Good supplements for chickens

[laylerschicks]

Hi! I've kinda asked this question before but didn't get much of a response, and so I was hoping that more people may see this one. What are some good supplements for chickens? I so far have just really been giving my chickens plain feed from the bag and some table scraps, but I've realized that (since they've started laying eggs recently) that they aren't getting the absolute best I can offer. The eggshells are a decent thickness, but they're yolks aren't very orange, and I know that orange yolks are usually better meaning that its organic and healthy, but my girls' yolks are all just as yellow as store bought eggs. I overall care more about the health of my birds than what the eggs look like, but I know that those two are connected. What are some healthy supplements for my chickens to have beautiful, strong eggs, and a healthy bird? (PS) My chickens recently started sneezing and getting runny noses. I ordered some broad-spectrum medicine for respiratory issues but I've heard garlic is another way to fight that off, so I've started adding garlic to their feed, along with rolled oats, cayenne pepper, and DE.

 

[BlueBaby]

This site has a good list on getting the better colored egg yolks:
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2020/01/what-makes-egg-yolks-orange.html

 

[Liveove]

Hi! I've kinda asked this question before but didn't get much of a response, and so I was hoping that more people may see this one. What are some good supplements for chickens? I so far have just really been giving my chickens plain feed from the bag and some table scraps, but I've realized that (since they've started laying eggs recently) that they aren't getting the absolute best I can offer. The eggshells are a decent thickness, but they're yolks aren't very orange, and I know that orange yolks are usually better meaning that its organic and healthy, but my girls' yolks are all just as yellow as store bought eggs. I overall care more about the health of my birds than what the eggs look like, but I know that those two are connected. What are some healthy supplements for my chickens to have beautiful, strong eggs, and a healthy bird? (PS) My chickens recently started sneezing and getting runny noses. I ordered some broad-spectrum medicine for respiratory issues but I've heard garlic is another way to fight that off, so I've started adding garlic to their feed, along with rolled oats, cayenne pepper, and DE.

personally I’d steer clear of adding random stuff to their pre-portioned feed. If you want their yolks to get darker, you can try feeding foods rich in xanthophylls like spinach or corn.

 

[laylerschicks]

This site has a good list on getting the better colored egg yolks:
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2020/01/what-makes-egg-yolks-orange.html

i was just looking at her video on yt about what to feed chickens!!

 

[laylerschicks]

personally I’d steer clear of adding random stuff to their pre-portioned feed. If you want their yolks to get darker, you can try feeding foods rich in xanthophylls like spinach or corn.

thx !!

 

[BlueBaby]

i was just looking at her video on yt about what to feed chickens!!

She has pretty good info, and I have been signed up for her newsletter's for year's.

 

[nuthatched]

I've started adding garlic to their feed, along with rolled oats, cayenne pepper, and DE.

Garlic and oats make sticky, smelly poops, cayenne pepper doesn't do a thing and DE shouldn't be used anywhere you or your birds can breathe, it causes respiratory issues.
You can feed good quality feed like a higher protein layer and give leafy greens for darker yolks, anything else will dye them without providing any nutritional benefit.

 

[Liveove]

Garlic and oats make sticky, smelly poops, cayenne pepper doesn't do a thing and DE shouldn't be used anywhere you or your birds can breathe, it causes respiratory issues.
You can feed good quality feed like a higher protein layer and give leafy greens for darker yolks, anything else will dye them without providing any nutritional benefit.

Actually, cayenne pepper has a reputation for making egg yolks more orange.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Marigolds are used to make darker yolks.

 

[Liveove]

Marigolds are used to make darker yolks.

yup, because they are a good source of xanthophyll. Anything high in xanthophyll would work nicely