Chickens and Eggs

December 11, 2013December 11, 2013

Cracking the Egg Myths

Eggs are the most convenient food to have in your fridge. Choosing what to do with your eggs is simple. It takes less than 5 minutes to make breakfast or you can boil them for other alternative meals. However, choosing what eggs to bring home is starting to become more of a challenge. What is the deal with organic eggs? Is there a difference? Brown Eggs, White Eggs, Free-Range, Cage-free are some of the choices available in supermarkets around the country. We decided to break down these options so that you could make a better decision about what to put in your cart and bring home.

Brown Eggs vs. White Eggs

Some people think that brown eggs are better for you because they are more expensive.

Well, we hate to break it to you guys, but there actually is no nutritional difference between the two. Interestingly enough, the color of the eggshell is determined based on the earlobe color of the chicken. White chickens with white earlobes lay white eggs and dark colored hens (brown, black red) with red earlobes lay brown eggs.

So why are they more expensive?

Some breeds of hens cost more to maintain. Hens are also typically larger than chickens and require more food. This in turn translates to a higher cost for consumers. Nutritionally speaking, based on the diet being fed to the animal some brands are better for you than others.

Cage Free vs. Free Range

Cage free sounds great. At first thought I would imagine wide-open spaces. But unfortunately that may not be the case. Cage-free means the chickens aren’t kept in the tiny battery cages used by a lot of egg operations. When chickens are confined in cages, a ton of bacteria infected dust is inhaled. This can cause stress to the animal before they lay. Cage-free eggs do not collect this dust and in turn do hold some better nutritional value.

Free-Range chickens are similar to cage free. They are kept outside of cages and are typically held in barns or warehouses. Their exposure to sunlight is limited and there is no guarantee that they are actually free and happy.

Currently the USDA has not set any standards for using the claim “cage free” or “free range” stamped on cartons.

The best type of egg for you is anything that has been stamped USDA Certified Organic. Egg cartons stamped with this logo come from operations that have annual audits by the government. They are fed certified-organic feed that is free of things like antibiotics, pesticides, and GMO’s.

For more information on eggs we recommend you watching a short documentary called “The Story of an Egg”:

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+

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September 18, 2013

Fascinating Chicken Facts

The majority of the time, chickens are not given the respect they deserve as animals. Why? It might be because most people don’t realize how truly fascinating and intelligent these animals really are! Interested in learning more about what makes chickens so darn cool? Read on to find out!

Full color vision

Unlike a great deal of animals, chickens actually have full-color vision. Because of this, they can distinguish between different surroundings and can communicate better with their offspring as well as any other species they come in contact with. Pretty cool, right?

REM sleep

Thought REM (rapid eye movement) sleep was just for humans? Think again! Chickens similarly experience REM sleep, which means they have dreams just like humans do. I wonder if they’ve ever dreamed about crossing the road!

Defend young from predators

Hens specifically are very protective of their babies, which is why they show extreme confidence in defending their young from any predators that approach them. Just when you thought calling someone a “chicken” meant they were afraid of something, turns out it might actually be a compliment!

Motherly traits

Just like a mother with her babies, chickens also talk to their off spring, even when they’re still in the womb. In fact, a mother hen begins teaching her baby chicks different calls before they even hatch! How cute is that?

Play time

Get this – chickens LOVE to play! When they’re given enough space to roam, chickens will jump, run, spa and even soak up the sun! What’s really sad is that only a small percentage of chickens are raised in the United States with the ability to roam any land at all, while most spend their entire lives in tiny cages, usually no larger than the size of an iPad.

Smarty pants

Did you think chickens were pretty dumb up until this point? If so, you are sadly mistaken. According to recent studies, chickens are actually very intelligent animals with a variety of attributes similar to that of their primates. From the ability to solve complex problems to demonstrating self control and worrying about the future, chickens are much brighter than they’re given credit for.

Memories

As humans, we have the ability to remember and store memories in a variety of ways. What many people don’t know is that chickens have the ability to recognize and memorize as well! While still not on the same level as humans, chickens are able to recognize and remember more than 100 different individuals, including humans.

Object permanence

As children develop, they begin to develop object permanence. Well guess what? Chickens have this ability as well. Even when an object is taken away from them or hidden, they’re able to comprehend the fact that the object still exists, which is something that many animals don’t have the ability to do.

Dinosaurs

Did you know that chickens are living dinosaurs? That’s right – research has proven that not only have chickens evolved from dinosaurs, but they are currently the closest living relative to the T. Rex, one of the most popular dinosaurs in history.

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+!

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August 14, 2013October 31, 2017

The Benefits of Raising Farm Animals

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O! We’ve all heard the nursery rhyme and recited it a time or two. However, old MacDonald had the right idea, raising animals on his farm. Just imagine feeding your family wholesome eggs, milk and meat produced in your own backyard. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Agriculture truly is the foundation of our society. If it weren’t for farmers, we wouldn’t have the nutritious food we eat day in and day out. Here are the benefits of raising farm animals:

Chemical free eggs

Nothing compares to fresh, great-tasting eggs for breakfast, seriously! Raising your own chickens will ensure you have chemical free, exceptionally clean and healthy eggs each morning. Whether it’s over easy or scrambled, you can make breakfast with the healthiest eggs on the market.

Fresh raw milk

There are many benefits to collecting fresh, raw milk. Because raw milk contains certain proteins and compounds, it has been known to cure allergies and even eczema. Milk is also extremely important for developing brains and nervous systems of infants and young children. Raising milk cows is a great way to give your kids the best milk available.

No artificial cheese

Many commercial cheeses contain GMOs (genetically modified organism). You will be happy to know that homemade cheese contains no artificial ingredients. Don’t even worry about the cooking process either. Some of the best cheeses were made entirely by mistake. You can raise goats or cows, either way your cheese will be absolutely delicious!

Grass-feed meat

Loaded with minerals and vitamins, grass-fed beef is naturally leaner than grain-fed beef. It’s also a great source of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which is a fat that can reduce the risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and a number of immune disorders. Whether you want to run a small backyard hobby farm or a large commercial ranch, your family can have grass-feed meat all year round.

In addition to fresh meat and dairy products, farming has many environmental benefits too. For example, farmers have an innate sense of loyalty and responsibility to the land on which they farm. Through sustainable agriculture, or the practice of farming ecologically, farmers can retain and protect their valuable farmland. They can also turn crop waste and animal manure into fertilizers. As a result, they can enrich the soil and reroute rainwater to fuel the irrigation system. Not only does sustainable agriculture save money, but it also conserves natural resources.

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+!

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January 24, 2013January 24, 2013

The Incredible Edible Egg

It’s January, and in honor of National Egg Month, we’ve decided to talk about the health benefits of the incredible, edible egg. Over the years, eggs have taken a lot of criticism for being high in cholesterol. Turns out, there is actually no link between eggs and either heart attack or stroke. Now that the myth has been laid to rest, read about why eggs rock!

Reduces Your Risk For Cancer

Whole eggs are high in the nutrient choline, which is found mostly in the yolk. According to a recent study, women with a high intake of choline were 24 percent less likely to develop breast cancer. Ladies, feel free to ditch those egg-white omelets and opt for some scrambled eggs instead.

Great For The Eyes

Eggs are great for your peepers. People who eat eggs every day have a lower risk of developing cataracts. Eggs also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two antioxidants that have been shown to prevent muscular degeneration. A diet rich in eggs will help increase muscle strength and eye health.

Natural Metabolism Booster

Eggs are high in protein and all nine essential amino acids. Research has show that obese people who ate eggs for breakfast at least five times a week in substitute of carbohydrates lost 65 percent more weight than those who did not. This is because eggs are a more satisfying than carbs, keeping you fuller longer. Start eating eggs for breakfast and watch your waistline shrink.

Which Eggs Are Best?

All eggs contain the same basic good stuff. However, depending on your own eating habits, you might want to invest in some specialty eggs. For example, chickens that are not fed byproducts, antibiotics or certain additives lay organic eggs. Organic eggs are by far healthier for the body than non-organic. Pasteurized eggs refer to eggs that have been placed in warm water to kill bacteria. And if you’re not into seafood, purchase eggs that are enhanced with Omega-3. This will ensure that you get your heart-healthy fatty acids. Whatever you do, be sure to skip labels that say cage free, free range and pasture raised—they don’t guarantee happy chickens!

As you can see, eggs are packed with a number of essential vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein, unsaturated fats and antioxidants. They are great for weight management, muscle strength, eye health and a number of other health-related benefits. Want to learn more about eggs? Visit incredibleegg.org for recipes, fun facts and much more!

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