Here’s the article from Choice.

Before I show and tell, a bit of background understanding about eggs is important.

Egg Definitions

Free Range – hens have some access to the outdoors, though this can vary greatly. For eggs to be labelled free range, the Model Code of Practice says there should be a maximum of 1500 hens per hectare. But many brands keep 10,000 chooks per hectare and are still charging you free range prices.

Open Range – hens are roaming around in pasture

Cage free or Barn Laid – hens aren’t kept in cages but are allowed to roam around in barns

Factory Farmed– higher stocked densities of hens kept in battery cages, unable to move or engage in normal activity like lie down, stand up, groom themselves, or flap their wings.

In an ideal world we’d all be eating eggs from healthy chickens who scratch and forage for fresh bugs and insects and grubs, and whose diet is supplemented only with natural, organic feed. 

Eggs from these types of  open range/free range chooks are much richer in Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Omega 3’s and betacarotene than eggs from their caged counterparts.

I do understand that these type of eggs will set you back anywhere between $8-$11 a dozen, which obviously isn’t achievable for everyone, but the way I like to look at it is that for a dozen high quality, highly nutritious eggs, you’re paying less than for a single cafe brekky. Given the free range market is growing, it suggests there is much more interest and awareness around healthier eggs, and consumers continue to be duped with false labelling. So be careful, and make sure you get what you’re paying for.

Here is a list of free -range egg brands which meet the Model Code and are eggs I have been enjoying for many years.

Eggs I purchase from my local health food stores:

These can also be found in Woolworths.

Holbrook Paddock Free Range Eggs

Brigadoon Harvest Free Range Eggs

Egganic Eggs

Fraser Coast Organic

Eggs I purchase from Harris Farm:

Mulloon Creek Eggs

Eggs I purchase from my local supermarket:

Woolworths:

Macro Free Range eggs

Sunny Queen Organic Free Range Eggs

Southern Highlands Organic Eggs

Coles:

Sunny Queen Free Range Eggs

Have you heard of the CluckAr App? You just point your phone which will inform you on stocking density, amongst other things. 

BENEFITS OF EGGS

Good quality eggs provide a delicious high quality form of protein, and are a true superfood in my book, reducing the risk of many diseases, protecting our skin and eyes from UV damage, and improving our liver and brain function. Just make sure you know what you are paying for.

SOME OF MY FAMILIES FAVOURITE EGG RECIPES

Potato, Feta and Spinach Frittata

Egg Muffins

Oat, Seed and Date Bars

Cardamom Spice Cake

Please share in the comments which brands of eggs are your favourites and local to you as this will help others in different states.

Bren x