Hard boiled eggs --- how many??

[Welbies]

We have two backyard hens (a buff laced polish and a bantam brown leghorn) they are about 5 months old and have not started laying yet.
We let them free range in our yard all day long and feed them only kitchen scraps like soaked bread and watermelon.

My question is : we have a big supply of hard boiled egg yolks (the yellow center only) because my inlaws only eat the whites, my chickens LOVE this! How many can I feed them each per day? Could too much protein stifle their egg laying capacity?? So far I have been limiting it to one yolk per bird per day, but have many more to go around.....

Does anyone know??? Thanks so much!

 

[al6517]

You can give quite a few more without any harm.

AL

 

[codybird]

Most of the protein is in the white.

 

[jafo]

spend a few bucks and get them some real properly balanced grain for thier age. If a chicken does'nt have it "in her" she won't put them out.

 

[rstampa]

Quote:
I agree with you jato 100%. Kitchen scraps etc. is not a good balance diet. It's not the protein that helps them lay better its the calcium. If they are old enough to start laying the OP should cut back on the protein anyway.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
As a food, yolks are a major source of vitamins and minerals. They contain all of the egg's fat and cholesterol, and almost half of the protein.

All of the fat soluble vitamins, (A, D, E and K) are found in the egg yolk. Egg yolks are one of the few foods naturally containing vitamin D. Egg yolk is a source of lecithin, an emulsifier and surfactant.

ETA: I think no more than a tsp for each chicken daily, as 95% of the diet should consist of the appropriate feed (starter, grower, layer), to maintain adequate nutrition. IMO

 

[purpletree23]

They need a quality laying mash or pellets. They should start laying any time now but could have vitamin deficiencies if they don't have the proper food. Also make sure they have chicken grit and oyster crumbles available 24/7. A 25lb bag of layer pellets should cost under 7 buck and with only 2 chickens that should last two months especially if you free range.

I wouldn't give more than 1 yolk per bird per day. What's bad for your in laws is bad for the chickens.