YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE ANSWERS.
How are Graze & Roam eggs different from grocery store eggs?
We believe the bird and the land it lives on are the most critical parts of the equation. We are a regenerative farm that raises our chickens exclusively on pasture. We use feed and farming methods that meet or exceed Organic and nationally recognized animal welfare standards. Our products are sold only to local families and restaurants as we feel it is critical to remain connected to our neighbors and valley community. We also have a policy of full transparency, which means you can visit the farm to see for yourself how we operate.
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We are definitely not perfect, and we learn all the time, but there are things some grocery store egg producers do, that we will never do... No cages. No chemicals. No hormones. No drugs. No beak trimming. No forced molting. No artificial lights. No overcrowded barns. No mechanized feeding. No hiding who we are, where we are, or what we do.
What does "100% Pastured Eggs" mean?
It means that our hens live full-time on a growing, living, breathing pasture where they can roam, scratch, graze, and live the best life a chicken could want. Based on how they act on our pasture, we think it's working, and they produce the best eggs possible.
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Our birds get to graze grasses and seeds, hunt bugs, dust bathe, roam the pasture, and behave exactly how chickens are designed to behave. By raising our chickens this way, we not only provide a fantastic existence for the birds, but our soils are improved, invasive plants are reduced, and the 100% Pastured Eggs we grow are more nutritious than other eggs. Consequently, our eggs taste like no other egg out there. That's a good thing.
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Click HERE to learn more about pastured egg nutrition
How do you keep your chickens safe if they live on pasture full-time?
There are 3 main ways we make sure our birds are safe and secure:
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1) We provide a sturdy mobile shelter we call the "Egg Mobile that moves around the pasture with the chickens. We move the Egg Mobile daily so the chickens get fresh grass, bugs, and dirt to enjoy, while keeping the pasture from being damaged by intensive use. The hens use the Egg Mobile to hide under when predator birds fly by, or when it's hot, or rainy, or windy, or snowy, and at night, they roost inside, which makes them feel very safe.
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2) We protect the entire flock from ground predators with an electric net fence that encircles the Egg Mobile, Plus, we have a 24/7/365 security team of livestock guardian dogs who keep chicken-loving critters out of the pasture, night, and day.
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3) We visit our birds multiple times a day to make sure they have feed and water, check the fencing, make sure they are getting along with each other, collect eggs and keep a close eye on anything that could cause them harm.
Do pastured chickens survive eating grass?
Chickens that live on pasture do eat plenty of plants (including grass) and bugs, but these are only supplements to their primary diet. What they eat from the pasture adds fantastic flavor, texture, and color to the eggs, but just eating grass isn't enough for them. We provide our hens all the Montana-grown organic, no corn, no soy, no canola feed, and water that they care to consume. Some days they eat a LOT of feed, and some days they eat less. But every day they have an unlimited supply of feed to keep them healthy and happy.
If your chicken feed is Certified Organic, why aren't your eggs Certified Organic?
We wish it was that easy. To sell a "Certified Organic" egg, we need to be a Certified Organic Farm. Honestly, it's really expensive, somewhat complicated, and definitely time-consuming to get certified as an organic farm. We definitely see the value of following organic farming practices, and we do follow, and even exceed, the guidelines of USDA Certified Organic, as well as nationally recognized standards for humane animal welfare. The time and cash investments required to become a USDA Certified Organic farm are too great for us at this time.
Why do your eggs cost more than other eggs?
Our eggs cost more because they cost us more to grow. It's as simple as that. We realize that you can spend a lot less on a dozen eggs, and we are very grateful for those folks who believe enough in what we're doing to buy our eggs.
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When you buy eggs from Graze & Roam, you get eggs that are nutritionally superior (proven by science), better tasting (we hear this all the time), and more supportive of the environment (also scientifically proven) than conventional eggs.
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The extra dollar or so you spend with us does a great deal more than you might imagine.
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-Your purchase of Graze & Roam eggs directly supports a small upstart family-owned and operated farm, right in your community.
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-Your purchase of Graze & Roam eggs gives you a nutritionally superior egg that cannot be made any other way.
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-Your purchase of Graze & Roam eggs supports many Montana grain farmers, millers, and retail employees who grow, process and sell us the organic feed our hens eat.
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-Your purchase of Graze & Roam eggs supports our commitment to drug-free and hormone-free birds.
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-Your purchase of Graze & Roam eggs supports our intentional and intimate goal of keeping our flock the size that allows us to be aware of our animals' well-being every day.
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-Your purchase of Graze & Roam eggs reduces the carbon footprint of your meal by reducing the use of fuel to bring out-of-state feed to us, and eggs to you from far away. Everything in the egg process is as local as we can get it.
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-Your purchase of Graze & Roam eggs supports improved soil, distributing nutrients back into the earth, reduction of invasive plant species, captured carbon, and an enriched natural environment, not only for our farm animals' well-being but for Bitterroot Valley wildlife as well.
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Yes, you can spend less money on a dozen eggs. But what price are you really paying?