[AutumnWind]

I've been reading on the web about brown eggs, and I was surprised to find that brown eggs have no nutritional value over white eggs. I grew up on brown ones from a lady with chickens a few blocks away & I always thought they were more healthy. I guess not.<br><br>
I like to support our local farmers, so I try to get produce from farmer's markets and such. What do you consider the advantages of getting eggs from local farmers versus getting them from the grocery store?<br><br>
For me, just supporting the farmers, of course, is a big advantage. But, are there any advantages nutritionally?

 

[Mama Lori]

From what i understand, the eggs are a lot fresher when you get them from local farmers. They can be up to two weeks fresher than if you buy them at a store.

 

[dharmama]

All I can think of is the jingle I grew up hearing on tv (I'm in Rhode Island).....<br><br>
"Brown eggs are local eggs and local eggs are fresh...."<br><br>
:LOL<br><br>
We started raising chickens last year and I don't think we will ever go back to eating store-bought eggs....<br><br>
The healthiest eggs are from organically fed, antibiotics-free, free-range chickens. Being able to forage allows the chickens to eat all kinds of greens, berries, insects etc. which makes their eggs tastier and I'm assuming more nutritional.<br><br>
When you buy fresh, farm eggs from free-range chickens you will notice that the yolk is a much deeper shade of orange and it stands up a little higher. And they are yummmmmy!<br><br>
Eggs bought in the grocery store are SEVERAL weeks old when you buy them. If you buy them at a farmer's market or a farm stand they are usually only days (or sometimes hours) old!<br><br>
HTH!<br><br>
~Erin<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">

 

[shantimama]

From what iunderstand, egg shell colour is determined by the breed of hen, and means no more nutritionally than the colour of its feathers. The other replies are right on - there is no turning back once you have been eating fresh eggs from well cared for hens!

 

[allys jill]

yes! i love local and *truly* free-range eggs from well-cared for chickens. it's quite like a different food from supermarket eggs. like wanna be says, the yolks are totally different in color. the best part is that you get the benefits of the chickens having had access to grass and the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio is in balance, as opposed to with supermarket eggs which have 19 times the omega 6! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!">

 

[Arduinna]

yep. a homegrown chicken and her eggs are so vastly different from the poor suffering chickens crammed into cages with a limited diet. I really miss our chickens. Look for the nice dark yolks that stand up high.<br><br>
I really miss the blue and green eggs even more

 

[bebe luna]

I don't think that shell color defines the nutritional value of the actual egg. When I lived & worked on a certified organic farm we had a bunch of hens that layed eggs. We had several kinds of hens and the various hens produced various colored shells~ brown, very light tan, white, speckled, greenish, etc...<br><br>
I always buy organic eggs, and try to buy local. Organic fed free-range hens have better quality of life, less disease, and richer yolks. Local means they are fresher, and I am also supporting local business and cutting down on pollution of long-distance delivery trucks.