Kitchen Garden Forum

A friend of mine obtained three point of lay chicks just before Christmas, who have recently started laying. However, she and her children have noticed that the eggs taste earthy and one of her boys described the taste as a bit metallic.

They have a pen on a soil base with a run in the garden that's on grass. They are fed on layers' pellets and corn.

Anyone got any ideas?

Chantal

Have you tasted one of these eggs?
I have not heard of eggs tasting earthy before - I am tempted to suggest that they taste fresh and stronger than shop-bought, older eggs, and your friend's and family are just not used to them. As for metallic?

Something else occurred to me over breakfast.

Have they ever tasted your eggs? Perhaps you could set up a blind testing, your eggs and theirs, and see who thinks which tastes "earthy".

Eggs certainly can pick up flavours from the birds' diet if it includes very strong things. I can still remember the disgusting "fishy" eggs in the 1940s and 1950s when a lot of fishmeal was fed. Garlic and onions can have a similar effect if they are daft enough to eat a lot. But I can't imagine what might give an "earthy" taste.

Hello Chantal
Eggs easily pick up flavours.
A couple of things to check would be
Is the bag of layers pellets OK, out of date, got damp, stored somewhere unsuitable?
Are the hens getting any scraps or treats that could be a cause of the problem?
Are the eggs being kept anywhere for a few days where they can pick up a taste?

Hope this helps.

John

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll have a chat with her.

Chantal

How do the eggs taste now

Well i was wondering, if it was just boiled eggs that tasted earthy, if they were not using silver spoons to eat them with.