Audrey Real free-range eggs

[Guest guest]

That's really interesting, Nancy. I loved hearing about your chickens! I

brought my grandma some eggs from the Craigslist lady, too, and she's

excited to see if they taste like the ones she remembers growing up on the

farm. She mentioned that they had hens that laid dark, dark brown eggs, too,

but couldn't remember what breed they were. I'll have to forward her your

email (she'll be 88 in August and is online at least 2 hours a day!)

 

Audrey S.

 

On Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 4:45 PM, nancy curtis <nancihankwrote:

 

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> The color of the shells of the eggs that are laid free-range depends on

> what breed the

> hens are. I have about 30 hens......I have Ameracauanas, which lay the blue

> or green or pinkish eggs, I have Red Sex Link and Black Sex Link that lay

> brown eggs, and then I have a variety of other breeds that lay either brown

> or white. If you look at a chickens " ear " lobes....that flappy area that

> hangs down behind the ear and beak, it will either be red or white. If it is

> red, the chicken lays brown or colored eggs.....if it is white, the hen lays

> white eggs. I know a lot of people who have chickens on " farm " or small

> ranches, or homesteads, and they also have chickens that lay all colors of

> eggs. And there are commercial concerns that keep brown egg layers in cages

> along with white egg layers. They usually charge more for the brown eggs in

> the grocery store.

> I am getting some day old baby chicks in late May.....some are a breed

> called Welsummers and some are Cuckoo Marans......these two breeds lay eggs

> that are almost the color of chocolate! I can hardly wait. I am also getting

> some Buff, Dark and Light Brahmas (2 of each) and 2 Silver Gray Dorkings

> that will be laying cream colored eggs which are referred to as being tinted

> but are actually just off-white. I am also getting more day old Ameracauanas

> and I hope they all lay the same beautiful sky blue eggs I am getting now. I

> only have one Ameracauana that lays a true olive greenish egg.

> The " flavor " of an egg has nothing to do with the color of the shell. The

> flavor comes from what the chicken eats.....grass, or greens, bugs of all

> sorts, lay pellets, and grains, and fresh vegetable and fruit scraps and the

> amount of actual sunshine (the Vitamin D) the chicken absorbs through her

> skin. Summer eggs are usually more flavorful and have a darker yellow or

> orange yolk due to more greens, more bugs and more sunshine being available.

> Just like homemade Summer butter is more yellow than winter butter.....the

> cows have more green grass to eat in the warmer months and the chlorophyll

> gives the butter a darker hue.

> Nancy C.

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