Farm fresh eggs vs grocery store eggs

[es1967]

I've been searching my area for some farm fresh eggs. I found a few places. I found some farm fresh ones at a little market. The lady says her husband picks them up. All the eggs were double yolk. Anyone know what causes this. I would love to see where these eggs are coming from. We don't live in a farming area. Mostly people just raising them in their backyard. I just feel weird asking if I can see where she gets the eggs from but I really would feel better. I found another lady who sells them but she is like 30 min away so I am going to check them out as well. When buying eggs from someone local are there certain things you should look for?

[elfimka]

I would go and check out the farm where the double-yolk eggs came from. Some sources say that double-yolking can be caused by hormones given to chickens in order to increase the frequency of them laying the eggs. If that's the case, you definitely don't want that.

It's not rude at all to want to go see the place where you get your eggs. Need to know your sources!

[es1967]

Originally Posted by elfimka

I would go and check out the farm where the double-yolk eggs came from. Some sources say that double-yolking can be caused by hormones given to chickens in order to increase the frequency of them laying the eggs. If that's the case, you definitely don't want that.

It's not rude at all to want to go see the place where you get your eggs. Need to know your sources!

Thank-you for that info re the double yolks

[CrunchyChristianMama]

You want to see how the chickens are fed primarily. Ideally they would be totally pastured and not fed any supplemental feed. This produces the healthiest possible eggs.

I have no idea about the double yolk thing. I've only seen that in one egg that I got from my local farmer.

[StarJune]

Not to thread jack but I noticed that my farm eggs from the market tend to have blood spots. I cannot eat them so they are thrown out. Anyone know why this would be happening? I really don't want to go back to grocery store eggs...

[rainbowmoon]

These are fertilized eggs. We just pick out the spots.

Originally Posted by StarJune

Not to thread jack but I noticed that my farm eggs from the market tend to have blood spots. I cannot eat them so they are thrown out. Anyone know why this would be happening? I really don't want to go back to grocery store eggs...

[Pepper44]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

You want to see how the chickens are fed primarily. Ideally they would be totally pastured and not fed any supplemental feed. This produces the healthiest possible eggs.

I have no idea about the double yolk thing. I've only seen that in one egg that I got from my local farmer.

This is not true about chickens. They can't be totally pastured or they will be unhealthy, or at least not strong enough to lay healthy eggs on a regular basis. Even free range chickens need to have grains available.

[Pepper44]

Originally Posted by rainbowmoon

These are fertilized eggs. We just pick out the spots.

The blood spots don't mean the eggs are fertilized! Fertile eggs have a small white bull's eye spot on the yolk. If the fertile eggs are developing (ew, no one should sell you developing eggs!) then they will have a large white bull's eye spot over the yolk at first, and if it's further progressed it will be veins.

The blood spots are just what happens sometimes if the chickens eat molded grains, are older hens, or for some reason certain breeds (my sex-links do this) just randomly produce blood spots in eggs. The blood spots are little pieces of tissue from inside the chicken. They won't hurt you. I don't sell the eggs from my one sex link who always has blood spots, we eat them. I just pick out the little spots before cooking.

[es1967]

Originally Posted by StarJune

Not to thread jack but I noticed that my farm eggs from the market tend to have blood spots. I cannot eat them so they are thrown out. Anyone know why this would be happening? I really don't want to go back to grocery store eggs...

Here is a link that may help. I found info on the double yolks too.

http://www.poultryhelp.com/bloodspots.html


Another thing I noticed was that the shells seem softer than our store bought eggs. At the grocery store I buy the Country Hen Eggs-they are organic and always really good although they are pricey but I guess worth it.
What about chickens and other animals. Is it ok for chickens to be in the same area as other farm animal-goats, horses etc etc. I found a lady that will sell me some starting next month and the chickens are in her backyard with a bunch of other animals.

[Pepper44]

Originally Posted by es1967

Here is a link that may help. I found info on the double yolks too.

http://www.poultryhelp.com/bloodspots.html


Another thing I noticed was that the shells seem softer than our store bought eggs. At the grocery store I buy the Country Hen Eggs-they are organic and always really good although they are pricey but I guess worth it.
What about chickens and other animals. Is it ok for chickens to be in the same area as other farm animal-goats, horses etc etc. I found a lady that will sell me some starting next month and the chickens are in her backyard with a bunch of other animals.

It's good for chickens to be in with other animals! Free range chickens love to be in cow/goat/horse pastures.

I bet the egg shells are softer because the chickens need more calcium. I give mine oyster shell so that they have hard egg shells. Otherwise their bodies take the calcium from the chicken's bones.

[rainbowmoon]

Well I have read it can be because it has been fertilized or due to broken blood vessels. I have not seen what you describe in my own flock. We usually get blood spots or little light brownish (or rather flesh colored) tissue like blobs. (not sure how to describe, it's very small) Either way we pick anything out then eat..

one of our hens recently laid an egg that was like leather though! ewww!

Originally Posted by Pepper44

The blood spots don't mean the eggs are fertilized! Fertile eggs have a small white bull's eye spot on the yolk. If the fertile eggs are developing (ew, no one should sell you developing eggs!) then they will have a large white bull's eye spot over the yolk at first, and if it's further progressed it will be veins.

The blood spots are just what happens sometimes if the chickens eat molded grains, are older hens, or for some reason certain breeds (my sex-links do this) just randomly produce blood spots in eggs. The blood spots are little pieces of tissue from inside the chicken. They won't hurt you. I don't sell the eggs from my one sex link who always has blood spots, we eat them. I just pick out the little spots before cooking.

[Pepper44]

Originally Posted by rainbowmoon

Well I have read it can be because it has been fertilized or due to broken blood vessels. I have not seen what you describe in my own flock. We usually get blood spots or little light brownish (or rather flesh colored) tissue like blobs. (not sure how to describe, it's very small) Either way we pick anything out then eat..

one of our hens recently laid an egg that was like leather though! ewww!

This thread has pictures of fertile and non-fertile eggs and talks about blood spots!

http://www.backyardchickens.com/foru...p?id=16008&p=3

A leathery egg would be so gross!

[gardenmommy]

Double yolks are just a natural occurrence. It happens more with older hens. Leathery eggs are a product of not having enough calcium in the hen's diet. I always thought they were kinda cool when our hens would lay them occasionally. Blood spots are a sort of breakthrough bleeding, and it is harmless (although gross, IMO). I've had eggs in the past that were *really* bloody, so much so that I through out the whole thing. What I am doing with the egg determines whether or not I pick out the blood spot. I usually leave them, unless it is going to be a fried egg.

[es1967]

I had an entire dozen that was double yolks.

[gardenmommy]

Had the eggs been candled? It is possible that they were sorted that way, if they were candled.

[es1967]

Originally Posted by gardenmommy

Had the eggs been candled? It is possible that they were sorted that way, if they were candled.

Sorry, what do you mean by candled?

[annethcz]

Originally Posted by Evie's Mama

You want to see how the chickens are fed primarily. Ideally they would be totally pastured and not fed any supplemental feed. This produces the healthiest possible eggs.

I just wanted to reiterate that hens who aren't given any supplemental feed are not going to be healthy enough to lay on a regular basis. I can't imagine never offering food to my pastured hens- they'd be so hungry! Sure they eat weeds and bugs, but not enough to soley sustain them.

As for the double yolks, I've noticed that it does happen more often with my older hens, but it's not something to be concerned about.

[gardenmommy]

Originally Posted by es1967

Sorry, what do you mean by candled?

Candling means to pass the egg over a strong light so that you can see inside the shell. In commercial egg-packing plants, it is how they check the shell for cracks, the yolk for bloods, check for double yolks, and other egg issues.

[StarJune]

Originally Posted by Pepper44

http://www.backyardchickens.com/foru...p?id=16008&p=3

Thanks for the link.

I cannot eat the bloody eggs due to religious reasons so it is really a waste when I have to throw out 3 out of 12 eggs. I may try another farmer first though.