In search of the elusive dark orange yolk

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I wonder if red food coloring in their water would change things up? If you're selling eggs and people want a darker yolk, who knows?
I might try adding some curry to the feed when my birds finally get off their butts and get to work. It might make for an interesting egg.
 
I didn't mean artificial, as in not natural, I just meant that I don't think the color comes from caretonoids with cayenne. I could be wrong. Then again, I just claimed it was my opinion. Nothing more. Pardon me.
 
I have 6 hens, and am not set up to let them free-range.

I feed good-quality layer pellets soaked in water overnight. I feed this in the morning. In the afternoon, they get sprouted wheat and what kitchen waste I generate (not much), dried stinging nettle and fresh dandelions and chickweed when they've regrown from the last time I clipped them.

But what really made the difference in yolk color was alfalfa. They weren't interested in alfalfa hay, nor in horse alfalfa pellets. Finally, I tried soaking the horse pellets with the layer pellets. They now clean it all up and I get nice orange yolks. The alfalfa pellets are nice because they come in at 17% protein, the same as the layer pellets, so I don't have to worry about rebalancing for protein. I measure it out, and I am feeding 1 cup of alfalfa to 3 cups layer pellets.
 
Last edited:
jacqueg said:
I have 6 hens, and am not set up to let them free-range.

I feed good-quality layer pellets soaked in water overnight. I feed this in the morning. In the afternoon, they get sprouted wheat and what kitchen waste I generate (not much), dried stinging nettle and fresh dandelions and chickweed when they've regrown from the last time I clipped them.

But what really made the difference in yolk color was alfalfa. They weren't interested in alfalfa hay, nor in horse alfalfa pellets. Finally, I tried soaking the horse pellets with the layer pellets. They now clean it all up and I get nice orange yolks. The alfalfa pellets are nice because they come in at 17% protein, the same as the layer pellets, so I don't have to worry about rebalancing for protein. I measure it out, and I am feeding 1 cup of alfalfa to 3 cups layer pellets.
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So how long have you been doing this? I may try that! Thanks for sharing.
 

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