How to get an orange yolk egg?

[Hen Daddy]

When we first got our chickens, the gal we got them from gave us a bunch of her eggs to show us coloration and texture and flavor of home grown eggs. Hers had a nice orangey yolk and the white part was more yellow than white. Yummy, the kids loved them.

Now that we have 2 gals laying, we are noticing their "insides" look just like commercial eggs from the store. The kids say they taste better, but I want the coloring too! We feed Nutrena layer feed, supplement with oyster shells, fresh greens from the garden, veggies, fun treats like oatmeal, watermelon, that kinda thing.

Should I be feeding them something else that will change the color of the yolk/white? Does it really matter that much?


Thanks all!
~Caran (hijacking Craig's account, cuz I'm too lazy to log out! haha)

 

[Reinbeau]

As long as they're getting a nicely rounded diet (do you let them get out and eat bugs, free range just a bit?) they should have nice yokes. But you can feed them calendula or marigold flowers, the high beta carotene content will help color the yokes, and give them a nice nutritional boost.

 

[farm_mom]

Your first few will be yellow, as they start laying more they should orange up, especially if you let them range some every day.

 

[ginasmarans]

Free ranging does it for mine,but I still notice that the darker the egg shell,the darker the yolk. My Marans are really dark, and my white leghorns are just a little darker than store white eggs.

 

[winekntrychicks]

What about those of us who can't/won't let the girls free range due to airborne predators? In fact as I type there is a huge buzzard and family living in one of the trees just above the coop and run. We also have a family of Red Tail Hawks in a near by tree.

 

[whitecra]

Mine have very yellow yokes as long as they are getting some cracked corn with their egg laying feed.
Chris

 

[illinichick]

you're right. I switched to just cracked corn for awhile last year and the yolks were very dark orange. Now that I have switched back to layer feed, the yolks look like store eggs.

 

[scooter147]

I give a little cracked corn in the evening, this seems to help make them orangier

 

[whitecra]

Quote:
I feed them a mixture of cracked corn and layer feed. It works great like that.
Chris

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Alfalfa works too.