The Story Behind Your Egg Yolks

Here in the US, many of us have grown accustomed to pale yellow egg yolks. If we saw the egg yolks from chickens raised abroad, we’d probably wonder what the heck was wrong with our eggs.

It may surprise you to know that the natural color of wild poultry eggs is actually a deep orange color, not quite as bright as the outer peel of a particularly ripe orange. Of course, there’s plenty of room for variance in nature – sometimes you might encounter a bright yellow yolk or one that has a paler hue. But in nature, you’d never find the millions of similarly colored pale yellow egg yolks that you see in conventional supermarkets around the US.

Why the difference? It all has to do with hen’s diets. If a hen consumes high levels of xanthophylls (a plant pigment), her eggs will have a more orange-toned color. Hens that lay pale yellow yolks tend to live on diets of wheat and barley, while colorless diets – such as those high in cornmeal – tend to produce even lighter hues.

This seemingly small difference actually makes a big difference in terms of nutritional value as well as taste. The more varied a hen’s diet is (that is, the more often she’s allowed to roam and eat whatever she pleases), the more nutritious her eggs will be. As a result, eggs from conventionally raised hens tend to be not only more flavorless, but also lower in nutrient content.

And that’s not all. Hens who are fed diets high in corn, soy and wheat eat a higher ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3s. This is because omega-3s are more bountiful in seeds, insects and grasses other than corn. As a result, eggs from pasture-raised hens are higher in heart-healthy omega-3s – something we Americans could definitely use in our diets. In fact, according to Authority Nutrition, pasture-raised hens produce eggs that are significantly higher in not only omega-3s, but also vitamins A and E. They contain much lower cholesterol levels, too, as a result of the difference in fatty acid chains.

pastured-vs-conventional-eggs

Image via Authority Nutrition

So what does all of this mean for you? If you enjoy your eggs in the morning, it’d be highly beneficial for your own health to seek out eggs from pasture-raised, free-range, ethically treated animals. We’re not just talking about chicken eggs, either – all of these rules apply to eggs from ducks, geese and all other poultry.

The best part about all of this? Nutritionally dense eggs are also a LOT more flavorful. Try them for yourself and you’ll see exactly what we mean.

Give us a call!

If you’d like to talk to someone right away, please give us a call!

319-838-2047

Check out our FAQs

Heartland Fresh Family Farm

2699 Highway 27
South Donnellson, Iowa

Mailing address:
Box 188
Donnellson, Iowa 52625

Office: 319-838-2047

Heartland Fresh Family Farm

2699 Highway 27
South Donnellson, Iowa

Mailing address:
Box 188
Donnellson, Iowa 52625

Office: 319-838-2047

Return Policy

We always stand behind our products and we think you’ll find them absolutely great. If, however, for whatever unfortunate reason, you are not satisfied with your purchase, just give us a call and we’ll give your money back, no questions asked.

Follow Us

Talk to us!

Quesions? Comments?

Drop us a message!

Sign up for E-News!

Share This