All About Egg Yolks!
The knowledge of egg yolks being the indicator for a chickens diet became a hot commodity some years ago. While that information still holds try today, there are some add on tidbits that we feel are good to know when purchasing eggs as a consumer shopping at your local farm!
T h e S c i e n c e
Egg Yolk Color
When the hen is consuming whichever diet she is being given, her body stores specific components that alter the color and the flavor the yolk in her eggs. The compounds responsible for the color variations are so named Carotenoids, being found in foraging plants flowers, herbs and insects. Unfortunately, since the science surrounding yolk color has been explored quite a bit, bigger corporations have figured out a way to add something called canthaxanthin which is a color additive to fake the appearance of a healthy low wheat diet.
Time Of Year (be gracious)
If you’re purchasing from your local small farm and its late winter to early spring, be gracious! Especially if you live in an area with plenty of snowfall, your chickens keepers have had to mainly rely on their feed source to keep them alive. Since we know that diet can greatly effect the color of your yolks, high end organic herbs and spices and a wide variety of insects like these …
Paprika
Turmeric
Marigolds
Redpepper Flakes
High quality proteins like larvae and bugs
can get extremely pricey. If your farm is able to afford this amazing access to whole food feeds and these additives, the price of eggs will be reflective of the luxurious feed options being purchased. Many of these additives in the feed can sometimes be attacked as an intentional way of deceiving customers, most all of the NATURAL foods given that alter color, are also excellent sources of ways to boost immune and overall health of the bird !
Spot The Difference
So how do you know if you’re getting the real thing or if you’re getting dupped with color additives ? Here are a few ways
1. FLAVOR! A hen given a superior diet and lifestyle is going to have superior flavor of egg. This goes for other form of poultry as well.
2. Texture. If you’ve got a dark yolk but the egg lacks flavor and is rubbery in texture (for the exception of a duck egg cooked at too high a temperature) then suspicions begin to raise!
3. Visit the farm. We always advocate for folks to visit the farm they purchase from or at the very least ask every question they want too when it comes to how the animals are kept and what they are fed! After all, farmer needs the consumer as well! Too often we see a prideful attitude and almost an offence at being probed as to their practices but we find that this is where small farmers and homesteaders should THRIVE!
AS ALWAYS… ask us about our eggs! We’d be happy to sell ya some! All of our practices can be found all over the site and in the “about the farm” page as well.
Happy Egg Hunting !
