Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[frenchtoast]

Hi. I was just wondering, now that we are getting 3 eggs a day, I'll be giving more away to friends. Would you describe them on the box as free range, organic if they are fed on organic layers, bokashi, garlic powder and small treats in the afternoon from either mixed corn, tinned sweetcorn, pasta veg etc which aren't all organic? They also love snails, ants and flies

They generally free range within the 25m fencing with access to all sorts of areas, but are confined to run (with extra converter) up to about 3 hours a day now and then.

 

I'm sure there is a definitive description of organic and free range for commercial eggs but I was interested in general opinion for backgarden hens.

Many thanks!

Edited July 20, 2008 by Guest

[Snowy]

Hi,

You are not allowed to call your eggs organic unless your garden has been soil association certified as chemical free for something like 5 or 7 years. Same with free range - if they are confined to a run for several hours a day.

I call mine 'Eggs from Happy Garden Hens'

[frenchtoast]

Thanks for replying.

 

That's a lovely title!

I thought the "organic" was unlikely but the free range was confusing because they prob average free range 95% of the day, 80% of the week!

The folk I'd be giving to have seen the girls and listened to me going on about them so they can make their own minds up. Plus, I always remind them how battery hens only have an A4 sheet of paper and no daylight.

 

Another thought...

I pencil the date laid on the eggs and don't wash them (just dust down with dry kitchen roll), and I don't refrigerate. I was thinking of getting a cheap date stamp and using food colouring to give DD something to be responsible for.

Any comments, tips or suggestions? gratefully received!

[Christian]

I'm sure that someone else on here managed to get a date stamp and food quality grade ink.

 

Sorry, can't find the post at the moment.

 

I call mine 'eggs from the Farm Cottage hens' (that is the name of our house - don't stalk me )- and the label says use with 2-3 weeks. The eggs are never more than a couple of days old when I sell them.