae setup or easier is just keeping a compost pile and bringing bits of fresh compost into the run.

I love this information you've shared! Have you written an article on this yet? If not, have you considered it, as I'd be very interested and I'm sure others would as well. Thank you for sharing this! I've got it bookmarked

 

[ReeNee]

What do you feed your chickens for the best tasting eggs? We were sadly underwhelmed by the taste of the first two our chickens presented to us.

We are doing Dumor layer pellets, mealworms, scratch, and occasional table scraps.

We also feed our hens Dumor layer pellets, but the Organic feed. We only have 4 hens, so sometimes I need to purchase storebought organic eggs in a pinch especially during the holidays when baking goodies is in full swing. By comparison, the difference in taste to me is very subtle. However, the size, color and general appearance of the yolk is most definitely noticeable. Store bought, even organic, are usually smaller and duller, with a weird haze over them. My hens’ eggs are smoother, larger, and very vibrant and more orange-yellow. I live in Florida, so they have fresh grass and bugs to forage for all teal long. I have a winter garden and grow kale, collards, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, and cabbage, and they get all of those as treats. They LOVE collards and kale greens! The tomatoes gives the eggs a more orange-yellow yolk. I also throw some fresh blueberries, raspberries and blackberries to them on occasion. I only give them organic scratch a few times per week, not daily. And they also love black oil sunflower seeds. But yeah, visually, our eggs just look SO much better than any storebought eggs. Also, I never store my hens’ eggs in the refrigerator. I keep them in a bowl on my counter since they get eaten pretty quickly. Store-bought always goes into the fridge, and I think chilling eggs might also effect the appearance and flavor?

 

[munchkinlover]

If your taste buds are anything like mine, eggs taste like eggs, period. I taste no difference between mine and any egg I can get from a store, though visually and texturally they're different. In blind taste tests though, I think a lot of people can't actually taste the difference.

I kind of agree with you. I believe that the whole "these eggs taste better than store-bought" is a psychological thing. I do believe that my girls eggs are better for me because I free range them and feed them good food. The yolks are darker and simply look better.

 

[gtaus]

Pure alfalfa?
I wish I knew more about hay, I do know that there can be a mix of grasses and other plants in a bale....and those with enough experience can tell by looking at it.
You're a horse guy, is it true that pure alfalfa hay can be too 'rich' for horses?

I can buy straw or hay, but have never seen pure alfalfa. Also, straw and hay bales are not cheap where I live. So I have bagged up lots of fall leaves this year for throwing into the chicken run after a snowfall, and I grow barley fodder to give my girls some fresh greens everyday.

 

[aart]

I can buy straw or hay, but have never seen pure alfalfa. Also, straw and hay bales are not cheap where I live. So I have bagged up lots of fall leaves this year for throwing into the chicken run after a snowfall, and I grow barley fodder to give my girls some fresh greens everyday.

I buy a bale of fresh straw for nest bedding every late summer fall,
~$6 bucks and lasts a year.
Have bought a bale of hay a couple winters, just to toss a flake out now and then for 'cabin fever entertainment'.
Grow a batch of wheat fodder once in a while too, as much for my need to see some 'green' as for the birds.