There is a lot of debate about the benefits, and even the definition, of free-range eggs. We can only rely on what we've seen published and tell you how we do things so you can be assured the eggs you're buying from us have come from hens raised in a humane, natural setting.

We consider the way we raise chickens to be truly free-range. Our chickens have a large coop to protect them from predators and inclement weather. It's also where their nest boxes are. The nest boxes are cleaned regularly to prevent any mess from droppings and eggs are collected several times per day. The floor of the coop receives a new layer of fresh bedding every two weeks, which helps compost the droppings. This continues through to the winter when the layers of compost serve as a natural added heat source during the coldest parts of the year. In the early spring, the coop is completely cleared out and sanitized and the composting process starts over. It is again cleaned and sanitized in the fall to prepare for the winter months. The composted material is moved to our composting area to be used as natural fertilizer for our crops.

The chickens freely roam across 3 acres at the back of the farm. They scratch for insects and eat whatever vegetation they please. They have access to clean, fresh water at all times and are supplemented with grain in feeders when the foraging conditions aren't optimal (usually through the winter). They also get "treats" of vegetable scraps on occasion. In short, they're happy chickens!

We try not to lock the chickens in the coop; however, we've been forced to do so at night on a number of occasions to protect them from predators or extremely harsh weather. We figure a temporarily locked-up chicken is better than a dead one!

What we don't do:

We don't feed our chickens antibiotics or growth hormones - ever. We don't debeak or remove spurs or claws. We don't keep lights on 24 hours per day to keep them laying at a higher rate. We don't confine and feed them to force them to begin laying earlier than nature intended. We don't put them through starvation periods to force them into a molt and then back into production.

As a result of the way we do things, our eggs are large with bright orange yolks and tend to bind better when making baked goods; we're convinced they're also better for us. Again, no scientific research here, just our honest observations. But, if you want the numbers, take a look at these research figures from Mother Earth News (just one of the many sources we've found for the benefits of free-range eggs):

Our testing has found that, compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture may 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

For the full article, click here. You'll also see some critical remarks regarding their research methods - get both sides of the story. There are many articles out there (including from the National Egg Board) that say free-range eggs are no better for you than commercial eggs. We don't buy it.

Have more questions about our eggs? Email us ... we're always happy to talk about them!