How to get an orange yolk egg?

[illinichick]

Whitcra, I, too, have mixed cracked corn with the layer feed, just to make the expensive layer feed last longer!

 

[blueskylen]

i agree that the cracked corn will orange up the yolk and i think it adds more flavor too

i mix cracked corn, sunflower seeds, and calf manna together as a daily treat and layer crumbles as their main feed.

 

[banter]

Grated carrots would work too, and they're cheap. So would pumpkins and squash.
Mine are very orange free ranging.

 

[MiniDriver]

Quote:
You can serve them a salad of fresh grass, weeds, or leftover lettuce. If you're digging in the garden and unearth a worm, feed it to the girls.

 

[d.k]

*Most likely it is due to beta carotene as a Vit. A supplement from some source. Did you keep her number? You could call and ask. . . I would. . .

 

[holliewould]

Quote:
I got my first 3 eggs this week and boy were they orange. I will tell you that they free range all day and they always have Layena available to them. They hardly eat their Layena mash though. They also eat whatever I toss out in the yard. But for sure them yolks from my gals are almost orange. Maybe that will change when they get older though. I don't give my chickens oyster shell though. They eat pearock.

 

[debilorrah]

Winekntrychick, we have our coop enclosed with chicken wire outside the hen house - the predators can't get in, but the bugs do, and they thrive on those little buggers. It gives them sunlight during the day, shade in the heat, and nothing gets in that we don't want in.

 

[chilisweet]

hmmm cracked corn...will have to try that, although it has been super warm here, may have to wait until it cools down. We do feed them scratch though....it is 90% corn.

I'm trying to talk hubby into letting them free range during the day, but he is worried that he will have to chase them back into their coop at night because they wont want to go in. I'm thinking that since they know where their coop is, they will go in freely...anyone have thoughts on that?

I totally love the idea of chickens wandering around our yard eating all sortsa things...except my flowers!

~Caran

 

[ChickaD]

Chilisweet, this is our current method of hurrying them back into the coop a little earlier (due to recent incidents with predators) than they'd otherwise choose: we turn their light on in the coop, like a beacon...it also gives them the extra light they need to keep laying as the days get shorter. I shake some wheat berries (or whatever treat is hard and rattles) in a container and call out our signature treat call: "Here, chicka chicka chicka," or whatever you can say loudly. Most of ours come flying and greedily start pecking away at the treat I add to their feeder...we currently have two stubborn hold-outs, which take a little longer to round up and convince to get in. If left to their own devices, ours will usually stay out until almost dark, but they hang around closer to the coop door.

 

[Tmec]

Quote:
Chili

We let ours range during the day and in the evening they are very willing to go back in if you take your time and don't push them too fast. If you try to pen them too early they will resist. Just wait till about 30 mins before dark. They are creatures of habit so when it gets late they will head for where they have been roosting. Give it a try.