Eggs

Happi

Poly,put_the_kettle_on wrote: »

We have five very happy (and very naughty) hens clucking round the garden- one of the best decisions we ever made. They're great for entertainment, and poached eggs straight from chicken to pan within minutes...yum...

I agree with the poster above- once you've gotten to know how much personality (and downright cheek) they have, you'd struggle to eat anything from a hen thats spent its life in a box.

Eggs are my staple please don't make me feel bad.

On a plus side if i could keep hens the foxes would kill them, so i will just get fresh eggs wherever i can.

Happi

diddly74 wrote: »

You know Happi - if you had chucks in the back yard or could get hold of really fresh good eggs you would realise like Polly has said - there is a BIG difference in taste!

Remember however "Happy" and Free-range supermarket eggs are said to be they have been laid about 2 weeks before they hit our shelves. That cannot compete with happy chucks in your garden.

We had 7 chucks before we moved and they were adorable (even if they did massacre my garden) We are in rented accom now and by hook or by crook I shall be purchasing some more chickens by spring as I miss them and their bounty so much.

I'm just jealous ignore me lol

su4stu

I'm also shocked by the price of free range eggs, but can't buy anything else. I once watched a documentary on caged hens and was appalled by the conditions they were kept in, so much so I will only buy free range chicken too. It costs me a fortune but I feel too guilty otherwise!!

Kimitatsu

sonnythecat wrote: »

I want to buy nice eggs from happy hens but the price is ludicrous.

I just paid £3.07 for 12 large free range woodland eggs (whatever they may be!!!!!!) from Sainsbury's.

We use loads, but can't stock up when they're on offer as, of course, they're perishable and can't be frozen.

It's bugging me!! :mad:


EDIT - SORRY I DO KNOW THIS IS ON THE WRONG BOARD. THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE PM'D ME TO POINT THAT OUT.

How do you know they are happy??? Even barn hens rarely see the daylight and are kept under artificial light most of the day as this triggers egg production.

I am with Polly here - if you want fresh eggs from happy hens then get some in the back garden. We have 16 (and one happy cockeral) and 6 ducks, and I have to say we do a brisk trade in eggs.

Can you not take a drive out into the country at the weekends and stock up? Its about £3 a tray around here and you can see the chooks in the fields so you know how they are kept!

thetravelfairy

I am soooo glad to see that most of us care about the chickens welfare.....I pay £1 for 6 from my local farm and wouldn't dream of buying any 'basic' ones....wish I could put some ignorant humans in a cage for a week see how they like it! Moaning about price of eggs, bet they don't moan when the are spending on something that's not really needed....beer, cigs, chocolate etc etc etc...

Sorry but they touched a nerve!

kellyf_2

we get our free range eggs from a local farm 2 pound for a dozen,the farmer even delivers them to us for nothing!

they are fresh and always on my doorstep by 7am so would recommend try a local farm

Happi

thetravelfairy wrote: »

I am soooo glad to see that most of us care about the chickens welfare.....I pay £1 for 6 from my local farm and wouldn't dream of buying any 'basic' ones....wish I could put some ignorant humans in a cage for a week see how they like it! Moaning about price of eggs, bet they don't moan when the are spending on something that's not really needed....beer, cigs, chocolate etc etc etc...

Sorry but they touched a nerve!

How can you be sure unless you keep the hens? FOR record i don't eat any junk food. I advocate hen's well being in this world, but also advocate food for hungry and cash poor people.

lavenderlady

Happi wrote: »

We need to call in a ' hen shrink ' , who's to say if the hen is happi or not? I have bought free range quite often and also basics and i honestly can't tell the difference apart from the price.

You don't really need to call in a 'hen shrink' to determine whether the hen is happy. If its in a cage that is 12 inches square for all its life with no where to scratch or move around then i'd guess it aint that happy.

For me personally I made the decision to eat only animals that had been reared with care and were able to enjoy a healthy happy life until slaughter. The same goes for eggs.

I respect the animal also by using the bones for stock and trying to use up every bit of meat.

It is more expensive to eat this way I know. But meals can go a bit further by adding a bit of grated carrot or oats into chili/lasagne etc. Or dressing up a smaller pork chop with loads of garlic mushrooms, onion rings, tomatoes.

Just remember folks, you may come back as a hen next time... and just pray you are a free ranging one! :T

Happi

lavenderlady wrote: »

You don't really need to call in a 'hen shrink' to determine whether the hen is happy. If its in a cage that is 12 inches square for all its life with no where to scratch or move around then i'd guess it aint that happy.

For me personally I made the decision to eat only animals that had been reared with care and were able to enjoy a healthy happy life until slaughter. The same goes for eggs.

I respect the animal also by using the bones for stock and trying to use up every bit of meat.

It is more expensive to eat this way I know. But meals can go a bit further by adding a bit of grated carrot or oats into chili/lasagne etc. Or dressing up a smaller pork chop with loads of garlic mushrooms, onion rings, tomatoes.

Just remember folks, you may come back as a hen next time... and just pray you are a free ranging one! :T

All good so far.... but what if you come back as some one starving to death because of local economy or disaster?

Happi

I wonder if people in haiti have choice of free range eggs?