Free Range or Value eggs?

Curry_Queen

No offence tiff, but it's not really wise to take much notice of such organisations as PETA and the like, as they are very extreme animal rights activists with a strong political agenda, and animal welfare isn't really their primary concern :mad:

And please, before people jump all over me for that comment, I've had cause to do extensive research into these groups so do know more about it than the average member of public, but I've no intention of getting involved in a political debate here as it's not really appropriate on this site

pandas66

We have a chappie in a little van that comes round our Ind Est. and sells his own free range eggs. 2 quid for a tray, 30 eggs, they are a litle 'mucky' but inside the real deal.:j

flea72

i only ever buy free range - and i may not be able to taste the difference, but i can see it - the yolks are brighter, and the shells thicker - i tend to find value eggs, have very thin shells for some reason

ive visited a free-range egg farm - and tbh i was totally shocked, the chickens are still packed in, but they do have the option to roam free

the only thing is, given the choice would you rather sit in a nice heated barn, where there is food on hand, or roam around a waste ground, scratching in the dirt - seems like chickens prefer their home comforts lol

Bogof_Babe

I've just asked hubby about the idea of us having a few hens in the back garden, and he says to ask (1) what about a cockerel? (don't ask me, I presume you need one to get the hens.. erm.. started ), (2) what about the noise in the early mornings annoying the neighbours?, and (3) what do you do with them when they are too old to lay (EGGS! :rolleyes:)?

Apart from all that, he thinks it's a great idea!

DaisyNelson

I'd have to say that there isn't a dilemma. Knowing the horrific conditions the chickens live in if they aren't free range, you should endever to only buy the free range. Knowledge of how the poor battery hens live would surely put anyone off wanting to eat their eggs. On a positive note you should find that free range are a better colour ( yellow yolks ) as well as tating better.

nearlyrich

I always buy free range, used to pay top whack in Tesco but I discovered that if I buy them from either the bacon stall or the veg stall on the market not only are they much cheaper but also much tastier. These eggs are produced locally on the farm from genuine free range hens and whilst they aren't always identical in shape to each other they do taste and look better.

I don't have anywhere to keep hens myself unfortunately.

fazer6

I would like to be able to afford free range eggs but money saving is a priority right now. As a trade off I buy barn eggs. Free range ones were on offer in tesco recently so I got those instead. They've now all been reduced too so I've got a couple of dozen in the cupboard - merengues and mouse for me!

Noozan

Bogof_Babe wrote:

I've just asked hubby about the idea of us having a few hens in the back garden, and he says to ask (1) what about a cockerel? (don't ask me, I presume you need one to get the hens.. erm.. started ), (2) what about the noise in the early mornings annoying the neighbours?, and (3) what do you do with them when they are too old to lay (EGGS! :rolleyes:)?

Apart from all that, he thinks it's a great idea!

Go for it; you won't regret it! :j

You don't need a cockerel if you only want them for eggs, they will just lay unfertilised eggs (which is what you get at supermarkets)

It's only the cockerels that crow in the mornings. Hens will cluck but it's very quiet.

You can let them retire in peace when they stop laying or eat them! If you intend to eat your hens; don't name them - it makes it alot harder!

My 2 point of lay hens cost me £4.25 each, it costs me about 3p a day to feed them layers pellets, plus I give them veggie scraps and in return they give me an egg a day, each, plus free fertiliser for the garden. They'll happily eat slugs for me too. Woo!

Noozan

fazer6 wrote:

I- merengues and mouse for me!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :rotfl:

Magentasue

Three of my hens were ex batteries. They were 18 months old when I got them in May and they've laid most days since. When they stop laying they'll be pets, the other three are supposed to be reliable layers for years so the batteries can be freeloaders!

Things to consider:

1) They need to be let out and shut in . Ours are sort of 7am-7pm at the moment, they like to be up when it gets light and put themselves to bed when it gets dark. They need to be shut in at night to protect them from foxes etc

2) They will ruin your garden! We have given the garden over to them and fenced off the veg patch. Other people tend to do it the other way round and fence the hens off. If you keep them on a small bit of garden, you should move them around so the ground can recover.

3) They like to be busy - mine like to help with gardening. As soon as you turn over a bit of soil they like to dig it over and, um, fertilise it.

4) I don't think Flea72 is right. Mine only goin their shed to lay eggs and roost (sleep at night). Even in gales and rain, they like to be outside. So don't worry too much about the house -so long as it's weatherproof, has ventilation, nest box and perch, thy'll be fine.

5) You need someone to let them out/lock them in/collect the eggs if you're away. Depending on how many you have, they'll need mucking out every week or so. DH does this every few days and it takes minutes. We have a neighbour who is happy to do this, she keeps the eggs, of course!

Then you just need straw and pellets. I cook up potato peelings and mix in cheap oats. They get all the cabbage trimmings, ends of cucumbers, apple cores etc. And they lay two dozen eggs a week at least to say thank you!