Diet to Get Darker Blue Eggs Query

[BreanneRN]

In an attempt to learn more about Kavbuz I found lots of "stock" photos all of which look very similar to watermelon and seem to sll be t in e same photo, some photos and offerings of seeds for an almost red pumpkin but no mention of watermelon, AND this article that kinda sorta disproves the veracity of a watermelon-pumpkin cross. http://www.thesurvivalgardener.com/a-watermelon-pumpkin-cross/

I'm so disappointed.

Sorry you're disappointed, I researched and also read that article and others and my take-away was completely different! It is the experience of many that the Cucurbitaceae family hybridizes very freely and even cross-pollination in a season can effect the fruit/melon/squash of that year! I used to buy PattyPan squash from some Asian family growers who grew a lot of different squashes and their Patty Pans were always misshapen due to cross pollination with zucchinis. Cucurbitaceae is also quite a large family! As to that particular article, I was not impressed with the writers genetic acumen or his somewhat irrational conclusion based upon it. He has the fruit, raised the fruit, taste-tested the fruit, took pictures of the fruit??? but it couldn't have happened??? Really??? (None so blind as those who will not see...) Be disappointed if you really want too, but I will be exploring further... nothing ventured, nothing gained...

 

[townchicks]

Well, I gave the girls raw chicken liver this am. OMG, feeding frenzy! So funny. I don't know about the RIR, because she was a stray, but I have never given my EE's meat before. They are usually suspicious of anything new, but they fell on this like the little Dinos that they are. RIR got the most though, as she is piggy and fast, even though she is bottom bird. Also gave them shredded carrot, they like that but it's easier to make sure that they all get some as they revert to mild mannered chickens for those, lol. Not going to do liver more than once a week, because it is so high in Vet A, but I am going to explore more sources of beta carotene. Keeping this all in the 10% limit for treats, of course. My poor dog stood by the gate while the liver was being handed out with a very put out expression on his face. Yes, he got some too.

 

[Citychickengal]

They are usually suspicious of anything new, but they fell on this like the little Dinos that they are.

 

[BreanneRN]

Orange food and dark leafy greens are where you find the most Beta Carotene, https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/natural-food-sources-of-beta-carotene.php this link lists the top ten, but at the bottom you can click for a list of 200 more...

 

[BreanneRN]

Here is a link with some science for you, seems that chicken and fish absorb different carotenoids better as compared to us mammalian species... Kind of interesting...https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0271/50c3deed010e6d54a788faaa7f6496bb4aad.pdf I have been feeding my birds some sunburned tomatoes and the tiny cherry tomatoes my plants have been putting out since this heat wave started... They are liking those!

 

[BreanneRN]

Meats with carotenoids, once again liver and salmon, maybe shrimp, but not like were going to go out and buy those last two for the birds...

 

[BreanneRN]

I note that though for some reason, pumpkin did not make the supposed top 10 list, it is noted to have 157% of the RDA in 1 cup, canned, making it higher than the 127% of 1 cup of sweet potato, which is at the top of the "top 10" list...

 

[BreanneRN]

My EE's have started to lay tiny mint green eggs... Must be time to start them on layer pellets... Hope those eggs get bigger! I think my black cochin hen is laying equally tiny brown eggs. I am getting a collection of mini eggs! They are kind of cute though...

 

[BreanneRN]

Anyway, more posts about the mystery plant fruit over at "What plant is this?" by flappy chicken... It has now developed some texture and is about 6" long, that plant has a lot of fruit set on it... Still think a watermelon/pumpkin cross would provide some great animal food, with an easy to feed texture and more palatability than the pumpkin, I am thinking of maybe crossing a hulless pumpkin (seeds have no shells) crossed with the sugar baby watermelon... (I'll take the seeds out for me)...

 

[lazy gardener]

RE: Beta-carotin in shrimp. eat the shrimp. Save the shells for the birds. Salmon? Buy salmon fillet, remove the skin and cook it up separate from the fish. The birds get the skin, you get the fish.