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Welcome to Crackingly Good Eggs, supported by the RSPCA's Freedom Food - the latest in Our Little Green Book series.
The Freedom Food Farm Assurance Scheme is dedicated to farm animal welfare, where the animals are reared on farms inspected to RSPCA welfare standards which are based upon the Five Freedoms
To find out what the different standards stand for, read on... You'll also find a handy list of egg producers and egg-based products of every kind. If you hanker to keep hens for your own eggs, we've got courses covered and information to get you started as well as where to buy the ultimate in luxury hen accommodation.
Do you know that in the UK there are around 30 million egg-laying hens? These hens are kept in one of three systems - Battery Cages, Barn and Free-Range (which may also be organic).
The RSPCA believes that battery cages harm the birds' welfare and prevent them from expressing natural behaviour. They are campaigning to have them banned and obviously do not support them. Happily less and less eggs are being laid within the caged system - down from 80% to 58% in the last 10 years.
Only Barn and Free-Range - known as 'alternative' or non-caged systems - are supported by Freedom Food.
Of all the farmers using either barn or free-range systems, the vast majority are Freedom Food approved - so make sure you look out for the logo on your carton.
Simply Ask is Freedom Food's campaign to get people asking their local restaurant, pub or cafe whether they use eggs from un-caged hens - ie, free-range or barn. Find out more at Simply Ask.
We'll try to answer some of your qu-egg-stions...
What is a Conventional Battery Cage?
Made out of thin wire with a sloping mesh floor and often stacked 10 tiers high, a cage typically measures 50 x 55cm and houses five birds. EU legislation states a minimum of only 550cm² per bird - less than the size of an A4 sheet. The birds can't move about, stretch, nest or perform other normal chicken behaviours like preening or scratching properly. There are a host of welfare problems associated with cages: The sloping wire floor can damage feet and claws; restricted movement results in fragile and often broken bones as well as frustration and aggression. And in such close confines hens cannot escape aggression from other hens.
See what a conventional battery cage looks like...
What is an Enriched Battery Cage?
Conventional battery cages will be banned in 2012 but so-called 'enriched' cages will still be allowed. These cages provide just 50cm² of extra usable area per bird and limited facilities. The RSPCA believes these still fail to properly cater for the hen's physical and behavioural needs and impose severe restrictions on movement.
What is a Barn System?
Barns allow the hens to roam freely inside uncaged, have perches to roost on and space to stretch their wings. Nesting boxes provide a quiet place for cage-free egg-laying and there is floor litter for scratching in. Multi-tier barns provide additional levels above ground for the hens to explore.
See what a barn system looks like...
What is a Free-Range System?
Most likely the hens are raised in similar-sized barns to the barn system with the same cage-free facilities but with the addition of pop holes that allow access to the outdoors. EU legislation permits a stocking density of 2500 birds per hectare whereas the RSPCA requires 1000 birds per hectare during the life of the flock. This is to allow good land management without ever going over the maximum EU stocking density. Shade and shelter on the range encourage the hens outside and protects them from bad weather and predators.
See what a free-range system looks like...
How is Organic different?
Eggs labelled 'organic' are from hens reared in a free-range environment with additional standards set out by an approved certification organisation (The Soil Association, for example) and European law. As such, organic standards can vary between the different certification organisations, but generally focus on sustainability issues, including soil health and biodiversity. For dedicated attention to farm animal welfare, look out for the Freedom Food logo as well.
What do the Labels mean?
Look out for clearly labelled cartons containing the words 'free-range' or 'barn' - if they're not there, the eggs are likely to be cage-laid. (It is actually a legal requirement to state the production system on the carton).
The British Lion symbol means that the eggs are British-laid and have been vaccinated against salmonella but it can apply to cage eggs as well as eggs from alternative systems, so it is NOT a guarantee of higher welfare.
What do the Grades and Sizes mean?
Under EU law there are two grades of egg. Grade A is the highest grade, denoting clean fresh eggs in an intact shell. More specifically - the air sac should be less than 6mm in depth and the yolk must not move away from the centre on rotation. They're sold as whole shell eggs. Grade B eggs are broken and pasteurised.
There are now four different egg sizes: Small, Medium, Large and Very Large, which have now replaced the old sizes 1-7.
Very Large Egg weighs 73g+ Size 0-1
Large Egg weighs 63-73g Size 1-3
Medium Egg weighs 53-63g Size 3-5
Small Egg weighs less than 53g Size 5-7
If recipes refer to a size 3 egg, use a large egg as substitute.
What do the Codes on the egg mean?
If you look at your eggs, they have a code on them.
The first number refers to the farming method:
0 = Organic
1 = Free Range
2 = Barn
3 = Battery Cage
This is followed by the country of origin, then a farm identification code which is specific to each farm.
How much more will it cost?
You might think that barn or free-range eggs laid cost a lot more, but you'd be wrong. The price of more space and a vast improvement in the birds' welfare can often be no more than mere pennies. Look out for the Freedom Food logo and the word Barn or Free-Range on the carton when you shop.
The 3,000 laying hens at Birchgrove Eggs free range in the birch groves
Look out for Borders Organics Freedom Food eggs at Peebles Farmers Market and local delis and butchers around Berwick On Tweed
Clarence Court's free-range eggs eggs are notable not only for the extremely high welfare of the hens, but also for their pretty pastel colours
Holmansbridge Farm sell their Freedom Food eggs at Farmers Markets and local delis and shops in and around the East Sussex area, including Brighton.
Nant Ucha's Freedom Food Approved eggs can be found at eight Farmers Markets and independent shops around the Welsh Borders.
Find Philpots Bank's Freedom Food Eggs at Farmers Markets in Tunbridge Wells, Hailsham and Edenbridge.
St Ewe Freedom Food eggs can be found at Humphries Farm Shop near Truro
The eggs on sale at Warren Farm's farm shop are from their flock of free-range chickens - or you can buy the hatched chicks to raise yourself.
Watch Clarence Court hens enjoying themselves roaming free-range on the Hen Cam
Of course - eggs don't just come from chickens. To ring the changes, source your duck eggs,* pheasant eggs *and goose eggs *in FoodFinds.
* Not currently available on the Freedom Food scheme.
You'll find blown goose eggs for decoration in FoodFinds
Start your day with daisy-fresh eggs from B & B Lower Farm's chickens, while watching them in the garden in Somerset.
Look in FoodFinds for more FoodLovers Approved places to eat eggs - for breakfast and beyond
Learn how to keep chickens and buy all the equipment - from houses and runs to incubators - in FoodFinds
If you keep fewer than 50 birds you are not legally required to register with DEFRA Poultry Register but you are encouraged to do so. The main reason is to communicate with you quickly and help manage an potential disease outbreak.
Visit the RSPCA for more advice on how to keep pet chickens
The meringues at Ouse Valley - made from free-range eggs - have a gorgeous toffee stickiness
Sally's ice creams at Simply Ice Cream are made only with local fruit, cream and eggs
The ice cream and sorbets at Rookbeare Farm take some beating - made with Jersey milk and free-range eggs
Search FoodFinds for more FoodLovers Approved egg-based products, from Scotch Eggs to Meringues and Mayonnaise
Search FoodFinds for egg cups, egg cosies, egg boxes and much more...
Egg and Spinach Filo Pie... Masala Scrambled Eggs... Open Goats Cheese Omelette... Pizza Omelette... Rocket Omelette with Walnuts... Sweet Pepper Frittata... Toasted Crumpet with Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs... Rhubarb with Ginger Pancakes... Sticky Chocolate and Orange Cake... Traditional Pancakes... Viennoise Pudding... Caramelised Apples with Creme Anglaise... Cinnamon Pancakes with Rum-Glazed Bananas... Creme Caramel... Lady Hornby's Souffle...
Easter is an egg-stra special time for all things Egg - make sure you get out and about with our selection of Egg-related events around the country...
6-10 April 2009 Egg Discovery Trail, Westonbirt Arboretum
10-13 April 2009 National Trust Easter Egg Trails
11 April 2009 Easter Hen Party, Suffolk
12 April 2009 Easter Egg Rolling, Lancashire
For more Easter treats and ideas and our FoodLovers Easter Lunch Hamper, visit Focus On... Easter
Michel Roux Sr's comprehensive - indeed exhaustive - book on Eggs is full of delightful recipes, both classic and innovative, to cook with any kind of egg.