Pastured Hens Laid More Nutritious Eggs

Chickens allowed to forage in pastures produce eggs with more omega-3s, vitamin A and vitamin E compared to their commercially fed counterparts, according to a study from the Pennsylvania State University. These added nutritional benefits may help justify the increased costs U.S. farmers charge for pastured poultry eggs, according to the researchers.

Compared to eggs of the caged hens, pastured hens’ eggs had twice as much vitamin E and long-chain omega-3 fats, 2.5-fold more total omega-3 fatty acids, and less than half the ratio of omega-6:omega-3 fatty acids (P<0.0001). Vitamin A concentration was 38-percent higher in the pastured hens' eggs than in the caged hens' eggs (P<0.05), but total vitamin A per egg did not differ.

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