Brown yolks?

[pattgal]

Every once in a while I get a really dark orange-brownish yolk.
It kinda grosses me out. I have no pictures at the moment.
does that mean there was a chick in development in there? (there is no blood in the yolk)

also one of my easter eggers consistently lays a pale almost white yolk.
Any ideas?

 

[jmmre31]

I've been told it has to do with the amount of greens they get. Not sure if this is true, but I usually get those kinds of eggs in the summer, so that makes sense. I do know it has nothing to do with fertilization. I get them even when I don't have a rooster!

 

[Judy]

I imagine the dark yolk has to do with something the hen eats, particularly if yours get out to forage among weeds or woods. I do know yolks will turn a darker yellow if a lot of corn is fed to the chickens.

Here's a good article on the things that can go wrong with eggs:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/1/egg-quality-handbook/14/hairline-cracks It does have a section on pale yolks. (You can click on different pages on the left.)

And here's how to tell if an egg is fertile:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16008 You'll see it's about the appearance of a tiny white spot on the yolk. Nothing to do with yolk color or with blood. You do know the egg has to be incubated to develop, right? Either by the hen setting on it, or by a machine -- unless you live in a really hot climate. I've read that broodies sometimes set on their eggs only at night in hot climates, and they still hatch.

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
Ok! my hens have been cooped up all winter, but I do feed them corn
thanks. this was alot of help