All About Eggs
About hens
A hen doesn’t naturally produce 300 eggs - the ancestor of the modern-day layer hen, the Red Jungle Fowl, only lays 10-20 eggs a year [1]! This is a stark contrast to layer hens, who now produce around 300 eggs in the same time frame [2]. Selective breeding, artificial lighting, and feed control have created this unnatural production. An eggshell is made almost entirely of calcium, and an overproduction results in a calcium deficiency for hens, making them prone to bone fractures [3]. A study in Denmark observed fractures in 53% to 100% of flocks in cage-free systems and in 50–98% of birds in enriched cages [4].
The industry
There are more than 7 billion layer hens around the world [5]. In June 2019, Australia had 20,946,659 layer hens, who produced over 6.22 billion eggs for human consumption. Beyond layer hens, there are also an additional 7,659,331 pullets, who are female chicks waiting to enter the system once they are able to produce eggs [6].
Farming eggs is pretty standardised around the world, using three types of egg production systems; caged, cage-free, and free-range [7]. Farms typically hold 20,000-100,000 hens, however, smaller “family” farms may have up to 1,000. All systems cause hens stress, due to boredom and frustration from confinement and the inability to establish a social hierarchy. This stress can create problematic behaviours such as cannibalism, bullying, and feather pecking.
Globally, 86% of layer hens are kept in cages, meaning they are unable to exhibit any natural behaviours [8]. Each shed contains parallel rows of tiers of cages. A single shed can hold up to 100,000 individuals [9].
A cage-free farm means that hens live inside a shed with up to 30,000 others. They may be given nesting boxes and perches, which allow them to exhibit some of their natural behaviours.
Free-range systems are the same as cage-free, however, the hens are sometimes allowed to go outside during daylight hours [10]. Unfortunately, the sheds are so crowded that it can often be impossible for all of the hens to make it outside.
Boredom, frustration, competition, and an inability to establish a proper social hierarchy can result in increased aggression and pecking at one another. Instead of reducing flock numbers, increasing enrichment, and banning the cage, the industry attempts to address this behaviour by trimming the beaks of the chickens, known as debeaking [11 PDF].
A portion of eggs are hatched in order to replace spent layer hens (more on this below). Of the hatched individuals, the male chicks are killed on their first day of life, as they are deemed ‘useless’ by the egg industry. Males have no purpose, as they cannot lay eggs and do not grow large enough to become meat. They are either thrown alive into a macerator to be ground up, suffocated, or gassed to death [12]. All egg purchases support the killing of male chicks. Approximately 6 billion males are killed every year around the world [13].
Naturally, a hen can live for up to 12 years, but on egg farms, they are only kept alive for 18 months. After just 12 months of laying, a layer-hen’s egg production rate slows, making them no longer economically viable. As a result, the industry considers them ‘spent’ and they are sent to slaughter.
Due to the high amount of eggs laid and lack of exercise, layer hens have poor bone health, and the process of depopulation often results in broken legs and snapped wings [14]. A UK study found that 30% of layer hens arrive at the slaughterhouse with broken bones due to rough handling [15].
The environment
Although it is great that more consumers are switching their demand for caged eggs to free-range, it would be impossible to raise all 7+ billion hens on free-range farms with enough space to exhibit natural behaviours. The amount of land required for them would cause more land clearing, a decline in wildlife populations, and increased pollution. Currently, with approximately 86% of hens in cages, a kilogram of eggs needs 6.27 square meters of land. If we were to move to entirely non-cage egg systems (cage free or free range) the amount of land needed would increase dramatically.
It takes approximately 2.3 kilograms of food and 578 litres of freshwater to produce just one kilogram of eggs [16]. If we break this down, for 100 grams of egg protein, 521 litres of freshwater is required! This differs greatly from plant-based foods, like tofu, which requires 149 litres per kilogram, or 93 litres per 100 grams of protein [17].
Our health
Eggs are one of the highest cholesterol-containing foods. Our bodies naturally produce all the cholesterol that we need, meaning there is no need for us to eat additional amounts. When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up the walls of our arteries and can cause a form of heart disease, known as atherosclerosis. As the arteries become narrow, blood flow to the heart is slowed or blocked [18]. While more research is needed, studies have also suggested a link between the consumption of eggs and hormone-sensitive cancers, like prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer [19, 20, 21].
Poultry farmworkers are exposed to bacterial toxins, dust, and adverse odours, leaving them with the potential to suffer from respiratory reactions, airway irritation, inflammation, decreased lung function, stress, and itchy, red, and watery eyes [22, 23, 24]. As seen with the Melbourne COVID19 outbreak, workers are also at risk of catching zoonotic infections – such as avian bird flu. Zoonotic disease spreads from animal to animal, and animal to human. Although bird flu has not yet mutated to be infectious from human to human, it is completely possible that it could mutate to do so [25, 26].
Vegan “Egg” Recipes
People often think it is hard to remove eggs from their diet because they are one of those ingredients that finds its way into so many dishes. We’re here to show you that it isn’t true! From scrambled “eggs” to omelettes, quiches, muffins, and mayonnaise to cakes, pancakes, custards and meringue – there’s a way to veganise it all.
Egg-Replacer
Egg substitutes are great for replacing eggs in cooking and baking.
Bob’s Red Mill – Egg Replacer (Online)
If you are wanting that distinct eggy taste, we recommend grabbing some black salt!
Savoury
Breaky Ideas
If you are wanting that distinct eggy taste, we recommend grabbing some black salt!.
VMAS – Vegan Fried Eggs (All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and Online)
A&T – Vegan Poached Egg (All About Empathy)
Mayonnaise & Aioli
Who doesn’t love mayonnaise and aioli? It is super easy to make.
There are also plenty of store-bought options too!
Follow Your Heart – Original Vegenaise (Woolworths, Coles, All About Empathy, and Cruelty Free Shop)
Naked Byron Foods – Vegan Mayonnaise (All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Naked Byron Foods – Vegan Aioli (All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Dibble Foods – Eco Chipotle Mayo (All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Dibble Foods – Eco Garlic Aioli (All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Praise – 99% Fat Free Traditional Mayo (Woolworths and Coles)
Praise – Vegan Mayo (Woolworths and Coles)
S&W – Vegan Mayonnaise (Woolworths and Coles)
Global Organics – Mayonnaise Egg Free Organic (Online)
Dips
Dips are always great to have when entertaining. Unfortunately, egg is often unnecessarily added into many store-bought dips, but more and more brands are bringing out vegan ranges! Here are some of our homemade recipes for some regular favourites:
Store-bought options:
Chris’ – Homestyle Plant-Based Corn Relish
Chris’ – Homestyle Plant-Based Golden Turmeric Hommus
Chris’ – Homestyle Plant-Based Guacamole
Chris’ – Homestyle Plant-Based Capsicum
Chris’ – Homestyle Plant-Based Spring Onion
Black Swan – Crafted Sweet Potato & Cashew Dip
Ingredients regularly change – be sure to check out other brands.
Although an egg wash is not necessary, if you would like your baked goods to have that beautiful golden brown colour, there are plenty of vegan alternatives! The Delightful Adventures – Vegan Egg Wash talks about the different options for savoury and sweet items!
Sweets
Custard
Or leave it to the pro’s with these pre-made options or powder.
Alpro – Velvet Vanilla Soy Dessert Cups All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Alpro – Vanilla Custard All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Just Whole Foods – Custard Powder All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Provamel – Dessert-Custard Soya Vanilla All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Pancakes
No one will be able to tell that these recipes are animal-free!
If you aren’t up to making your own, there are plenty of accidentally vegan cookies available! Here are a few of our favourites:
Eat Pastry – Cookie Dough Chocoholic Chip (All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Eat Pastry – Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip (All About Empathy, Cruelty Free Shop, and online)
Eat Pastry – Cookie Dough Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (All About Empathy)
Arnott’s – Choc Ripple biscuits
Arnott’s – Gingernut biscuits
Arnott’s – Lemon Crisp biscuits
Arnott’s – Nice Biscuits
Leda – Choc Chip Cookies
Leda – Choculence
Leda – Dunkies Biscuits
Leda – Gingernut Cookies
Leda – Golden Crunch
Leda – Minton Biscuits
Lotus – Biscoff
Oreo – Classic
Kooka’s Country Cookies – Raspberry Cookies
Kooka’s Country Cookies – Choc Raspberry
The thought of vegan meringue seems pretty bizarre, seeing as egg is one of the main ingredients, but its totally possible!
Meet Bella, Scrappy, Shane, Winnie, and Wrinkles
Written by a Chicken Foster Carer
In late 2019 Bella, Scrappy, Shane, Winnie, and Wrinkles were rescued from a caged chicken egg farm. They have since made a wonderful recovery after living tragic lives trapped in tiny barren cages for the first 18 months of their lives. For those who aren’t familiar with what a caged chicken egg farm is, it is exactly as the name implies. The sheds are full with thousands upon thousands of individuals, who are all crammed into tiny wire cages with 4-5 others. The cages have a sloping wire floor (can you imagine how much that would hurt their feet?) and they are unable to do anything that would make their lives a little bit more comfortable. They can’t even stretch their wings properly. The caged system was designed to provide cheap eggs to consumers.
As a chicken foster carer, Bella, Scrappy, Shane, Winnie, and Wrinkles came to me with 7 other girls, to be cared for until they became well enough to go to their permanent homes. They were all sick with respiratory illness, resulting in swollen eyes and gurgling chests, causing them to constantly cough up mucous. Some of the chickens’ eyes were so badly swollen, that they were completely closed shut. With lots of love and care, they flourished from weak, unhealthy, and scared chickens to fully feathered, robust, cheeky, inquisitive girls. They were all treated with antibiotics and given lots of supportive care, and in time recovered from their respiratory illness.
Sadly, Summer, passed away due to tumours in her uterus – this is very common in egg-laying chickens. Due to the stresses their bodies go through in order to lay an unnaturally large amount of eggs that their bodies were never designed to cope with. Unfortunately for Sunny, it was too late to operate on her, but she passed away surrounded by love. Every one of the chickens had egg-laying issues, causing them to be very unwell, suffering from soft-shelled eggs that can’t pass and therefore become stuck in their body causing egg yolk peritonitis. To treat this, they were each implanted with a hormone chip to stop them from laying for about 6-months. The implant gave their bodies a desperately needed break from laying, providing them with time to recover and rebuild their strength. Without the implants, they would have died.
The chickens adapted to their newfound freedom in no time, immediately exploring their surroundings and getting to do what chickens love to do. Their days are filled with scratching around in the dirt, fossicking amongst the grass looking for insects, dust bathing, soaking up the warmth of the sun, nesting in amongst straw when they could lay eggs. They relish in the freedom of doing whatever they desire.
At night they slept in warm cosy straw filled beds, inside a lovely insulated house – a far cry from the farm they came from. During the day they eat lots of extra treats, such as corn, watermelon, grapes, rice, pasta, kale, and silver beet, and whatever eggs they did lay were fed back to them. The shell provides chickens with extra calcium for laying their eggs!
Like humans and companion animals, such as cats and dogs, chickens have their own unique personality. They each have different temperaments, some are very social and bold, instantly becoming your best friend and wanting to be close, while others are more reserved and interested in doing their own thing. Some are very alert to what’s happening around them, others not quite so. Some are loud, others are quiet, and some like to chatter more than others. They have different voices and make different sounds that distinguish them from each other, just as people’s voices do! All animals have personalities and by taking the time to spend with them clearly demonstrates this.
It is now 9-months on, and 6 of the chickens have been rehomed to wonderful families. Bella, Scrappy, Shane, Winnie, and Wrinkles are still with me and let’s face it, it looks like they will live here permanently, sometimes fosters fail!
Bella and Shane will often jump up onto my lap to say hello and just relax with me, by settling in and watching the antics of the backyard until they fall asleep. They like to be close to me most of the time, following me wherever I go. When Shane is scared by something she will run to me, jump onto my lap, and climb up onto my shoulder for protection. Whenever I dig in the garden she will come running like a lightning bolt, eager to see what bugs she can find. Scrappy was in poor condition when she arrived and her respiratory illness was severe, although she recovered she has a lingering constant chestiness as a result of the illness. She is a happy girl. Winnie complains a lot and she has a bit of a screechy voice hence her name, she is independent and likes to do her own thing. Wrinkles is probably the quietest of the bunch, I called her Wrinkles because her face is particularly so.
Whenever I sit with them, they all love to peck at my pants, and they will do this for a long time. We suspect this behaviour is due to the traumatic environment they came from and that this repetitive pecking behaviour probably provided them with some relief from the sheer boredom of being trapped in a cage.
I absolutely love the girls and whilst they are with me I do my utmost best to give them a life worth living, trying to make up for the deprivation they had to endure as caged chicken egg layers. They all love life now. Every moment is full of joy for them, purely because they get to do what every chicken should be able to do – if they choose – and because they are given freedom, love, care, and respect for the lovely animals who they are. In return, I get the privilege of witnessing their recovery from such sad lives. There is nothing more one could ask for and something I am very thankful for. There is nothing better than being kind to animals.
