Buying Farm Eggs

[me&thegals]

As for clean?? I've never yet seen a clean chicken~ nor coop that is actually lived in by chickens on a daily basis. Chickens are dirty and messy and their own mess is natural to them. They eat poop for heaven's sake! They walk right on their own poop, then step right in their water pan.

I've read numerous posts on BYC where folks bleach their coops, waterers, feeders, etc. all the time and state that "if you wouldn't want to take a sip out of that waterer it isn't clean enough".......sorry???

There is no time ever that I could say that I would take a sip out of my chicken's waterer! Not even right after it is cleaned thoroughly. Ick X 10!!!! They are animals, people! They pick poop off their own butts...I don't think they will die from messy water.

BUT, I'd put my eggs up next to anyone's for freshness, cleanliness and good flavor. As would I the health of my chickens.

Clean looking doesn't always represent good health.....that is the government's mantra...controlled conditions, germ-killing chemicals, antibiotics in the feeds in case a bird MAY come in contact with microbials.

I'm not saying that it isn't wise to ask about living conditions or ask to view them~I, myself, would never eat an egg from my sister's farm unless I were starving to death. But I wouldn't get bogged down about pretty chickens, pristine coops and equipment, perfect green grass....whatever these eggs are, they have to be more healthy than storebought.

I totally agree! We don't clean our coops out regularly (well, not often anyways). We have about 80-100 birds. We have one die unexpectedly about once every year or so. No known illness. They have an awesome life outside on GREEN grass, lots of good treats, and give eggs tested by my BIL at his lab to be at the reported high nutrition (by MEN) of other pastured chickens. Still, it's a rare day I would want someone in the coop.

We sell ours for $2.50/dozen. Their range is organic, their food is not.

 

[patandchickens]

I agree. It makes me nuts when there are all these threads on BYC about using various storeboughten products to "disinfect" the coop or "disinfect" waterers, when IMO all that is needed is a normal cleaning and (in the case of waterers) a bit of elbow grease and refilling with clean water.

People are odd sometimes.

Pat

 

[hwillm1977]

I asked if I could come visit their farm - I need to know that these "cage free" chickens are cared for better than chickens in a commercial chicken "farm." Plus I need to know it is clean!

'Cage-free' is also not the same thing as 'free-range'... cage free means they can be just as crowded into a large commercial building and crammed as close together as they are in a caged environment.

Here's a picture of a 'cage-free' chicken farm:

Not saying that's what the farm you are looking at is like, but I think it's definitely a valid concern to check the farm out.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

I asked if I could come visit their farm - I need to know that these "cage free" chickens are cared for better than chickens in a commercial chicken "farm." Plus I need to know it is clean!

'Cage-free' is also not the same thing as 'free-range'... cage free means they can be just as crowded into a large commercial building and crammed as close together as they are in a caged environment.

Here's a picture of a 'cage-free' chicken farm:

http://momonroof.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/chickens.jpg

Not saying that's what the farm you are looking at is like, but I think it's definitely a valid concern to check the farm out.

That's a good point! I do think the average back yard chicken owner or farmer who has chickens more than likely has a coop with a run, or free ranges.

Chickens in coops with dirt runs STILL have some access to bugs and worms. They can scratch up the dirt in the runs, and bugs do crawl anywhere. This year I started going into the runs with a shovel and turning over the dirt in the runs, to encourage their digging and scratching for bugs.

I decided to do that after reading free's comments about turning over hay for the chicks to learn to scratch for bugs and worms! And it's free food for the hens!

 

[hwillm1977]

I asked if I could come visit their farm - I need to know that these "cage free" chickens are cared for better than chickens in a commercial chicken "farm." Plus I need to know it is clean!

'Cage-free' is also not the same thing as 'free-range'... cage free means they can be just as crowded into a large commercial building and crammed as close together as they are in a caged environment.

Here's a picture of a 'cage-free' chicken farm:

http://momonroof.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/chickens.jpg

Not saying that's what the farm you are looking at is like, but I think it's definitely a valid concern to check the farm out.

That's a good point! I do think the average back yard chicken owner or farmer who has chickens more than likely has a coop with a run, or free ranges.

Chickens in coops with dirt runs STILL have some access to bugs and worms. They can scratch up the dirt in the runs, and bugs do crawl anywhere. This year I started going into the runs with a shovel and turning over the dirt in the runs, to encourage their digging and scratching for bugs.

I decided to do that after reading free's comments about turning over hay for the chicks to learn to scratch for bugs and worms! And it's free food for the hens!

Our coop has a run attached that is just dirt... but I try and let the chickens out for at least a few hours a day to free range. I have to be outside with them though because we have no fences and a busy logging road, and a neighbour with a dog who is not tied up (but VERY obedient about property lines, the chickens aren't as obedient... lol)

 

[Farmfresh]

Even in a run chickens still benefit from exercise, fresh air and sunshine.

Mine are in a run a lot due to my dogs, but I do try to give them fresh greens everyday.