Is flavor of eggs affected by brand of feed?

[elf]

It seemed that my chickens' eggs lost their flavor and deep color for a while. This was in eggs gathered after a Sulfamet treatment ( I waited 14 days after before keeping any eggs.). Don't know whether to blame the lack of taste on the medicine's possible vitamin B depletion or changing brands of layer crumbles and feeding less cracked corn. I switched back to mainly old brand (Layena) mixed with some of the other brand (also a name brand) and more corn and it seems the eggs are up to snuff now.(Two months later) I'm putting a little poultry vitamin powder and apple cider vinegar in their water, too. Also chickens are ranging more since weather's warmer and drier, and there are more bugs and plants. So, has anyone noticed a difference in egg quality/taste after switching brands of feed?

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I've never used Sulfamet so cannot comment on its possible effects on egg flavor.

I can say that chaging feed brands might could affect the tast of the eggs and cutting back on the cracked corn might affect yolk color.

Layena does not have much in it that would color an egg yolk so if that's all or nearly all they are getting then the yolks will be pale. You don't have to give them more cracked corn though and I don't recommend doing that since the layer ration is borderline already on protein content. What I would do is give them green feed - tender grass, green leafy vegetables, pumpkin, that sort of thing. Anything that is green or orange in color and tender enough for them to eat will do. This should both improve the color and the flavor after a few days.

.....Alan.

 

[elf]

Thanks. I've only had chickens since last July, so don't know much yet. They started laying this winter.They're foraging away now and actually consuming considerably less commercial feed. They were always free range (we bought a 10 acre abandoned farm), but there didn't seem to be much insect life to keep them interested late winter. Plus the ground stayed half flooded part of the winter.We're in Georgia, so there's some grass and clover even in winter. There's lots more greenery now, but they seem to prefer the bugs & worms so I guess they need that protein. We have lots of clover,etc. but they don't seem to eat that much of it. The eggs are tasting great again. Didn't want to try selling any until they were impressive.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If they're free-ranging then egg flavor and yolk color will usually take care of itself. Sounds like things are as they should be now.

.....Alan.

 

[pardenx3]

A.T. Hagan :

I've never used Sulfamet so cannot comment on its possible effects on egg flavor.

I can say that chaging feed brands might could affect the tast of the eggs and cutting back on the cracked corn might affect yolk color.

Layena does not have much in it that would color an egg yolk so if that's all or nearly all they are getting then the yolks will be pale. You don't have to give them more cracked corn though and I don't recommend doing that since the layer ration is borderline already on protein content. What I would do is give them green feed - tender grass, green leafy vegetables, pumpkin, that sort of thing. Anything that is green or orange in color and tender enough for them to eat will do. This should both improve the color and the flavor after a few days.

.....Alan.

Yes! Lots of greens make a big differance! Mine don't free range, but we have TONS of clovers, and all kinds of green stuff growing all over. They love it, and the yolks look really nice and deep in color.​