How to confirm acceptable nutrition when free ranging?

[4chickensIA]

Our flock of 4 has just started laying. We've gotten 5 eggs total so far, and to be honest, I am disappointed in the quality. The yolk is an average yellow color, and not super creamy. Compared to the high end store bought eggs, the store bought is much more orange, creamy, and fatty tasting, if that makes sense.

Our chickens are in their coop with food and water from roughly 9pm until 9am, and are let out daily if the weather is nice. We leave the door open so they can come and go from the coop/run.

They are kept in our fenced in backyard, which is about 5k sq ft of just turf grass, and a small garden. Not much to eat besides the grass, and whatever bugs they find.

I am concerned they are filling up on grass, and not eating enough of their food to improve their health/nutrition and egg quality. Do chickens tend to self regulate this type of thing, or should I be keeping them in the coop for longer, to make sure they are eating enough actual feed, instead of foraging?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Our flock of 4 has just started laying. We've gotten 5 eggs total so far, and to be honest, I am disappointed in the quality. The yolk is an average yellow color, and not super creamy. Compared to the high end store bought eggs, the store bought is much more orange, creamy, and fatty tasting, if that makes sense.

Our chickens are in their coop with food and water from roughly 9pm until 9am, and are let out daily if the weather is nice. We leave the door open so they can come and go from the coop/run.

They are kept in our fenced in backyard, which is about 5k sq ft of just turf grass, and a small garden. Not much to eat besides the grass, and whatever bugs they find.

I am concerned they are filling up on grass, and not eating enough of their food to improve their health/nutrition and egg quality. Do chickens tend to self regulate this type of thing, or should I be keeping them in the coop for longer, to make sure they are eating enough actual feed, instead of foraging?

What’s your feed? (Brand name, type of feed, and protein level.)

 

[4chickensIA]

What’s your feed? (Brand name, type of feed, and protein level.)

It was previously Nutrena Nature Smart Chick Starter/Grower crumble, 20% protein, organic.

We just recently (meaning this past Saturday, 3 days ago), switched them to Kalmbach All Natural Non-GMO Flock Maker crumble, 20% protein. I'm also mixing a small amount (2.5 lbs per 50 lbs of feed) of Manna Pro Omega Egg Maker into this feed.

 

[nuthatched]

Pass on the omega egg maker, its just Flax meal and can make eggs taste fishy.
Unless you have feral flocks of chickens, they aren't going to enough nutrition.
They're not going to look like fancy store bought eggs because your birds aren't being force fed natural dyes.
You can darken the yolks by occasionally giving them have veggies high in vitamin A, dark leafy greens, pumpkin, bell pepper etc.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

It was previously Nutrena Nature Smart Chick Starter/Grower crumble, 20% protein, organic.

We just recently (meaning this past Saturday, 3 days ago), switched them to Kalmbach All Natural Non-GMO Flock Maker crumble, 20% protein. I'm also mixing a small amount (2.5 lbs per 50 lbs of feed) of Manna Pro Omega Egg Maker into this feed.

Mine have been on Kalmbach Chickhouse Reserve, now supplemented with Flock Maker, and the yolks are great. Kalmbach does add marigold petals, maybe something else, for color to SOME feeds, but not Chickhouse or Flock Maker. So I don’t know where it’s coming from - any marigolds in my yard are long gone.

 

[4chickensIA]

Unless you have feral flocks of chickens, they aren't going to enough nutrition.

Sorry can you clarify?

 

[4chickensIA]

Mine have been on Kalmbach Chickhouse Reserve, now supplemented with Flock Maker, and the yolks are great. Kalmbach does add marigold petals, maybe something else, for color to SOME feeds, but not Chickhouse or Flock Maker. So I don’t know where it’s coming from - any marigolds in my yard are long gone.

I have considered their Reserve feeds, but I want to avoid foods with whole seeds, to prevent the food from being picked through. I don't have time/patience to ferment their food daily.

 

[nuthatched]

Sorry can you clarify?

Sure.
Unless you live in an environment where there is enough biodiversity of flora and fauna to feed feral flocks of chickens, your environment is likely not enough to support your own birds.
Most urban areas aren't even close, and my rural wooded area I know isn't good enough.
Try letting them out later so they'll eat more food.

 

[Altairsky]

Chickens need a pasture with high biodiversity of flora and wild herbs and flowers that attract bugs to have benefits from free ranging.
Let them free range just a few hours in the afternoon and see if the situation improves.
For richer yolks try feeding them fresh chilies. For omega 3, feed them either whole flaxseeds or whole hemp seeds as treat.
Flax meal is a scam, omega3 will oxidize and be destroyed as soon as the seed is broken if not kept refrigerated and away from oxygen.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Yeah, the egg yolk color is a common misconception. I was also sorely disappointed when I cracked open my first eggs and saw pale yolks. And these are birds that eat like kings, so I wasn't buying it!

I grow marigolds next to the chicken pen, and I'll pop in some heads a couple times a week. Cheating my way to those orange yolks!