Why We Feed Corn-Free, Soy-Free
If you have ever cracked open one of our eggs and noticed that deep, golden-orange yolk, you have already seen the difference. But it goes deeper than color.
The Problem with Conventional Feed
The vast majority of poultry feed on the market is built around two cheap ingredients: corn and soy. They are inexpensive and calorie-dense, but they come with trade-offs:
- Corn is high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can lead to inflammatory imbalances in both the birds and their eggs
- Soy contains phytoestrogens and is one of the most common GMO crops in the country
- Both are heavily sprayed with pesticides in conventional farming
For birds that are supposed to be producing food for your family, we felt there had to be a better way.
What Our Birds Eat Instead
Our custom feed blend is built around:
- Organic whole grains — wheat, barley, and oats
- Black soldier fly larvae — a natural, sustainable protein source
- Flaxseed and fish meal — for healthy omega-3 fatty acids
- Kelp and mineral supplements — for trace nutrients
- Free-range forage — bugs, greens, seeds, and whatever else they find roaming the property
The result is a balanced, nutrient-dense diet that produces eggs with noticeably better flavor, richer yolks, and a healthier fatty acid profile.
The Difference You Can Taste
People tell us all the time that our eggs taste different. The yolks stand up tall, the whites are firm, and the flavor is rich without being heavy. That is not marketing — that is nutrition.
When birds eat well, you eat well. It is that simple.
It Costs More — And It Is Worth It
We will be honest: corn-free, soy-free feed costs significantly more than conventional feed. It is one of the biggest line items in running our ranch. But every time someone cracks open a dozen of our eggs and says "these are the best eggs I have ever had," we know it is worth every penny.
If you have questions about our feed program or want to learn more about what goes into raising our birds, do not hesitate to reach out. We love talking about this stuff.
— Duanne, Besso Ranch