The chicken (Gallus gallus) is a type of domesticated fowl, believed to be descended from the wild Indian and south-east Asian Red Junglefowl.The chicken is one of the most common and wide-spread domestic animals. With a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other bird. Humans keep chickens primarily as a source of food, from both their meat and their eggs.

Most of the eggs currently sold in supermarkets are nutritionally inferior to eggs produced by hens raised on pasture. That’s the conclusion we have reached following completion of the 2007 Mother Earth News egg testing project.

The results are in: Eggs from hens allowed to peck on pasture are a HECK of a lot better than those from chickens raised in cages. Highlights include 1/3rd less cholesterol, 1/4 the saturated fat, and WAY more vitamin A, E, omega-3's, and beta carotene. Is YOUR health worth an extra $1?