Cedar Ridge Egg Farm is one of those farms that’s almost too good to be true. You know the ones: Smile Acres “Free-Range” on the grocery store shelves. Yet, the quality and character of Cedar Ridge Egg Farm holds up and is simply as good as it gets–no phony labels required. Happy hens in the field, family owned & operated, and a thorough inspection of every single egg.
Cedar Ridge Egg Farm is a sprawling farm with over a thousand laying hens! Typically these numbers are possible only in large scale operations, but with an innovative approach, Sam has devised a truly free-ranch operation for his girls. Two large chicken houses sit on the property that house the chickens for their first 4 days in their new home. This gives the chickens time to become acquainted with new space and recognize the chicken houses as their nightly roosting space. Once the 4 days are up, the chicken houses are opened up each day to allow the chickens into the pastures that cover the property. Each night, they return to their chicken house where they are safe and sound from predators.
Chickens that are allowed to explore and enjoy open pastures benefit in multiple ways. Not only are these chickens more content (trust me, you’ll know a sad chicken when you meet one), but they are also much healthier benefiting both the chickens and the consumers! Free range chickens often don’t require antibiotics which are necessary on a regular basis to keep disease from spreading in conventional chicken operations. Additionally, eggs from free-range chickens are shown to offer higher nutrient value due to their dietary variety. Free-range chickens are able to munch on bugs, vegetation, and even small animals like field mice leading to richer flavor and darker colored yolks. You really can’t find eggs that come from chickens with that kind of life on the grocery store shelves.
Cedar Ridge Egg Farm is marked by a level of quality and care that is difficult to match. These hens are living the ideal chicken life and it shows in the deliciousness of their eggs. Each egg is checked for quality through a “candling” machine that is rare in a family-scale operation. Candling ensures that each egg is fresh, without cracks or defects. The eggs you purchase at the Dallas Farmers Market from Cedar Ridge Egg Farm are truly “farm-to-table” where you can meet the farmers and see photos of the hens living their happy lives! When it comes to knowing how your food is raised, you can look beyond the label at the Dallas Farmers Market and get the full story.
