Recently one of my clients gave me 6 of her free range eggs (thank you Fiona and Rob) laid by her 3 hens which are proudly residing in the London Suburbs – proof, if ever it were needed that the good life is alive and kicking.  What a joy it was to have one of the most delicious omelettes for my breakfast that weekend with rich golden yolks - they were an almost saffron colour. 

This got me thinking about hens and eggs and what we think we’re buying when we dive into an egg.  Last weekend, when down at my local egg farm, I asked the farmer about them and here are a few interesting facts which I didn’t realise:

Battery Hens
Reared to: 41-43 days
Crowding: 17 chickens per square metre
Shelter: Caged, no access to outdoor runs
Diet: May contain antibiotics and growth hormones

Extensive indoor or barn reared
Reared to: 56 days
Crowding: 15 chickens per square metre
Shelter: In barns no access to outdoor runs
Diet: May contain antibiotics and growth hormones

Free Range
Reared to: 60-80 days
Crowding: 13 chickens per square metre
Shelter: Outdoor daytime access for half its life
Diet: grain fed and pellets

Traditional free range
Reared to: 81 days
Crowding: 12 chickens per square metre
Shelter: Continuous daytime access from 6 weeks old
Diet: Grain and pellet feed

 Organic
Reared to: 80-90 days
Crowding: varies
Shelter: continuous daytime access on pesticide-free organic land
Diet: Organic grain and water

Finally…… did you know?
Chickens are considered to be the closest living relative to Tyrannosaurus Rex...
And there are more chickens on this lovely planet of ours than people!