Let's talk eggs..

Redleela

We have former ex batts (now in good health). They free range in our garden. We give them organic or high quality feed & various veggie treats/scraps on top of whatever they find in the garden. Their eggs do taste even better than shop bought free range eggs & the yolks are a more vivid yellow. Also if you enjoy baking you'll get a much better rise in your cakes or savoury food such as toad in the hole from fresh free range eggs.

Stephen_Leak

There should be a code on eggs.

0 = Organic
1 = Free Range
2 = Barn
3 = Cage

http://www.lioneggfarms.co.uk/information/egg-codes/

Organic eggs have to also be free range.

For free range, I defy anyone to better the farm shop I used to get eggs from. I always checked behind the car before I turned it around in the farmyard to make sure I didn't run any of the ducks or hens over. I once even had to walk back along the lane to rescue a hen in the hedgerow!

lizzybear_2

I pay £1 for 6 to a friend of my mum's who keeps his own chickens. I definitely think they taste better than any of the supermarket free range ones i've tried and much cheaper too.

terra_ferma

poppy23 wrote: »

Free range doesn't mean cruelty free.

http:// www. viva. org.uk /campaigns/chickens/happy-eggs.htm

That's the one!
I could not find it, great thanks.
Here' the proper link, as it looks like you can't post links?
http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/chickens/happy-eggs.htm

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

I disagree with the comment about it being 'fairly normal practice' to mutilate farm animals. I grew up on and around farms and ranches and spent an awful lot of time around farm animals without seeing any evidence of this. A lot of farmers treat their livestock very well. There are some pressure groups that get their hands on an example of a bad farmer and try to make out that the way they treat their animals is the norm when that just is not the case.

The 'farms' I'm referring to, are not "proper" farms, with a farmer looking after animals, but large companies running intensive breeding in several establishments, where most chickens and eggs we buy in supermarkets are likely to come from.
I can't say 'proper' farmers do or don't, but I think it's safe to say that most meat we buy in supermarkets is likely to come from an animal that has been mutilated or has suffered in one way or another (at least non free-range meat, not sure of the extent of the problem for free range, although debeaking seems to occur).
I'd definitely feel much happier buying meat from a small local farmer (which I'm planning to do, as I want to start buying meat at a farmer's market, pity I can't afford Riverford's meat, that would be fantastic...).

Incidentally in other languages (like french I believe) there are two different words to describe a proper farm, and an intensive 'farm', as they are totally different things.

A._Badger

geordie_joe wrote: »

At no point on that page does it say all eggs must be free range.

It refers to two regulations, one banning battery cages and the other reducing the stocking density of free range birds.

What made you think all eggs must be free range?

Possibly stories like the following http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7180018.stm

http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=1544

and

http://www.farminguk.com/news/UK-fails-to-meet-cage-ban-deadline_22540.html

Though I accept it would have been more accurate to have written 'are no longer battery produced'

My point, of course, was that even so called 'free range' production wouldn't be recognised as such by most consumers.

geordie_joe

A._Badger wrote: »

Possibly stories like the following http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7180018.stm

But that's just an article about banning battery cages, how did it lead you to believe all eggs were free range now?

A._Badger wrote: »

http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=1544

Again, just about banning battery cages.

A._Badger wrote: »

and

http://www.farminguk.com/news/UK-fails-to-meet-cage-ban-deadline_22540.html

Again, just about banning battery cages.

A._Badger wrote: »

Though I accept it would have been more accurate to have written 'are no longer battery produced'

No, you answered the question "Since when?" with "1st January 2012 See here:....." It would not have been more accurate to have written 'are no longer battery produced'

A._Badger wrote: »

My point, of course, was that even so called 'free range' production wouldn't be recognised as such by most consumers.

No, your point was all eggs are free range since 1st Jan , which is completely wrong.

kittycatface

I am veggie but buy eggs either off the local butcher or off the market stall grocer. They are around £1-1.20 a 1/2 dozen for free range, taste fresh and you can take your egg boxes back for refilling to cut down on cardboard wastage too. If you are worried about where the eggs have come from the butcher knows better than tescos! Little tip from when we used to keep chickens, pencil the date on the egg (when it was collected, you could also put date purchased if they are from local farm) then you know roughly how long you've got to use them before having to bother with the floater trick.
another gd thread edwardia i find your posting ideas really interesting.

nonnatus

I wish you all had access to my Mum's eggs from her bootiful hens!

They get porridge for breakfast, have a penchant for greek yoghurt with feta cheese and are given leftovers from every meal the humans eat (meat and fish included...)

The yolks are a deep orange and taste like nothing else on this earth. Scrambled eggs that dreams are made of :rotfl:

walwin

A._Badger wrote: »

1st January 2012 See here: http://www.theranger.co.uk/news/Free-range-producers-reminded-of-impending-stocking-density-changes_21693.html

See here http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/12/06/higher-welfare-eggs/

terra_ferma

A lot of fuss about a small improvement, which distracts people's attention from the real issue.
Quoting one of the links given above:

Although this ban is a step in the right direction that ‘enriched cages’ - which are only a marginal improvement on battery cages - will still be legal

http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=1544