Here we will discuss everything you need to know about backyard chicken eggs vs. store-bought eggs. Keep reading to learn more.
If you are wondering whether backyard chicken eggs and different than store-bought eggs, you have come to the right place.
Raising commercial laying hens looks different than raising chickens in your backyard. The two are raised in different environments with different lifestyles.
Therefore, there is a huge difference in their eggs’ color, taste, and nutritional value.
Store-bought Eggs
Store-bought eggs are also known as conventional eggs and come from hens that are raised in factory-like environments or very tight spaces.
They are the cheapest types of eggs you will get at your nearest grocery store.
Most of the eggs consumed in the USA are from birds living in cages. Such birds are overcrowded and do not have good living conditions.
They do not get to eat bugs, grass, and other foods nature has for them.
Here are some of the cons of store-bought eggs.
- Most hens that lay store-bought eggs are given antibiotics throughout their life.
- Conventionally raised chickens that produce these eggs do not get to eat bugs, insects, grass, and the good food that nature has to offer.
- They are not raised humanely.
- They can easily spread diseases like salmonella because of their poor living conditions.
- A Diet consistent with non-organic chicken feed may be a GMO diet.
Backyard Chicken Eggs
Backyard chicken eggs are considered better than store-bought eggs. They are produced by chickens living in a backyard environment.
These birds are offered the best care and good nutrition. They can access bugs, grass, and other foods that nature offers.
By purchasing backyard chicken eggs, you will be supporting a backyard chicken keeper. They also have better nutritional value than store-bought eggs.
In addition, by purchasing backyard chicken eggs, you will have peace of mind that no hormones or antibiotics were used to produce them.
Differences Between Backyard Chicken Eggs And Store-bought Eggs
If you think all eggs are the same, then you are wrong. There is quite some difference between backyard chicken eggs and store-bought eggs.
For instance, the two do not have the same nutritional value. Here are some of the key differences between the two.
Nutritional Difference
Backyard chickens mostly forage for food, and their diet is comprised of insects, seeds, berries, and plants.
Birds that spend most of their time in their coops are exposed to wandering insects and occasional treats.
In addition, backyard chickens are exposed to sunlight, which can affect the nutritional value of their eggs.
The diet of backyard chickens allows their bodies to put more nutritional value into their eggs. Backyard chicken eggs have the following nutritional features.
- They have less saturated fat.
- They have lower amounts of bad cholesterol.
- They have more omega-3 fatty acids.
- More beta carotene
- They have higher amounts of vitamins A, E, and D.
Several studies have shown that backyard chicken eggs have more nutrients in them than store-bought eggs. Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for the functioning of bodies.
They also help to prevent our bodies from different chronic diseases. But why do backyard chicken eggs have more fatty acids? It is simple!
It is because such birds are allowed to feed a wide variety of things, such as flowers, corn, leafy greens, and bags.
The vitamins in backyard chicken eggs are also beneficial to our bodies. Although store-bought eggs also have vitamins, they do not have as many vitamins as backyard chicken eggs.
The latter is regarded as one of the best sources of vitamin D, which prevents various health issues.
Taste And Appearance
There are mixed opinions about the flavor of backyard chicken eggs vs. store-bought eggs.
While some farmers maintain that there is no difference between the two, others have said that backyard chicken eggs are better tasting and richer than store-bought eggs.
However, studies have shown there is not a detectable difference in the taste of backyard chicken eggs and store-bought eggs.
Backyard chicken eggs tend to have thicker shells than store-bought eggs. This is because backyard hens have more access to calcium can commercial layers.
Calcium is essential in the formation of a strong eggshell. Therefore, backyard chicken eggs are tougher and thicker.
Backyard chicken eggs have firmer and fuller yolks. Their yolks are also darker (can be dark yellow or orange) than those of store-bought eggs. Store-bought egg yolks are usually pale yellow.
You will also notice a difference in the consistency of the egg whites of the two.
Store-bought eggs have runnier egg whites compared to backyard chicken eggs, whose whites are firmer and not very runny.
Generally, backyard chicken egg yolks tend to hold their shape better than those from commercial layers.
Cooking Comparisons
Although there may not be a bigger difference in terms of flavor between backyard chicken eggs and store-bought eggs, there are a few noticeable effects when you use both in baking and cooking.
Since backyard chicken eggs have a higher nutritional value, their yolks are fuller in color. Their egg whites are also stiffer and tend to hold together well.
You will rarely notice any flavor difference between store-bought eggs and backyard chicken eggs. However, the experience of cooking backyard chicken eggs is different and preferable.
How To Handle Your Eggs
Eggs can stay fresh for several months, depending on how you handle them. Here is how you can handle your eggs.
Keep The Eggs Clean
The cleanliness of your eggs will largely depend on how clean your coop is. You will need to change the nesting box bedding regularly, so it is clean.
Changing the bedding will also ensure it is thick enough that your eggs will not break.
You will also need to ensure that eggs are collected as often as possible. Coop litter should be replaced as needed, and roosts scrapped clean.
That way, your eggs will be clean and not caked with chicken poop or mud.
Avoid Washing Your Eggs
As a general rule, you should not wash your backyard chicken eggs immediately after collecting them. They have a natural bloom on the shell surface that keeps out bacteria and bacteria.
Therefore, it is important to leave the bloom intact to keep your eggs as fresh as possible.
If you wash your eggs, the bloom will be removed and leave them more vulnerable to bacteria. Besides, air will easily get in if the bloom is removed.
However, it is important to wash your hands after handling fresh eggs since there is a probability of bacteria on the outside of the shells.
Don’t Necessarily Refrigerate Them
While eggs do not necessarily have to be refrigerated, a day out on the counter at room temperature is equivalent to several days in the refrigerator.
Therefore, if you do not plan to use your eggs soon, it is best to put them in your refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are backyard chicken eggs healthier than store-bought eggs?
Different studies have shown that backyard chicken eggs are healthier than store-bought eggs.
They tend to have less cholesterol and saturated fat than store-bought eggs. In addition, they contain about twenty times more Omega-3 fatty acids and 255 more vitamin E.
Do backyard chicken eggs taste better than store-bought eggs?
Some chicken keepers have said that backyard chicken eggs have a better taste than store-bought eggs.
However, that cannot be scientifically proven since both the freshness of the egg and the diet of the hen do not affect the egg’s flavor.
Eggs laid by backyard chickens are perceived to taste better because these birds are exposed to a wide variety of treats.
Conclusion
If you thought all eggs were the same, you are wrong. There are a few differences between backyard chicken eggs and store-bought eggs.
For instance, backyard chicken eggs are considered healthier and have a higher nutritional value than store-bought eggs.
Many backyard chicken keepers have also said that their eggs have better than store-bought eggs.
