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Quote of the Day: Tamar Adler

September 17th, 2017

“Eggs should be laid by chickens that have as much say in it as any of us about our egg laying does. Their yolks should, depending on the time of year, range from buttercup yellow to marigold. They should come from as nearby as possible. WE don’t all live near cattle ranches, but most of us live surprisingly close to someone raising chickens for eggs. If you find lively eggs from local chickens, buy them. They will be a good deal more than edible.”

Tamar Adler in An Everlasting Meal


Before we had our own chickens, we purchased chicken from a local farm. Eggs from happy chickens are really much more flavorful than those from the factory farms.

We now have our own flock, which range quite happily on a fairly large plot behind a few hundred feet of electric net fencing (not technically “free” ranging, as the foxes nab them if they do, but close enough). There are between 15-30 of them laying between half to two dozen eggs a day, depending on the time of year and the age of the flock. Eggs are on the breakfast menu daily, usually with a side of some sort of vegetable from the garden or a piece of bread from the oven. Sometimes they’re made into omelets to use up small bits of leftover dinner that aren’t enough to make another entire meal in itself. Pot roast with vegetables makes a surprisingly good omelet, especially with some fresh parsley on top.

In the summer, when we are flush with eggs, I sell them to a few friends. These friends claim they are “the best eggs they’ve ever had” and some won’t even give my name out to their friends in fear that they won’t be able to get eggs if they do. My belief is that the eggs are good because the chickens are happy and enjoying very chickeny lives (the homemade fermented feed is also a big part of it as well). I’m happy that my little flock produces enough eggs for us and for a few friends. Good eggs are worth sourcing wherever you live.

Do you have your own egg layers or do you have a good source for good eggs?

5 Comments to “Quote of the Day: Tamar Adler”
  1. bonnie knox on September 17, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    I have a neighbor who has chickens. We live in a subdivision which roughly 3/4 acre lots. Their chickens are in a coop, but are allowed to free range most afternoons. However, they are starting to get a bit smelly, in my opinion. What’s worse, the owners have hung those little tree-shaped car air fresheners in the pens which, to me, makes the smell even worse. I have purchased the eggs before, but now I’m having second thoughts about subsidizing that nuisance smell.

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  2. Martha Doane on September 17, 2017 at 3:27 pm

    We have 10 happy hens in our backyard and cannot really eat store bought eggs anymore. Four of the girls are retired at age 8, but still enjoy scratching and dust bathing and living out their chicken-ey lives. Two of the 6 year olds still surprise us with an egg occasionally, and, from the fuss, are surprised as well. We added 4 ‘Nuggets’ this spring who are just starting to get into the rhythm of a daily egg. We really enjoy our hens and cannot imagine not having them. They are so funny and entertaining! We live next to a beaver marsh and have lost a couple to coyotes, but haven’t been able to keep them out. I enjoy reading your blog, thanks for sharing. Martha in NW WA State

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  3. Zerilda Wornica on September 17, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    I too have chickens, we love the eggs and they are such fun to watch, esp when you head out with a bucket in hand. They are sure you have a treat for them! Ours our also partially free range.

    How do you make your fermented chicken feed and do you supplement with other feed:

    Thanks, Grandma Zee

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  4. PennyAshevilleNC on September 18, 2017 at 8:08 am

    Eggs- this is like a whole thing for me every week! I eat them everyday for breakfast so I need a steady supply. Our friends have chickens and are happy to sell me eggs when they can, but they have lots going on and different schedules so getting them is tricky. Our farmer’s market has them reasonably priced from a nearby large farm…but I wondered about their life because all of the eggs and yolks were uniform. Is that weird?

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  5. Kristen on September 18, 2017 at 1:15 pm

    We have a flock of 6 which supplies our needs. I would like to add a few more. Our banty died last month and I miss the half sized eggs (and her). They free range every afternoon. My son is now very suspicious of eggs at other people’s houses and likes “our eggs” the best. I don’t blame him!

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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