Brave Hen Pastured Eggs
“You can take our eggs, but you can never take our freedom.”
Here at 3 Bears Farm we’re on a mission to provide our customers with top quality, ethically produced food, no exception.
While many people believe ‘free-range’ is all about hens enjoying a natural life free to roam, the reality is that stocking density dictates the label. For example, free-range egg farms can keep a maximum of 10,000 laying hens per hectare, which equates to one hen per square metre and there’s nothing particularly free about that!
In comparison pastured egg hens enjoy a maximum stocking density of to 1,500 hens per hectare (7 square meters per bird). These happy chooks also get plenty of access to fresh air, sunlight and all the bugs and insects they can find.
On 3 Bears Farm our stocking density is even lower and better still, our ‘Brave Hen’ ladies play a massive role in our regenerative agriculture journey. This means we continuously move their mobile chicken caravan home every few days so they continue to get access to fresh ground, lots of bugs and in return they poop all over our paddocks improving our pasture.
This results in a better life for our hens and tastier healthier eggs for you…..YUM!
The Science
Many people don’t realise that chickens are naturally omnivores, and should be eating bugs, insects, and grubs, which in return produces nutrient-rich eggs.
Eggs are one of best sources of protein available. Egg whites contain a lot of the amino acids while the yolk is rich with vitamins and minerals.
According to a study from 2007 Mother Earth News egg testing project, conventional farmed eggs are nutritionally inferior to pastured eggs. Compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain:
- 1⁄3 less cholesterol
- 1⁄4 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
- 4–6 times more vitamin D
