Battery raised egg layers versus, pasture raised chickens. (Lucy the hen is in the left photo).
You want to eat well, but you're not sure about the cost. You don't like that animals are raised in torturous conditions, but...
And what do those labels mean anyway? Is "free range" a ripoff? Is there a compromise I can make to feel good about my purchase and not mortgage my home to eat?
And while raising your own chickens seems to be on the rise in NYC, according to Metro NY, in case you are not raising your own birds, here's a simple list of what those labels really mean and the monetary costs from cheapest to most expensive for eggs: (Thanks to the Humane Society for some info)
"Farm Fresh," "healthy," or "United Egg Producers Certified" - The cheapest option, sometimes 99 cents for a dozen. And there's a reason. These birds are fed the cheapest food and raised like egg producing machines than living beings.
They are raised in battery cages where each hen gets about a sheet of looseleaf paper's size to stand in, while being packed into crates with their beaks burned off so they don't peck each other to death from the confinement and stress. But hey, it's 99 cents a dozen.
"Vegetarian Feed," "All Natural," "Omega-3 enhanced" - A slightly better diet, no mashed up cow or poultry parts, so slightly better for your own health, but as far as cruelty, these birds are still cage raised and the price can now jump to around $2.50 a dozen.
"Cage-free" - No more confined pens! Hallelujah, but still confined indoors their entire lives. but at least they can flap their little wings and walk around,. A huge leap up in cruelty reduction and still around $2.50 - $3.00 per dozen. But their feed may be filled with ground up chicken and animal parts if the label also does not say "vegetarian diet." Remember, if it doesn't say it, it's not there.
"Free-range" - A total misnomer, and you're usually paying $4 for a dozen. The birds must have "access" to the outside by no requirement that they every actually go outside.
There is an excellent article from independent producer Robert Plamondon on his site about what it really means to be "free-range" and how egg producers create situations where the birds never go out (low doors, bird territoriality) because basically says chickens need a lot of space to roam and you're looking at $10-$15 dozen eggs if they do.
What you are really looking for if free range is your thing is "pasture raised" eggs. Which means the birds have pecked at insects, grass seed and flapped around on a grassy field and even in some bushes and trees. The most humane option, the best tasting option and you guessed it, the most expensive (the $10-$15 aforesaid).
"Certified Organic" - Al vegetarian organic certified diet. Also uncaged, but that does not mean outdoors. Now we're talking $4-5 bucks a dozen.
"Certified Humane" - No cage, indoors, but much lower bird density and certified by Humane Farm Animal Care.
"Animal Welfare Approved" - A service of theAnimal Welfare Institute, the compassion cops for farm animals. No cages, no beak cutting, smiles on the farmer's faces. No chain supermarkets carry these products yet, but many independent farmers do. The web is filled with them and these egg shells can be brown or blue with dark yokes and cost around $10 a dozen or more.
Of coruse, it should be noted that in virtually all commercial egg operations, the males chicks are killed as soon as they are born (not much in the egg-laying department) and the girl chickens are "re-processed" after a year (chickens can live to their teens) when they are "spent"
Fo' mo' info: Mother Earth News, for pasture raised eggs and food Eat Wild.
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Comments
Unfortunately, you cannot avoid cruelty when buying eggs, as all egg-laying hens come from hatcheries, where 50% of the chicks (males who won't become egg layers) are suffocated in plastic bags, thrown into dumpsters or ground up alive immediately after they've hatched -- amounting to more than 200 million baby chicks needlessly killed each year in the US. There are many wonderful egg substitutes and ways to adapt recipes. Vegweb.com is just one of many excellent online resources for egg-free cooking.
Thanks Roger for copying the Humane Society handout. Caged chickens offer the least stress for the hen as she is not bothered by predators, has an ample supply of feed and water. Beaks are cut off at a young age to protect the birds from pecking each other. Chickens are naturally cannibalistic certainly you have heard of the "the pecking order". Caged chickens lay eggs which roll onto conveyor belts making the eggs cleaner and less chance of becoming contaminated from feces. As for the statement if it doesnt say it on the label it didnt happen. Anyone can put anything on a label. The only way you can be assured the item you buy is what it says is for that product to have been USDA Graded otherwise you take your chances the company packaging the product is truthful.
Hey Roger, thanks for the info. Those labels have always been confusing. Maybe what we need to do is raise our own chickens. :) See "Food Inc."!
Keep up the good work.
Right Sanver, I'm laying straw in my one-bedroom apartment right now!
As for Jim; yes, unless an independent third party approves it you take a chance, no doubt.
And you're right, being outdoors is stressful, so I've imprisoned my dogs in the basement. No chance of getting hit by cars there.
I'm tired of these "humane slavery" articles. There is NO SUCH THINGS as "humane" exploitation, slavery, and killing of animals for the UNNECESSARY pleasure of eating animal products. We DO NOT NEED these things to survive or thrive. Humane means going vegan.
I work at Animal Welfare Approved and encourage everyone to visit the website (animalwelfareapproved.org). You can look at our welfare standards there by species, as well as find local approved farmers.
Wow! This was educating. I live in a small town in rural KS so when available I buy from local farmers whose chickens run around wherever they want just like ours did when I was growing up. And no matter what anyone says, yes, they do taste better!
Hi Roger: First of all, I just want to say that that's my photo of my hens you are using up there on the left on grass. Please give Lucy (that's the hen's name) photo credit :). All of our hens are raised outdoors on 100% organic pasture. Our eggs are sold nationwide at Whole Foods. www.vitalfarms.com has the complete story. Thanks for spreading the word on pasture raising of hens and their eggs. Please eat ethical eggs!
Full Sircle Farms produces eggs that are truly free range. They use chicken tractors to move the birds throughout the fields so the birds can forage from fresh grass and bugs daily. And it produces great tasting chicken! Check them out at http://www.fullsirclefarms.com/
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