Where these eggs come from These eggs come from Echo Valley Farm in Goomburra, a farm we have proudly worked with since we first started back in 2015. Over the years, we have seen the incredible results Randal and Juanita have achieved through regenerative farming, rebuilding their land and producing truly nutrient dense food. Supporting this farm long term is something we deeply value. There is a world of difference between supermarket eggs and the pastured eggs we source directly from regenerative farmers like Echo Valley Farm. Even eggs labelled free range in supermarkets cannot compare to eggs laid by healthy hens living outdoors on pasture, with access to fresh air, sunshine, grass and insects every day. Room to roam like real chooks Echo Valley’s 2,000 hens are free to express their inner chookiness by roaming outdoors all day, every day. They are stocked at a maximum of 500 hens per hectare, grouped in small age specific flocks. To put this into perspective, Australian free range standards allow up to 10,000 birds per hectare. At 20 times the space of typical free range systems, these girls have plenty of room to forage, dust bathe, explore and socialise. The hens have 24/7 access to shelter and nesting boxes in the form of relocatable chicken tractors, and the farm aims to move them onto fresh pasture weekly so they always have access to new ground. Their natural scratching and manure help improve soil health, increase biodiversity and support carbon sequestration, creating benefits that extend well beyond our generation. Feed and natural safeguards Hens are omnivores and need a varied diet. Alongside the insects and plants they forage from the pasture, Echo Valley supplements their diet with ASP certified, non GMO grains, amino acids and other essential nutrients to ensure balanced nutrition. The feed contains wheat, maize, sorghum, bran and pollard, a combination of protein meals, vegetable oil, limestone, sodium bicarbonate, salt, choline chloride, amino acids and a Riverina vitamin and mineral premix. While the farm does not formally guarantee the feed is chemical free, Echo Valley conducts regular testing and nothing has ever come back with chemical residue. Activated charcoal is also provided for the hens to consume as needed. Happy hens, better eggs Echo Valley Farm’s hens are raised with no antibiotics, no chemicals and no hormones. The result is nutrient dense eggs full of flavour. Many customers tell us these eggs taste like eggs used to taste, with rich golden yolks and firm whites. The eggs are also left unwashed, preserving the egg’s natural protective coating, known as the bloom. Care for the whole flock Predator protection is provided by Echo Valley’s beautiful Maremma dogs, who guard the hens from foxes and eagles as part of their very special role on the farm. When hens reach retirement age, Echo Valley aims to rehome 100 percent of them to backyard farms. This is done in collaboration with the local Allora hardware shop, as well as through direct farm pickup. The farm takes its time with this process to ensure each hen finds the best possible home. Fresh eggs delivered every Thursday Eggs are our most popular product and we sell out virtually every week. We receive a fresh delivery directly from Echo Valley Farm every Thursday, so there aren't cartons sitting in our warehouse for weeks waiting to be sold. You may notice that Echo Valley prints both a packed date and a best before date on every carton. Their best before date is set at just 6 weeks from packing, representing the optimum period for enjoying super fresh farm eggs. Importantly, best before is not the same as use by. The best before date is an indication of optimum freshness and quality, rather than a date on which the eggs suddenly become unsafe. When stored correctly in the fridge, eggs can generally still be safely consumed for around 3 to 5 weeks beyond their best before date. So if you ever look at the best before date and wonder about the freshness of your eggs, check the packed date too. Because we sell through our supply every week and receive a new delivery every Thursday, you can be confident these are genuinely fresh farm eggs. Beautiful eggs from farmers who genuinely care for their hens, their land and the food they produce. And we're incredibly proud to have been bringing them to our community since 2015.
