Let’s crack some questions for you
HOW SHOULD I STORE EGGS TO KEEP THEM FRESH?
Keep them refrigerated and only take them out about 30 minutes before you use them. Eggs can absorb flavors and odors so keep them in their cartons, pointed end down. Avoid washing them until they are ready to be used.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAGED, CAGE-FREE AND FREE-RANGE FARMING?
Caged means the hens are kept in tightly packed wired cages their whole life and denied all their freedom. Unable even to spread their wings and turn around, caged hens are unable to display natural behavior. This is an unethical and inhuman way to raise hens.
Cage-free or barn system means hens live in a confined area, between four walls. They are provided nest boxes to lay eggs. They have limited space for movement and can express only a few natural behavior. Often the pens are crowded with limited space, which leads to stress, pain and pecking each other.
Free Range means hens are allowed large open spaces to roam freely and to express all their natural behavior, a pen for night shelter and nests to lay eggs in privacy. Fresh air, sunshine and plenty of exercise keep them fit and healthy.
At Happy Hens, we raise our hens the free-range way. They are happy birds and lay the best eggs.
WHAT DO HAPPY HENS BIRDS FEED ON?
Hens in our farm feed on grains, fresh greens, herbs and other 100% organic supplements formulated in-house, making for a balanced, healthy diet.
Our Hens are fed with Flax seed cake to enrich the eggs with Omega 3.
Our feed is natural no animal by-product is fed to our birds. The feed is free from antibiotics, hormones and synthetic supplements.
In addition, our hens indulge in natural scavenging in the range and feed on highly nutritious greens, seeds and bugs. These feeding practices helps our hens lay nutritious & the best tasting eggs.
WHY ARE HERBS FEDS TO HENS AND WHAT HERBS ARE THESE?
We include herbs in the diet of our hens. The herbs may be of medicinal purpose for hens or to enrich the nutritive value of the eggs. In most cases it serves both purpose.
We feed our hens herbs with a high medicinal value such as Brahmi, Basil, Sweet flag, Turmeric, Nilavembu, KeelaNelli, Neem and Aloevera.
ARE BIRDS DE-BEAKED AT HAPPY HENS?
No, we do not practice de-beaking at Happy Hens. Beaks are vital for the hens to engage in their natural instincts like foraging for food in the range, cleansing their feather and de-ticking.
WHAT DOES HORMONE-FREE AND ANTIBIOTIC-FREE EGGS MEAN?
No hormones are used to advance or increase the egg production and weight of the bird. Antibiotic-free means the birds’ diet is free from non-therapeutic antibiotics. At Happy Hens, we use medicinal herbs and traditional remedies like Panchagavya for the wellbeing of our birds.
WHY DOES EGGSHELL COLOR VARY AND DOES EGG QUALITY VARY WITH THE COLOR OF THE SHELL?
Color changes in the eggshell are due to pigments called porphyrins being deposited while the eggs are in the process of formation. The process of color change is linked to the breed of a bird, which means color change is natural. Additionally, shell color has nothing to do with egg quality, flavor, nutritive value or cooking characteristics.
Happy Hens eggs vary in shell color from tan to dark brown and, occasionally, white.
WHY DOES EGGSHELL COLOR GET RUBBED OFF IN BROWN EGGS WHEN BOILED?
No, The Happy Hens Farm eggs are not dyed. It is natural coloring by our beautiful girls. Egg shell is calcium carbonate which is naturally white. Brown shells are due to pigments called porphyrins being deposited in the last hour of shell formation. This layer is still calcium based and alkaline. Hence the color loss when boiled or rubbed hard. Additionally, shell color has nothing to do with egg quality, flavor, nutritive value or cooking characteristics.
Happy Hens eggs vary in shell color from tan to dark brown and, occasionally, white
WHY DOES THE EGG YOLK COLOR VARY BETWEEN EGGS? DOES YOLK COLOR INDICATE THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF AN EGG?
The carotenoids in the hen’s feed make the yolks yellow. Carotenoids occur naturally in plants, fruits and vegetables. The greater the quantity of these colorful substances in the hen’s diet, the stronger the shade of the yolk. While the yolk color is not an indicator of nutritive value, a golden upright yolk signifies good quality eggs.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FERTILE & INFERTILE EGGS?
The difference is weather a rooster was involved or not in egg production. Hens do not need a rooster to lay eggs. Hens ovulate regularly. Such eggs are infertile. However, when a hen mates with a rooster, the eggs produced are fertile and under right incubation can bear chicks. There is no nutritional difference between fertile and infertile eggs. Happy Hens eggs are infertile.
WHY DO BLOOD SPOTS OCCUR IN EGGS?
Blood spots occur when blood or a bit of tissue is released along with yolk. Each developing yolk in a hen’s ovary is enclosed in a sac containing blood vessels that supply yolk-building substances. When the yolk is mature, it is normally released from the only area of the yolk sac, called the stigma or suture line that is free of blood vessels. Occasionally, the yolk sac rupture, causing blood vessels to break and blood to appear in the yolk or the white. Blood spots occur in less than one percent of all eggs laid. Blood spots may be triggered by too little vitamin A in a hen’s diet, or they may be hereditary.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FERTILE & INFERTILE EGGS?
The difference is weather a rooster was involved or not in egg production. Hens do not need a rooster to lay eggs. Hens ovulate regularly. Such eggs are infertile. However, when a hen mates with a rooster, the eggs produced are fertile and under right incubation can bear chicks. There is no nutritional difference between fertile and infertile eggs. Happy Hens eggs are infertile.