Light yolk color on freshly layed eggs???

[rhodewarrior]

That had happened with my girls too, once their yard died, their eggs went to yellow. I started letting them out into the main backyard to help with the earwigs and get some greens. I also pick up the "expired" greens from our local Fresh and Easy for half off and give it to them every night. They love it! Their yolks are getting much better, will have to add the protein and see if that helps even more. My girls definitely do not have a shortage of protein in our yard, but some easy grub sure couldn't hurt! I am so glad I ran across this thread!

 

[suburbanminifarm]

Ok this thread has given me some ideas about what may have happened to my yolks....it frustrates me to see pale yolks when my girls are the most spoiled hens around.....

I think the lighter colors may have been related to the dying out of some of their yard with the onset of summer. I have started watering the yard hoping more green comes back and I think it is looking better already (lord knows it gets plenty of bird poop fertilizer); I need to give it more time.
Also I have been giving them a big bowl of Iams dog kibble soaked in boiling water every morning. When it gets all soft they love it! Hopefully I'll see a difference very soon!
I like the idea of expired greens from the grocery store, Hmmm I'm gonna have to ask if they will let me have some, great idea!

 

[colby318]

Mine free range, but in the summer I'll give them generic frozen spinach. You should see them tuck into it when it starts to thaw. Any source of beta carotene should help your yolk color.

 

[MsRiderUp]

Thanks for the ideas. I have the same problem with just one of my hens (& best layers). They free-range with plenty of grass, get plenty of flock layer crumbles, and oyster shell/ground egg shells to supplement their calcium. I also give them lots of veggie/fruit scraps. I also let them free range in our woods every few days. We have a mixed flock with 4-month-old pullets, so I'm afraid to give them a feed with too much calcium. Maybe some occasional eggs and cow liver will help. I generally don't feed them much meat.

 

[JAZsMom]

1. I've been told feeding them marigolds will turn their yolks practically orange.

2. SO glad it's not just me! Our yolks have gotten much lighter in the past 2 weeks and was curious about that, too. I bet in my case it's because the heat is killing off some of the grass and in the last couple weeks have started letting our 6 week old pullets free range with them...less greens and protein to go around! Thanks for the info!

 

[Navymanswife]

I was worried too! I have always had rich, orange yolks but the last week, they have gone much lighter. Otherwise, they appear healthy...They free range over 20 acres, so I am not sure I can do much to increase their greens but it's reassuring to know that it's not a health issue.

 

[rc4u]

i dont htink the color of the yolk makes them any more nutrisious if they are getting all the nutrients they need..just some things make them more yellow but not more nutrisious...????? store eggs are not as good for nutrients as free ranged becuase of the varied diet. but in an already good bird homegrown does it change just becuase of the color??

 

[JMarch]

adding some paprika to their feed will do the trick

 

[Meeka3]

I remember my aunty saying way back in the sixties, if you want dark yellow yolks then feed them corn. My yolks are always dark yellow and I do give them corn in their sprouting mix every day. Sometimes those old timers knew what they were talking about.

 

[JMarch]

corn works, too, but so nutritionally poor unless you need to fatten them up a little