Are the hens at vital farms raised organic?

The hens are raised in the same way according to similar standards, but all their pasture and feed is organic. I like how Vital Farms gives you a little report onwhat’s happening on the farm (Backyard Eggs does this too) and that all the eggs look different from each other.

What is the difference between vital farms and backyard eggs?

Vital Farms. Backyard Eggs and Vital Farms are products from the same company, but the Vital Farms eggs are Certified Organic. The hens are raised in the same way according to similar standards, but all their pasture and feed is organic.

Are vital farms fed soy?

I also have found that compared to my neighbor’s backyard raised hens, the yolks of the vital farms are less yellow. Other things to note. Nowhere can I find that vital farms are NOT fed soy.

Are soy free eggs still good?

As someone who has struggled a lifelong battle with my thyroid, I’m very pleased I can find eggs certified soy free. That being said, the above mentioned eggs are still good but they all come from chickens that have been been fed soy feed.

What do hens eat?

Alongside the food they forage, our girls receive supplemental feed. The supplemental feed consists primarily of corn and unprocessed soybean meal which the hens need for protein as well as additional natural ingredients including paprika and marigold which, along with their outdoor snacks, provide nutrients and help the hens produce eggs with deep orange yolks that our consumers prefer . Our supplemental feed is developed by an animal nutritionist, ensuring the girls receive all the nutrients they need to support their health, active lifestyles, and overall wellbeing.

Why do hens have different yolk colors?

Everything a hen eats including pasture grazing and supplemental feed impacts yolk color. Because the girls are pasture-raised, it’s natural for yolk color to vary. This variation is affected by how often hens eat and what they eat. In the summer, the girls tend to eat less due to the warmer temperatures.

How long do hens stay in a pullet house?

Female chicks, also known as pullets, are then transported at one day old to a pullet house for 17 weeks.

Why do eggs taste so good?

We believe our eggs taste so good because our pasture-raised hens live happy, healthy lives! Our girls’ fresh-air lifestyle is full of foraging and feasting on natural goodness, which shines through in every egg. If you’ve never cracked open a pasture-raised egg, your culinary life is about to change.

What is non-GMO project?

Non-GMO Project is a trusted verification for consumers looking to avoid GMO products. For eggs, the Project verifies that our girls are fed a Non-GMO diet conducting annual inspections of the feed mill that produces our supplemental feed. They also perform traceability audits at our packing facilities to ensure that we only pack non-GMO eggs into our non-GMO cartons. We’re proud to be the first in the U.S. to offer Non-GMO Project Verified pasture-raised eggs.

How many square feet do pasture raised chickens get?

Pasture-raised eggs are laid by hens that spend their days outdoors roaming the pastures as they please. Our pasture-raised girls get a minimum of 108 square feet EACH – unlike free range and cage-free birds that have far less freedom. Free range hens typically get a minimum of 2 square feet per bird and have limited access to the outdoors.

How many square feet do chickens need?

Free range hens typically get a minimum of 2 square feet per bird and have limited access to the outdoors. Cage-free birds get a minimum of 1.2 square foot per bird and may rarely, if ever, see the sunlight. We make sure our girls have access to fresh air and sunshine year-round.

Why are vital farms bad?

The consumers are also alleging that Vital Farms causes hens to lay far more eggs than they naturally would, taxing their bodies and leading to health issues such as osteoporosis. Based on admissions made by Vital Farms’ founder and executive chair, Matthew O’Hayer, the consumers also allege that when hens stop laying enough eggs to be profitable, they’re sold to pet food companies and killed for cheap meat, likely right alongside hens raised in factory farms. Despite all this, Vital Farms deceptively touts its “humane treatment of farm animals” in every carton, alongside photos that misleadingly show hens free to roam on green grass.

Why do hens lay more eggs than they would naturally?

The consumers are also alleging that Vital Farms causes hens to lay far more eggs than they naturally would, taxing their bodies and leading to health issues such as osteoporosis.

What are the burns on chickens?

The hens get lung lesions, ammonia burns, and breast blisters from sitting on urine- and feces-covered floors. “Organic,” “pasture-raised,” “cage-free,” “free-range,” and factory farms typically use the same slaughterhouses, where birds are hung upside down and their throats are cut.

Do Vital Farms keep birds?

The birds at Vital Farms suppliers are kept in conditions that cause many of them to spend most or all their time indoors—not in “pastures,” as the company would lead you to believe with the words and images displayed on its products.

Is PETA a class action lawsuit?

Well, we’re not buying it, and neither should you. PETA has assisted misled consumers in filing a class action lawsuit against Vital Farms, Inc., because of the company’s allegedly false claims that it treats animals in an ethical and humane manner.

Is there a humane way to exploit animals?

Anyone who cares about animals needs to make the connection: There is no humane way to exploit them.

What are the most nutritious eggs?

Eggs from pasture-raised hens are the most nutritious and tastiest in my opinion. Backyard Eggs provide at least 108 square feet of pasture per bird, so the hens have a huge amount of space to roam and eat grass, bugs, worms, etc. (eating these little critters are what make the egg yolks so golden).

What is the only brand of eggs I keep returning to?

The only brand I keep returning to is Nellie’s Eggs. The proof for an egg in in the yolk and Nellie’s are always bright orange and rich. You just know those hens are out pecking on worms in addition to their vegetarian feed. I have yet to come across any other eggs (Vital included) that produces such beautiful eggs on a consistent basis.

What does the color of the yolk mean?

The color of the yolk can be an indicator of good wholesome feeding, however, it can be easily manipulated . I do know of some companies who will feed the hens Marigold blossoms to create an oranger yolk. ??

How many square feet are happy egg hens?

The farms where Happy Egg hens live do vary (this is from one of their farms) but 14 square feet is a minimum. 2) Pasture-raised eggs graze on pasture much of the time, and are able to peck and eat whatever they find in the dirt/grass, which may include worms and bugs (that’s what gives those super yellow yolks).

How much does Vital Farms eggs cost?

Vital Farms eggs are more expensive, but you are guaranteedeggs from hens who have never been exposed to pesticides or antibiotics. Cost: $6.99/dozen. A note on cost. If you’re buying eggs for less than $3-4/dozen, odds are verygood that your eggs come from inhumanely treated hens.

How to determine egg yolk color?

Egg yolk color is determined by the amount of xanthophylls included in the feed, Xanthophylls are natural pigments found in nature in only plant and vegetable sources. They are not found in the worms and little bugs. Yellow corn has about 8 mg xanthophylls per pound.

What is the trickiest food in the grocery store?

Eggs are one of the trickiest foods at the grocery store.

Is There Soy in the Eggs?

Why buy soy free eggs? Do eggs have soy estrogen in them? Actually , the fact that studies show that when hens are fed soy, the soy estrogen is carried through the eggs that we consume. The soy health concerns rise rapidly. One study’s conclusion states: “Isoflavone concentrations in egg yolks, liver and kidneys of laying hens can be successfully increased by supplementing the diet with an isoflavone rich source. . . A soy free diet can result in hen eggs and tissues without any quantifiable levels of isoflavones.”

Why is soy estrogen bad for you?

Since phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogens) are a problem, then why not reduce our intake of them? And so, too much soy estrogen causes poor health conditions due to the fact of the abundance of phytoestrogen in it.

What is a local farm?

The local farms, that is the small scale family farm, sustainable operations, with pasture raised eggs offer vitality. Practices of care and concern in the production for healthful food yields quality.

Where is soy lecithin found?

We find it in many of the processed foods in America today. Surprisingly to many, a good lecithin naturally occurs in egg yolks where no soy has be fed to the chickens. And this lecithin naturally found in egg yolks without soy feeding holds health benefits versus the soy lecithin!

Why are small farms sustainable?

Because of the support of locavores, these small farms realize sustainability. And they understand eggs without commercial washing. In sincerity, they appreciate this opportunity and desire to do their best to provide fresh, quality, healthful eggs for you to enjoy. Stronger healthier communities unfold with the promotion of local small scale farms. Thank you for your part.

What is Swiss Villa?

Swiss Villa works somewhat as a food hub working with small local farms. And numerous small scale farms, mixed-use farmers who have a few hundred pasture raised eggs to help supplement their livelihoods by selling eggs via Swiss Villa. Ask your locally owned market to stock these family farm fresh eggs in their dairy cooler.

Can you eat soy free eggs?

Egg allergies — yes, some folks choose to try eggs from soy-free-fed hens for this reason. Soy proteins transfer into the eggs from the feed.

What is soy free pasture raised egg?

Soy-free pasture raised eggs are eggs laid by hens that are given no soy in their diets and that also have the freedom to flourish in pastures where they enjoy the sunny outdoors, as well as foraging for natural plants, worms and other insects.

Can you eat soy free eggs from pasture raised chickens?

Soy-free eggs from hens that are also pasture raised provide all the benefits of eating pasture raised eggs, while helping you avoid any concerns you might have about soy.

Do soy free hens have vitamin D?

Because our soy-free hens are pasture raised and Certified Humane, they get plenty of sunlight, and this makes their eggs naturally higher in vitamin D — as does the absence of soy which tends to deplete vitamin D.

Is pasture raised chicken soy free?

Our pasture raised soy-free hens are on a soy-free diet that makes their eggs not only ideal for those with soy allergies, but also for anyone who wants a very good-for-you egg — and cares about how hens are treated.

Is soy a food allergen?

Soy is one of the top eight most common food allergens. In fact, some people who are allergic to chicken eggs are actually allergic to the soy which is found in mostly in the yolks.