Does yolk colour affect egg quality, flavour or nutrition?

No. The colour of the yolk is influenced by the hen's diet and is not an indicator of freshness and has no significant influence on nutrition or flavour.

Specifically it is from free range pasture rich in Xanthophylls, which are yellow pigments from the carotenoid group. Xanthophylls is literally Greek for yellow. As we cannot depend on pasture alone to deliver a consistent yolk colour, we also include very low levels of natural plants extracts derived from Marigold petals and Paprika in their diet. This is not intended to create a false colour, but simply to achieve a more even result. These extracts contain the same natural Xanthophylls (lutein) that would normally colour the egg yolk.

But our hens are not machines, so there will always be variations in yolk colour that are beyond our control. What's important is that their diet is regularly monitored to achieve the best nutrition for the hens. And in turn you can enjoy nutritious healthy free range eggs.

Do bigger eggs have bigger yolks?

Within the same species of hen, yes. And the ratio of yolk to white stays about the same.

Do you wash or oil ecoeggs?

No. We don't wash our eggs as it can increase the risk of contamination and reduces the egg's shelf life. If you want to wash them, it is best not to do so until you are ready to use them. 

Why doesn't ChookCam work on iPad or iPhone?

Apple's iPad and iPhone don't currently support Adobe Flash, and while other mobile devices may offer Flash playback it is not always reliable. We have been looking into providing a player suitable for Apple iOS devices, unfortunately there is nothing available at this time that suits our unique requirements. Because we don't just have a simple fixed stream, the alternative implementation is a bit more complicated than it might seem. We hope to be able introduce the option sometime in the future.

There is some video of the hens here...

Update on Monday, November 28, 2011 by ecoeggs

We now have an version of the ChookCam for non-Flash devices. You won't be able to control the camera but you can see a live stream of static images every few seconds. We will continue to work on providing better support.

Why does the colour rub off brown egg shells when boiled? Are they dyed?

No, brown eggs are not dyed! 

This one comes down to some basic science. The egg shell is composed mainly of calcium carbonate, which is white. If the hen lays brown eggs, the natural pigments of the brown egg are added to the shell in the last hours of shell formation. This layer is still calcium based, and alkaline. Vinegar is a weak acid. Acid dissolves alkaline. If you boil your eggs in water and add vinegar it can soften the colour layer. We did some experiments and found that about 5% vinegar in your pot is enough to make it happen. However, we could only replicate this if you attempt to rub it off almost straight away, if the boiled eggs were allowed to dry the colour was stable again. If the colour rubs off it is nothing to be concerned about, perhaps try using less vinegar.

For a more extreme experiment you can try soaking an egg in pure vinegar, and it will actually completely dissolve the shell. 

How should I store eggs to keep them fresh?

Keep them refrigerated and only take them out about 30 minutes before you will use them. Eggs can absorb flavours and odours so keep them in their cartons, pointed end down. And avoid washing them until they're ready to be used. 

Egg whites will keep up to two days in the fridge or can be frozen. Thaw when needed and make sure to use them the same day. Eggs yolks can be kept in refrigerated and covered with water for one to two days at most.

Are ecoeggs gluten free?

Yes, all eggs are naturally gluten free. However, this claim is not recommended for use on egg packs as it is potentially confusing for consumers. 

Gluten is a protein found in wheat and certain other grains including barley, rye, spelt and triticale but is not found in eggs. Even if hens eat wheat/grains containing gluten in their diet, the gluten is broken down and digested, as are all other proteins, as it travels through the hens digestive system. 

Are ecoeggs hormone free?

Yes, ecoeggs are hormone free. No hormones are fed to our hens, nor we do add growth promotants to stimulate egg production.

Are our eggs antibiotic free?

Yes. Absolutely no antibiotics fed to our hens unless they are sick. In this case, the eggs are not sold until guaranteed antibiotic free.

What do the ecoeggs hens eat?

Our hens have a fantastic diet - a mixture of natural grains, cereals, oils, a bit of dirt, grass, stones, beetles, worms whatever they can find when they are roaming outside their sheds. It sounds odd, but hens naturally eat small stones and grit as it helps with their digestion.

The exact feed mix is a secret recipe but we can reveal that it contains Wheat, Sorghum, Soy Meal, Canola Meal, fine Limestone and grit, Mono Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Sodium Bicarb, Vitamins and Trace minerals, Amino Acids, Enzymes and most importantly our Omega oil blend.