How to incorporate greens in diet?

[jramirez]

My chickens are in a 3 sided coop. There is no longer grass and not sure how many bugs venture in! I feed them layer feed and every now and then mix in some corn, sunflower seed etc mix. I want to achieve the deep golden yolk but how can I do this?

 

[redsoxs]

I think if you give them leafy green veggies (in addition to their layer ration) it should orange up their yolks a little.

 

[AVintageLife]

I think greens are very important for the health of the flock and quality of the eggs. My family eats alot of kale, spinach, field greens, romaine and I can get big bags of kale at the supermarket now. My chickens get a big handful of greens in the morning every day, either fresh or leftover from our meals. I also feed them a variety of the yellow/orange veggies - pumpkin, acorn squash, butternut squash, carrots, etc., again either fresh or left over from our meals. They go through a cabbage a week, hung in their run to keep them busy. It's so much fun to watch them jumping up to peck at it and they eat it down to the core. I only have seven chickens at the moment. Out of five pullets, we have four laying as of yesterday and the eggs are beautiful, hard shells and really bright golden yolks.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

You can grow fodder. Very easy to do in a small space for cheap. Here is a great thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/713334/growing-fodder-for-chickens

 

[stone_family3]

We give kitchen scraps, I buy all the discount produce I can see for them. Last year I struck up a deal with the local produce stand and they would give me all their "bad" produce. I'd just dump it in and they'd go to town.

 

[jramirez]

wow these are all great ideas! Thanks so much everyone