We recently expanded our laying hens to our fields.  In order to make a quick leap into this expansion we added 515 ready to lay pullets from Pennsylvania to our flock.  These are now pastured hens, so the eggs are better tasting, more nutritious and higher in Omega 3 fatty acids than normal eggs and even barn raised chicken eggs. 

According to this article from Mother Earth News,

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Tests-Reveal-Healthier-Eggs.aspx

free-range/pastured eggs can 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

 Our hens are raised on pasture and are free to scratch for bugs, graze on grass, chase each other around, take dust baths, preen and lie down in the warmth of the sun with plenty of room to spread their wings.

Because chickens cannot survive on pasture alone, we provide a grain based layer food. However, pastured chickens will get up to 30 percent of their nutritional needs from insects, grass, clover and other greens. As a result of this kind of diet, their eggs have higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin A, folic acid and carotenoids and half the cholesterol.

Several times a day baskets and baskets of eggs are collected, hand-washed, boxed and labeled.  The eggs range in color from your traditional brown to dark chocolate to pale pink.  We even have a few pale greenish ones produced by the few Araucana chickens we have.

Seasonality of eggs

Pastured eggs are seasonal -- the hens lay less as the days get shorter. In industrial confined egg operations they use artificial lights and a horrible practice called forced molting to overcome this. Terra Firma Farm does not do either. That means that starting in October, our egg production declines and by November, may be half what it is in the summer. However, while the ladies are resting and not earning their keep, they are eating even more expensive grain because of the cold weather. That's another reason why pastured eggs cost more.