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About Your Eggs
At Kestrel Hollow Farm, our eggs come from a mixed flock of Aquilas, Easter Eggers, Olive Eggers, and Barred Rocks. Each breed adds something special to the basket: Aquilas are hardy and reliable layers, Easter and Olive Eggers bring shades of blue and green to your dozen, and the classic Barred Rocks are known for their steady production, cold hardiness, and curious, friendly nature.
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Management: Our hens are truly pasture-raised—rotated weekly across open fields in a secure setup of mobile electric netting. This not only protects them from predators but helps us manage pasture health by spreading out their natural fertilization. The result? Vibrant grass, cleaner soil, and birds that live the way chickens should—free to forage, scratch, dust-bathe, and explore.
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Feed: In addition to everything they can forage (bugs, greens, seeds, and kitchen scraps), our hens' diets are supplemented with a Non-GMO, soy-free feed from Sunrise Farms in Stuarts Draft, Virginia. This feed promotes Omega-3 content in the eggs and supports both the chickens' health and your peace of mind, whether you’re soy-sensitive or just looking for a more transparent food source.
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EGG FAQ
Should I wash the eggs before using them?
When a hen lays an egg, it’s coated with a protective layer called the bloom. This natural barrier seals the shell and keeps out bacteria, helping the egg stay fresh longer—especially when stored at room temperature. If the egg looks clean, there's no need. If you do see a bit of dirt or a feather stuck on, just give it a gentle rinse with warm water right before using it.
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Do I need to refrigerate my eggs?
Not right away! Because we don’t wash them, the eggs retain their natural bloom, which helps keep them fresh at room temperature. If you plan to use them within a week or two, you can keep them on the counter. For longer storage, pop them in the fridge.
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Why are the eggs different colors?
Because our flock is fabulous. All eggs start white inside the hen—then pigment is added in the final stages of laying. For example, Barred Rocks and Aquilas lay brown eggs thanks to a pigment called protoporphyrin, which is deposited onto the shell as it's formed. Easter Eggers lay blue eggs due to a pigment called oocyanin, which is deposited throughout the shell—so if you crack one open, it’s blue all the way through. Olive Eggers (a cross between a dark brown layer and a blue egg layer) produce beautiful green eggs—thanks to both pigments layering together, when you crack these open you can see the layering as they are green on the outside and more blue on the inside!
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Are your eggs organic?
Not certified, but they’re raised better. Our hens are truly pasture-raised, rotated weekly, and fed a Non-GMO, soy-free feed. We believe in transparency over labels—and we’re always happy to show you around. Or we could talk your ear off if you want to get into the nitty gritty on "organic"!
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Why are some yolks more orange than others?
Yolk color reflects what the hen is eating. Our hens forage freely, eating grasses, insects, and seeds, which results in rich, golden yolks—especially in seasons with lots of fresh pasture. Some days we can watch a hen find a really big, juicy grasshopper and see the extra orange yolk in her egg the next day!
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Can I return cartons?
Yes, please! We’re happy to reuse clean, undamaged cartons. It helps reduce waste, and the hens approve of the recycling effort.
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Do you sell eggs year-round?
Our hens slow down in the winter when daylight hours are short. We don’t use artificial lighting to force laying—so in the colder months, availability may be limited. It’s nature’s way, and we think it’s worth the wait. We freeze eggs so that we have some year-round for baking and scrambles!
