It makes me laugh everytime I hear a producer or activist say for either conventional, cage free, or free range...It's the perfect systerm.
We all know the saying "Nothing is Perfect". So why keep pushing the idea of perfection into the minds of consumers!
Instead we need educate everyone! Consumers need to make their OWN decision on which to buy!
Our market system is based on the consumers' dollars. If a consumer buys a certain kind whether it is caged or roaming outside, let them decide which they think is best.
I'm tired of people (mainly it's been activists) forcing the industry to only sell a certain kind. And there is no way you can say they are not! Prop 2 is the GREATEST example!!!!!
In the next few weeks, I will be taking each system one by one and giving you the truth behind them.
What they usually look like, Positives, negatives, and my own opinion after raising hens in the system.
Truthfully, making a decision for me was based on seeing these farms...it is difficult to see any poultry farm because of biosecurity measures but I will do my best to give you the truth on each system in the weeks to come.
(My Christmas with my mom is today!! :) soo...Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Settling the confusion
Ever go to the store to buy eggs and feel overwhelmed by the selection?
White? Brown? Cage Free? Free Range? Organic? Whats the difference?
This post will be just for information on the difference between eggs you will find in the store; however, a post will come at a later time which will give positives and negatives of the housing systems.
Beginning with the easiest one..
White eggs and brown eggs are generally the same. Studies have found that neither brown nor white contain any nutriontal difference from each other. Also, most people cannot taste the difference.
The only difference is mainly the price. This is due to the fact that brown eggs are usually laid by Rhode Island Reds, a larger bird which needs more feed to produce the egg and takes up more space. Therefore, the producer has a higher expense for feed and housing this breed
While white eggs come from White Leghorn (Pronounce leg-ern) hens which are a smaller bird that does not eat as much as the larger birds.
Cage Free vs. Free Range are a tiny bit different.
Cage Free have set standards that require the birds to not be confined to the typical battery cage. The United Egg Producers (UEP) have created standards that give birds 1.5 square feet of space along with a perching area, nestboxes, and proper feed and water. Cage free are housed in a barn but are on the ground in a large area with room to run around, scratch, and root in the dirt.
Free Range are a niche market that do not have standards set. The idea behind free range is to allow birds access to outside through a small opening. The birds are able to go back and forth between inside and outside the barn.
Organic eggs are from free range chickens who eat organic food!
The price is higher because organic food is very expensive.
The organic food is usually made up of the same basic ingredients corn and soybean but must be from a 100% certified organic producer of the corn and soybean.
Each system has it's positive and negative effects on the bird; however, please remember that the industry workers and owners are not out to harm the birds in any way shape or form. This is their livelihood. These systems have been researched and tested to find a way to humanely produce enough eggs for families to buy the eggs at their reasonable price they are at.
White? Brown? Cage Free? Free Range? Organic? Whats the difference?
This post will be just for information on the difference between eggs you will find in the store; however, a post will come at a later time which will give positives and negatives of the housing systems.
Beginning with the easiest one..
White eggs and brown eggs are generally the same. Studies have found that neither brown nor white contain any nutriontal difference from each other. Also, most people cannot taste the difference.
The only difference is mainly the price. This is due to the fact that brown eggs are usually laid by Rhode Island Reds, a larger bird which needs more feed to produce the egg and takes up more space. Therefore, the producer has a higher expense for feed and housing this breed
While white eggs come from White Leghorn (Pronounce leg-ern) hens which are a smaller bird that does not eat as much as the larger birds.
Cage Free vs. Free Range are a tiny bit different.
Cage Free have set standards that require the birds to not be confined to the typical battery cage. The United Egg Producers (UEP) have created standards that give birds 1.5 square feet of space along with a perching area, nestboxes, and proper feed and water. Cage free are housed in a barn but are on the ground in a large area with room to run around, scratch, and root in the dirt.
Free Range are a niche market that do not have standards set. The idea behind free range is to allow birds access to outside through a small opening. The birds are able to go back and forth between inside and outside the barn.
Organic eggs are from free range chickens who eat organic food!
The price is higher because organic food is very expensive.
The organic food is usually made up of the same basic ingredients corn and soybean but must be from a 100% certified organic producer of the corn and soybean.
Each system has it's positive and negative effects on the bird; however, please remember that the industry workers and owners are not out to harm the birds in any way shape or form. This is their livelihood. These systems have been researched and tested to find a way to humanely produce enough eggs for families to buy the eggs at their reasonable price they are at.
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