Casto River Farm: Different sources of eggs

The eggs you buy are usually either conventional white eggs or brown organic eggs. But how do you tell which colour is organic and which is conventional? Actually not by colour as some white eggs are from free-range chickens such as those at Casto River Farms. 

Here is how eggs are classified according to how the chickens are raised and what they eat. 

Organic eggs

Organic eggs come from chickens that eat a vegetarian diet and are free from animal meat, pesticides and other chemicals. 

Chickens who lay organic eggs must live in a cage-free environment and are free to pasture outdoors, even if it is just a small pen or an enclosed yard. The chickens must be able to roam around in nature and be protected from animal predators.

That’s the reason why the cost of organic eggs is usually double the cost of commercial eggs because of the expenses in meeting organic requirements.

Free-range eggs

Free-range eggs are not the same as organic eggs. Free-range eggs must come from hens that can move about freely both up and down in indoor houses. Different farms use a variety of enclosures and sheds because there are no strict standards on how much space hens should have. 

This is not the traditional meaning of free-range chickens. You will find real free-range chickens in rural areas like Casto River Farms where there are wide open spaces for the birds to roam around and look for their own food.

Hens that produce free-range eggs must have access to fresh food and water. They must also be able to go outside whenever they want throughout their laying cycle. Often enclosures have fences or netting.

Farmers must provide areas that will enable the birds to live as naturally as possible, such as scratching areas, perches and nests. The environment must allow the hens to behave naturally like scratching for their own food. They also must be protected from animals that will prey on them for food.

Conventional eggs

These are your regular supermarket eggs and they come from poultry farms that are packed and crowded. The birds have little or no opportunity to follow their instincts to peck, scratch, flap, run, perch and take dust baths. 

These chicken farms are primarily farming the eggs not the chicken, that’s why the birds are fed with chemicals that make them lay eggs several times a day. They are given grains mixed with vitamins and minerals. They are housed in sheds without natural daylight.

A special type of conventional eggs is called Omega-3 enriched eggs. They can be classified as genetically modified because their feed is added with Omega-3 which may come from chemical vitamins and minerals. 

It’s not easy to find free-range farms where hens can freely roam in open space with natural sunlight. But these pastured eggs are more nutritious because of their natural diet. 

How to spot a good egg

Eggs are one of the most important kitchen staples you should always have on hand. But not a lot of people know what to look for when buying eggs and that’s because it’s a lot more difficult than you would think. If you want to know how to spot a good egg, here are some pointers to consider:

Check the grades

You’ve either learned or seen how eggs are graded using a letter scheme. You may not have given much thought to what these grades mean, but they play a role in choosing which eggs to buy.

The egg’s consistency is assessed using a technique known as ‘candling,’ which involves exposing the egg’s interior to bright light. Afterwards, their grades are determined as below:

• Grade A: The shell is clean and uncracked, the yolk is round and centred, the white is solid, and the air cell is thin. These eggs are available for purchase in stores for all Canadians to enjoy. 
• Grade B: Eggs with an uncracked shell that may have a rough texture, a slightly flattened yolk or a thinner white. These eggs are sold for use in commercial baking or to be processed later.
• Grade C: Eggs with a broken and/or stained shell, a flattened yolk or a watery white. These eggs are only used in the manufacture of egg products that have been processed.

The volume and weight of the eggs have no bearing on the grading neither does the hue, as brown and white eggs are graded differently. Only the consistency counts when grading eggs. 

Examine for cracks

Choose eggs with smooth, uncracked shells. If you see some holes in the eggs, don’t buy them because salmonella will get into the interior. Before using the egg, crack it in a white, clean bowl. Examine the whites and yolk for any blue, pink, black or green discolouration, which could imply bacteria formation. If that’s the case, don’t use the egg.

Check the yolk

A fresh egg contains 58% egg white, 32% yolk and 10% shell. The yolk of a freshly laid egg will be firm and round. An egg’s internal consistency begins to deteriorate once it is laid, and the longer it is stored, the worse it becomes.

As the egg gets older, the yolk begins to extract water from the egg white and expands in bulk. When this happens, the yolk’s translucent casing weakens and enlarges. The yolk then starts to develop spots and appears flat.

So, which eggs are the best to buy? 

If your wellbeing is a priority and you’re concerned about animal cruelty, pasture-raised or locally grown eggs are the best option. Eggs from naturally raised or free-range chickens are often referred to as “farm eggs.”

Chickens raised naturally have access to pastures where they can forage for their own food. Natural diets are better for chickens. Many people believe that choosing eggs from natural-raised chickens is both environmentally and ethically responsible.

Here at Castor River Farm, we strive to produce the freshest, highest quality eggs possible for you and your family.

Building your own farm is both a rewarding and stressful experience. It usually involves many things like your livestock, crops, land and many more. Since there are many things to consider, we will provide you with various tips to help you get started on creating a farm. Read to know more about it below.

Draft a plan. 

If this is your first time starting a farm, make sure to have a business, an operational and a strategic plan on paper before doing anything else. Here are other things to keep in mind:

• Make sure to take note of where you are, where you want to be, and how you want to get there. You also need to add your personal, business and financial objectives.
• Creating an analysis based on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (also called a SWOT analysis) are also necessary so that you may evaluate if investing in a farm is a sensible idea. 

Check your financial situation.

Remember, farming requires an investment each year to maintain operations. SOme of the costs that you need to pay are things such as land rental, equipment maintenance, and funds to sustain your crops and livestock. Additional costs that are going to be faced each year are:

• Fuel and maintenance for equipment are also included for your tractors. Some of the gas that you need to purchase include diesel oil, hydraulic oil, engine oil, and other items to keep your machinery running.
• Seeds and fertilizer are also needed to produce a crop. For this reason, you’ll need to invest in these every year.
• To protect your crops, on the other hand, chemicals are needed since they can repel insects, diseases, and invasive plants/weeds.
• Utility bills such as electrical power and other power tools beyond are also needed if you want to keep your farm running.
• Last but not the least, foods to maintain your farm animals are also important.

Research the climate history of your area. 

Remember, the climate is one of the most important factors that affect a farming operation. Researching the climate history surrounding your farm will help you know what to look out for and if you need to relocate. Here are other things to keep in mind:

• Some of the climatic data you may want to look into is storm frequency and types, flooding and drought history.
• Whether or not you are starting a farm, make sure to familiarize yourself with this information to know what kind of farming operation you want to get started in.
• You can also go to a local agricultural office located in your county, state or province to look at the different reports on the different climatic conditions that have happened throughout the years.

GEORGE GRINDING GRAINS @ THE FARMERS’ MARKET