My Girls Legs are getting pale...WHY?

[Feather Dust]

I have RIR and BR and they will be a year old in February. I've noticed that their legs seem to be changing to a more pale yellow. What causes that? Is it their age? do they have worms? should I be supplementing them with something for it? Is it the weather?

Thanks for your help!
~Feather Dust

 

[Mrs MIA]

My understanding is that some of their pigmentation fades the longer they lay eggs. When they go through a molt, and stop laying eggs, their legs will darken up again. But I could be wrong.

 

[Mrs.Puff]

Your chickens' pigmentation goes into their egg yolks, so they're supposed to get lighter. Their skin will be lighter also. You should have some super yellow yolks!! Feed them orangey foods and lots of greens and they'll keep up the nice yellow yolks! Feed companies often put marigold petals in the mix.

 

[Feather Dust]

Ok Thanks! Some of my friends will only eat my eggs. They say their the best! So keep up the good work girls!

 

[miss_jayne]

the pigment actually goes through several other areas of the body as well, but we don't tend to notice those as much as the legs.

if you reference the Storey book Rasing Chickens, there is a really good breakdown on this process.

she'll get her lovely gams back soon!