Green yolks and shredded paper?

[Mak]

I've used shredded paper under the poop board and in the nest boxes for almost a year now, and have had no problems with discolored egg yolks. I only use non-glossy paper and light cardboard. Basically, all the junk mail pieces that aren't glossy or plastic coated. I shred and save it in bags.

 

[heidilogic]

My husband and I had an "Ah Ha!" moment earlier today. I didn't realize that the majority of the paper we were using came from my father in laws printer. It's this big, weird industrial thing which uses this ink that is dyed wax. I thought I had checked the papers well enough. Usually it's very easy to tell the difference between the machines because my FIL's ink prints really heavy and you can usually just scratch it off. I guess I missed it because I thought we had printed them from our normal printer. My husband told me the wax is soy based, which is ok, but the pigment, who knows. *shrugs* Soon the pigment should be out of their systems and everything will be back to normal.

Well that's one mystery solved.

 

[dandelionheart]

Just be careful... some inks still contail lead (and are allowed to). We found that out with our oldest son who has Autism and eats everything.

Also a good idea to not wrap your food with your newspapers, etc. unless you know that that particular paper is using lead-free inks.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I would suspect the feed mill has started using cotton seed meal in your feed before I'd suspect that the shredded paper could possibly affect the egg yolk color.

 

[wolftracks]

A.T. Hagan :

I would suspect the feed mill has started using cotton seed meal in your feed before I'd suspect that the shredded paper could possibly affect the egg yolk color.

Does it affect the color? Anything else it may do to the eggs?​

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Yes. Cotton seed meal over a fairly low percentage in the make up of a ration can affect yolk color just as you describe.

But it's not the only thing that can do that. Whatever is the cause I'd first suspect something in the feed, then perhaps an illness in the birds.

I'd find it hard to believe it could be the shredded paper unless you're finding heavy ink smudges on their butts. Maybe if they were eating the paper perhaps. But I'd suspect something has changed in their feed first.

 

[LadyWoodsong]

My eggs are better today, not completely back to normal. They still have a slight greenish tinge to them.

They are eating the same feed I always feed them, nothing has changed there. I gather my eggs each day so they are always fresh. They didn't have a bad smell to them whatsoever.

It does make me wonder if they changed something in the feed.