The Truth About Cage Free Eggs
As I grow wiser and more compassionate, I am leaning more and more towards a vegetarian diet. For now, vegan is not for me, however I will not be surprised if one day I jump off the fence and jump into the vegan life. Meanwhile, I continue to try to purchase humane non-vegan foods.
I started buying “Cage Free” eggs a few years ago after I learned of the horrible living conditions of caged hens. Caged hens are crammed into small cages, their beaks are removed and they live in cold, dark indoor pens. The hens cry in misery and live only about ¼ as long as pastured hens. Their feed is far from their natural diet. Instead they are fed a mixture of the cheapest grains that are lacking in nutrients. So cage free sounded great to me. Well, that is what the marketers of “cage free” eggs would like us to think. The truth is, that cage free hens lives are just as miserable as the caged hens. While it is true, they are not in cages, they are still kept in cramped, dark, cold, cement floored, indoor conditions. They are just as sickly and miserable, and have no better diet than caged hens.
On a postive note pastured eggs are eggs from hens that truly live outdoors or have daily access to the outdoors. They are usually kept in a coop at night to protect them from predators. They have not been debeaked and live in a natural environment allowing them to eat their natural diet of insects, worms, seeds, and green plants along with a supplement of grains or laying mash (a specialized feed rich in calcium, protein, fat, fiber, amino acids and phosphorous). These are truly happy hens!
If this doesn’t sell you on pastured eggs take a look at this! The Mother Earth News 2007 Egg Testing Project found that compared to supermarket eggs, pastured eggs contain:
½ less cholesterol
¼ 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
This is truly good news for both egg eating humans and egg laying hens!
Finding pastured eggs is not as hard as one would think in our google connected world. Google pastured eggs with the name of your geographical area and you are sure to find your source for pastured eggs. Sure, it may not be quite as convenient as picking up a dozen at your supermarket, but you may find the spirit of adventure in you that has been waiting to burst out and experience something new!
Sources:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Tests-Reveal-Healthier-Eggs.aspx
http://www.cheeseslave.com/2009/02/20/how-to-buy-organic-eggs-pastured-vs-free-range-eggs/
http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/behind-the-cage-free-label/
Admin said:
Wow, I had no idea things were so bad for the cage free hens, much less regular hens. I’m not familiar with pastured eggs, but will look for those the next time I go to the market.
Thank you for the insightful post!
April 16th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Cheryl said:
I think it is preferable to get eggs from a local farm where you know the hens really do roam free. I have found one brand at the supermarket that states they are from free roaming hens. I have been meaning to research the brand to verify. I will post my findings.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Cheryl said:
This just in from Farm Sanctuary’s Anti-confinement Campaign…
“This week the governor of Maine signed into law a bill that will protect farm animals by banning veal crates and gestation crates! The bill’s passage makes Maine the sixth state in the nation to prohibit certain types of extreme confinement of farm animals. Last fall, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 2, a ballot initiative that also eliminates veal crates and gestation crates as well as battery cages for egg-laying hens in the state. Farm Sanctuary was a main backer of this landmark legislation, as well as similar successful anti-confinement initiatives in Florida and Arizona. In addition, Oregon and Colorado have passed laws prohibiting certain cruel factory farming confinement practices.
What’s more, Maine’s enactment of this law comes on the heels of last Tuesday’s introduction of a groundbreaking anti-confinement bill in New York state, as well as similar pending legislation we are working on in Illinois, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Thank you for supporting Farm Sanctuary and enabling us to be a powerful force for change for millions of farm animals throughout the nation. Help us to keep the momentum created by these successes by doing your part to end the cruel confinement of calves raised for veal, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens in your state!”
Click the link below to find out how you can get involved in urging our state governments to require humane farm conditions.
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/get_involved/alert_cruel_confinement.html
May 17th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Cheryl said:
Here are some resources for finding pastured eggs and meats in Colorado.
Pastured eggs in Colorado
http://www.localsustainability.net/?page_id=10
http://vanila6789.tripod.com/id17.html
Pasture raised meats in Colorado
http://www.eatwild.com/products/colorado.html
http://www.barebottomranch.com/home.html
June 12th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Lynn said:
I had no idea that cage free hens lived in such horrible conditions. I could only hope the government will put a halt to these conditions and voters can pass propostions for pastured eggs.
January 5th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Lynn said:
No further comment
January 5th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Cheryl said:
Unfortunately, I have read recently that even the eggs at the supermarket that are labeled free range are not necessarily free range in the way we would like to think so. The large egg companies, just like the meat companies and even the cleaning products companies, have found ways to get around actually providing what they say they are providing. I bought some so called “green” bathroom cleaner (Clorox company) and when tried using it, I couldn’t even breath the fumes were so bad. Big industry, big businesses, and big banks have become something to avoid for me.
On a positive note, California is leading the way for the ethical treatment of animals. I have since become vegan as the more I learn of how poorly animals are treated, the more I cannot justify supporting the industry. I’ve come to believe that every life is just as important as the next and I don’t feel any life should end or suffer for me to have a few more choices in dining, clothing or furnishings. I actually have more variety in my diet since going vegan and I have lost 16 pounds without trying. I feel better inside and out.
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