do dark yellow or orange yolks mean they are healthier.

[RoosterML]

Nice to know, all the more reason for me to eat more Lobster.

 

[GreenMountainEric]

Nice to know, all the more reason for me to eat more Lobster.

Don’t go crazy on feeding lobster shells, unless you want dark red yolks!!

Once upon a time we trialed lobster shell in the feed at a commercial operation. A little bit went a LONG way!

 

[RoosterML]

@GreenMountainEric quick question for you. At what point/time frame do you consider poultry feed to be past it's freshness period? Not liking the dates I've been seeing on the bags recently. Let me add and this is NOT in regards to your products.

 

[RoosterML]

Don’t go crazy on feeding lobster shells, unless you want dark red yolks!!

Once upon a time we trialed lobster shell in the feed at a commercial operation. A little bit went a LONG way!

I could just see it now the wife screams and says the egg is bleeding!!

 

[Cindy in PA]

I just cracked open some nice dark orange yolks yesterday to make quiche. I fed 13 hens a 5 lb. bag of Chaffhaye over a week, so about .39 of a pound for each hen over that period & they were darker than I have seen in awhile. The darkest I have ever seen was one January when I stuck my Christmas tree in the run & they actually ate the needles. They were really dark orange. No one ever told ne they would eat the tree!

 

[RoosterML]

I just cracked open some nice dark orange yolks yesterday to make quiche. I fed 13 hens a 5 lb. bag of Chaffhaye over a week, so about .39 of a pound for each hen over that period & they were darker than I have seen in awhile. The darkest I have ever seen was one January when I stuck my Christmas tree in the run & they actually ate the needles. They were really dark orange. No one ever told ne they would eat the tree!

I planted a pine tree in the run. Next thing you saw was a bunch of feather balls jumping and eating all the lower pine needles they could reach.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

If you want yellower yolks, you feed things like marigold, orange peels, corn, etc. If you want them more orange, you feed more alfalfa, lobster shells, Chile powder, paprika, or some other type of greens, etc..

makes sense to me!! Thanks @GreenMountainEric

 

[Grits&Eggs]

The darkest I have ever seen was one January when I stuck my Christmas tree in the run & they actually ate the needles. They were really dark orange. No one ever told ne they would eat the tree

What? I have to try that!!!!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I'm not sure about feeding them pine needles. Will it affect the taste of the eggs? I don't free range my little flock due to the robust hawk population around here. They only get what ever bugs might stumble into the coop ad run, however I do feed them mealworms along with some corn before "bedtime." I had a bumper crop of butternut squash this past summer and I share it with them. Aside from watermelon, the squash is their favorite. They also get oatmeal & apples on really cold mornings. The yolks are a bright dark yellow and very tasty, so I think I'll stick with this plan. Love this thread.

 

[Cindy in PA]

@Wee Farmer Sarah
I didn't intend for them to eat the tree, but they did! I didn't notice any taste problem. The tree was actually a douglas fir, so fir needles as opposed to pine, LOL.