Free-ranging hens eat a chicken’s natural diet. All kinds of seeds, green plants, insects and worms. The chickens get plenty of exercise and fresh air and sunshine. My ranging flock also has access to an abundance of native herbs, which it has been studied with wild animals that most animals have an instinctual and self-learned way of self-medication with wild plants when given the opportunity. For the farm, an added bonus is that that they scratch and till the soil, while naturally "fertilizing" all the while! And, most importantly, it is integral to their well-being and stress levels remain low, and well, therefore they are happier birds! This translates to a more nutritious egg that can only be found right off the free-ranging farm.

My flock's free-range food is supplemented with organic layer ration feed that is made fresh each month from local CVK Farms here in Michigan. They are also offered free choice oyster shells for a calcium supplement and greens and fruit in the winter. The eggs are gathered daily and rinsed in clean, warm water, no soaps applied, and refrigerated to maintain freshness. Most of my customers definitely notice a difference in taste and color. According to the USDA, upon comparison to commerially farmed hens, free-ranged pastured hen's eggs have 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 and 7 times more beta carotene.

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