Diet and egg color question

[Brada Puhi]

Aloha kakou,

I wonder if anyone has experimented with diet to affect egg color. We already know that frequent layers lay a lighter colored egg, whether it's a blue shell or a brown overlaying. This means that the nutrients required for the coloring can build up to a certain level. But if these particular nutrients are plentiful in the diet, it would mean that the coloring can build up faster.

Anyone?

kden, Puhi

 

[tadkerson]

Aloha kakou,

I wonder if anyone has experimented with diet to affect egg color. We already know that frequent layers lay a lighter colored egg, whether it's a blue shell or a brown overlaying. This means that the nutrients required for the coloring can build up to a certain level. But if these particular nutrients are plentiful in the diet, it would mean that the coloring can build up faster.

Anyone?

kden, Puhi

The pigments that make up egg color are derived from blood cells that are no longer functional. Its the ability of the glands in the uterus to produce the pigments that give color to the egg. Blue egg layers produce biliverdin and brown egg layers produce protoporphoyrin. The glands can only convert so much of the hemoglobin into pigments.

Tim

 

[3riverschick]

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From what I have read there are at least 15 genes which have to do the egg color. In Marans, it is not only the genes, but the speed with which the egg moves thru the hen. The slower it moves thru, the darker it can get That is why the Marans which lay the darkest eggs are not prolific layers.
Best,
Karen
The cock has a lot to do with passing on dark egg genes. But he gets that ability from his mother. So to increase egg color, you need both a hen which lays dark eggs and a cock who had a mother who laid dark eggs. Then take the get and breed them back to their father.

 

[3riverschick]

Diet can affect the color of the inside of the egg. marigold or some other plants will make the yolk more yellow. Too much raw cottonseed seeds will turn the yolk green.
Best,
Karen