How do I get dark orange egg yolks

[Acre4Me]

Does the yolk comparison go off the raw yolk, or a cooked one?

I’m pretty sure it’s raw/uncooked yolk.

 

[SilkieRen]

I've gotten orange yolks from feeding my chickens bell peppers. They love them so it makes an excellent treat too!

 

[The Angry Hen]

I haven't tried it yet, considering I am rather happy with the eggs I've been receiving, but an author from my state of Maine (Lisa Steele) has recommended marigolds as a natural, and herbal, way to increase the yolk's richness. By adding this to their diet, says Steele, "Marigolds not only ward off insects in your garden, but they are also an antioxidant and promote the growth of new skin tissue. As an added bonus, chickens who eat marigolds lay eggs with bright yellow yolks."

If this is something of which you wish for, maybe it's worth a try come spring gardening time. As far as a winter feed goes... alfalfa, greenery, pumpkin, etc. may be helpful.

 

[imnukensc]

Does the yolk comparison go off the raw yolk, or a cooked one?

Raw.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you garden you can easily supplement your flock with some greens to help naturally darken yolks. Mine get carrot tops (as most people don't eat them), kale, a little chard and spinach.

 

[KahKaDoodleDo22]

As above, peppers, squash/pumpkins, kale, alfalfa, marigolds are popular. Check your feed bag-some contain marigold. Don’t over feed treats though, they need their intake of treats to be no more than 10% of diet. As for alfalfa, I get a bag of alfalfa pellets to hydrate and mix into their feed when I make a wet mash. I do this more often in the winter. Alfalfa is 16% min protein, so I’m not diluting their protein intake.

my girls aren’t too keen on peppers. They do love squash and cabbage though.

Thank you!

 

[katieuppi]

I've used paprika with great success.