Two days after we got our first egg, another hen started laying. We are now getting two eggs per day! It’s been so much fun going out to check for eggs…especially for Jadon. He thinks he has to look in the nest boxes every time he goes outside. And the hens are hilarious when they’re trying to lay. They fuss and run everyone out of the coop (guess they need some privacy…I know I would), then they strut around clucking for quite a while after…SO proud of what they’ve accomplished.
Jadon with his first find.
We were finally about to use up all of our store-bought eggs, so we figured it was time to do what we had been looking forward to for the past several months – eating our very own free-range, farm-fresh eggs. I was certain they would be much better than the store-bought variety, so we decided to do a visual and taste test to hopefully prove our theory.
First of all, if you’re not familiar with the value of eggs from free-range hens, let me share with you the results from a study performed by Mother Earth News back in 2007 comparing eggs from 14 flocks around the country to the USDA nutritional data for commercial eggs. In comparison to supermarket eggs, eggs from hens raised free on pasture contain:
1/3 less cholesterol
1/4 less saturated fat
2/3 more vitamin A
2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
3 times more vitamin E
7 times more beta carotene
4-6 times more vitamin D
Although that’s some great information, the proof is still in the pudding for me. Could I tell the difference in the two? Absolutely!
Our egg is on the left...the grocery store egg is on the right. See how much darker the yolk is and how much clearer the white is?
And look how much darker our fresh egg cooks up! Delicious! Everyone agreed the fresh egg tasted fresher and richer than the store-bought egg.
So, it’s settled…we love our eggs! We are thankful the Lord has provided us with the means to raise our own chickens and for the amazing creation that they are.
By the way, we did find out who our first layer was…Mary Ann. Ginger was our second. Hopefully our next one will be Mrs. Howell (a.k.a “Lovey”…but Lauren calls her “Babs”); then we’ll have all our “island girls” producing eggs for us!
Here's Mary Ann doing what she does best...that's not an egg in there with her, by the way. It's a golf ball. We put those in there to help them figure out where they were supposed to lay.
I’m linking this post up on the Barn Hop where you can check out other homestead adventures!
the beard family 
WOW! Amy I was not aware of the value of a free range chicken egg.
Thank You !! So much for that information. Now I do not feel guilt
eating scrambled eggs weekly. I do know as you shared they taste
a whole lot better than store bought, Have more color and do not give
me indigestion as store bought eggs do. I also know what my girls eat.
The bugs kind of creep me out, but God intended them to be gatherers of
insects and plants also.
blessings,
geralyn
Eat in peace, Mrs. Geralyn…they’re actually good for you!
That is so cool, Amy! Love this!
Dawn, we are loving these eggs. It’s hard not to eat eggs every morning for breakfast, but we’re still only getting 2 per day…not enough yet for our family!
Love this post! We only eat fresh farm eggs. We get ours from our neighbor, but hope to have a few chickens running around her next spring 🙂 It is quite amazing the difference in store bought and farm fresh!
I really had no idea they would taste so much better…they’re so good!
So excited for you! What a joy that you can eat your own eggs and be confident that they are the healthiest choice for your family! 🙂 Love the little man’s boots- I know a couple of boys who would envy those.
Quinn, you just can’t imagine the places those boots (thrifted at a garage sale, btw) have been…he definitely keeps them busy. Thanks for stopping by!
Love the expression on your little guys face..so cute.
Thanks, Connie.
You are so right about the fresh eggs, what a difference.