Each egg from Kochurani’s poultry farm is essentially `one-and-a-half eggs in one'; richer in colour, fuller in flavour, and brimming with superior nutrition. It’s an egg that looks better, tastes better and nourishes better. Their deep brown shells hide yolks loaded with lutein, the powerful antioxidant that supports eye health, along with a host of other vital nutrients that make these eggs truly stand out from the ordinary.

At a time when people’s eyes are constantly glued to screens, Kochurani counts on her eggs to gain strong demand among those who prioritise eye health. Beyond increasing lutein, she is also experimenting with natural ingredients in poultry feed toredesign the taste, smell and nutrient profile of the eggs. To facilitate all these, she has launched her own brand, ‘Eggclusive’, under her startup.

Kochurani is the daughter of Joji, owner of Abhilash Hatchery in Karukutty near Angamaly, well-known for its flock of BV 380 hens. When she returned home after completing her B.Tech in Architecture, Joji encouraged her to apply her skills to `design' the nutrient content of eggs. According to him, nutritional quality can be enhanced substantially by feeding hens high-quality corn, soya and other select ingredients.

To increase lutein levels, they add Novosynth powder, manufactured by the Synthite, to the poultry feed. Experiments are also underway by mixing cinnamon oil, chippi oil, drumstick leaf powder, and other natural additives to boost the nutrient value of the eggs. They are even into developing a special feed to eliminate the typical egg smell for those who dislike it. Based on the results, these speciality products will soon be launched in the open market.

With Joji’s vast experience in the poultry sector, he is confident that such speciality eggs will command strong demand in the market.

“It’s not just the nutrient standards that matter in today’s market,” Joji points out. “International guidelines on cruelty-free egg production are becoming equally important. The World Health Organization has directed that only cage-free eggs be used in star hotels from next year. This guideline, part of the Cruelty-Free Dining initiative, will also have to be implemented in our country. Once that happens, hotels will be forced to stop using eggs laid by caged hens, whichkept without the freedom to move.”

With this shift in mind, the father–daughter duo has built a fully cage-free system on their farm. The setup provides ample space for hens to walk freely inside the shed and includes dedicated egg-laying boxes. Since hens prefer to roost at higher spots at night, raised platforms have also been installed to match their natural behaviour.

Unlike other farms where hens lay eggs while sitting, the hens here lay eggs while walking. This means Eggclusive eggs come with a sense of ethical assurance that the consumer can enjoy them without the guilt of supporting harsh production practices. These orange-yolk eggs are currently sold in supermarkets in and around Angamaly, while online orders from across Ernakulam and Thrissur districts are also fulfilled. The farm also supplies eggs to the Synthite company for its manufacturing needs.

According to Joji, Abhilash Hatchery will now provide only Hy-line Commercial Colour Layer hens, which are more productive than the BV 380 breed. From January, one-day-old chicks of this variety will be made available and by April, fully grown hens will also be distributed.

These birds begin laying by the 20th week and produce an average of 453 eggs in the first 100 weeks. Developed by Udumalpet-based Aviagen India Limited, the Highline breed retains nearly 70 percent of its productivity for the next 50 weeks as well. The fact that they lay eggs continuously for two years is a huge advantage for entrepreneurs. These hens produce large, dark-brown eggs and have the same deep-brown plumage. By the end of their laying cycle, the size of the hens also increases.

For details, contact: 7510523858.