Problem eggs

MrsStepford

I have been buying large organic eggs from Abel & Cole, since 2012. Recently, ie in last few weeks, I have noticed two problems. 
1. When soft-boiled for the usual amount of time, there's like a puddle of raw white on top, then very runny yolk until the bottom, where it's going hard. 
2. When fried, the white spreads out a lot, is very thin and gets hard like the whites of fried duck eggs. 
Other people have commented on A&C website re: problem 2, but they didn't respond. 
I wondered whether it's a heatwave thing or a freshness issue. Has anyone else experienced these problems, with other eggs ? I haven't had any problems with the Clarence Court Braddock Whites duck eggs. 
Any suggestions please post. I'm wondering about switching to free range duck eggs, which taste better and are actually cheaper. Also, is Happy Eggs still doing organic eggs and if so, in which supermarket. 

Thanks 1

Bacman

Runny whites tend to mean the chickens are old birds or had an infection previously or under a lot of stress from small living conditions and being pecked all the time. Not come across the problem with the eggs you have had, i'd say change brands!  Happy Eggs - not if you saw videos regards the chicken conditions, no. I'd recommend Waitrose Blacktail eggs, a good price and they are organic, easy to get hold of too, from a reputable company too (Waitrose). I did research months back, free range can also mean caged or packed in a shed they can't get out of but there is a window they can't get out of (so "free range") - yeah, I know, right? Worth doing research if you want eggs from well cared for chickens.

-taff

Problem 2 also comes from old eggs. The older they are, the more runny the white gets when you break it. When really really fresh, the white spreads slightly, but there's an 'inner ring' of white that should stay fiirm and jelly like.

Arthog

We have a greengrocer a few miles away, where their range includes a lot of local produce from several suppliers, including free-range chicken and duck eggs, with a very quick turnover of stock. If the owner received comments about the quality, he could deal with it straight away. Is there anything like this in your area? Farm shops?

Linda32

If it helps I have just searched Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco websites and they all sell organic eggs. I used to have boiled eggs every single morning for about a year (odd I know!) Happy Eggs taste of nothing IMO.

Molly41

I only use waitrose eggs (as above) and never had any problems.

wondercollie

My DIL has a chicken coop.  Her eggs right now are unusable because the birds have been treated for an infection.  So, it's either old hens (production goes down a couple of time a year) or sick birds.