Eggs taste like dirt

[arkk]

Hello. We have one batch of chickens that are about 3 years old and another batch that just started laying. The new layers eggs taste like dirt. Any idea why?

 

[HappyClucker7]

If a chicken eats a lot of one type of food, the eggs will taste like that food. For example, this summer, my chickens were eating a lot of mint, so their eggs tasted like mint. Do you know of anything your chickens could be eating that would cause that taste?

 

[HappyDuckie]

Do they free range? Do you wash their eggs?

 

[WhatTheDuckingDuck]

Are they eating a lot of earthworms? I’ve never eaten a worm, but will assume they taste like dirt. We had an over abundance of sweet corn and shared with the chickens. Eggs tasted like sweet corn.

 

[arkk]

Do they free range? Do you wash their eggs?

They do free range and I usually don't wash eggs unless they are terrible.

 

[arkk]

Are they eating a lot of earthworms? I’ve never eaten a worm, but will assume they taste like dirt. We had an over abundance of sweet corn and shared with the chickens. Eggs tasted like sweet corn.

I don't believe they are eating a lot of worms. Maybe I should give them a bunch of sweet corn!

 

[arkk]

If a chicken eats a lot of one type of food, the eggs will taste like that food. For example, this summer, my chickens were eating a lot of mint, so their eggs tasted like mint. Do you know of anything your chickens could be eating that would cause that taste?

I have no clue. They have layer feed, scratch and they free range eating whatever they find.

 

[KarynVA]

Check out this thread from over 10 years ago.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/eggs-taste-like-dirt.357143/

Apparently, there are at least 3 members of BYC who have experienced this.

Here is another thread where they discovered that, in their case, it was due to the bag of feed they were using.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...nure-update-i-think-the-prob-is-fixed.446986/

 

[arkk]

PUMPKIN.....you all just made me realize. We bought a giant pumpkin and the new chickens went crazy for it. They were eating it non stop.....,I could see where a pumpkin may taste "earthy"

 

[arkk]

Check out this thread from over 10 years ago.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/eggs-taste-like-dirt.357143/

Apparently, there are at least 3 members of BYC who have experienced this.

Here is another thread where they discovered that, in their case, it was due to the bag of feed they were using.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...nure-update-i-think-the-prob-is-fixed.446986/

I'll check those out....but why just the younger chickens? They all eat the same food.