⠀ Orange yolks?

[Iamshaddow]

Many years ago, when I lived in south Texas, I had a flock of free-range hens of a mutt variety. There were Australorps, Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, and some Barred Rocks, and young uns mixed breed. The hens all laid eggs with rich, wonderful orange yolks. When I sold/gave away my flock and moved from the area, I tried raising chickens again, but no matter what I did, I could never get those rich, golden yolks. My original flock lived on a diet of bugs, regular scratch feed, and whatever they found in the scrub brush/cactus land. I never added beta carotene, carrots, or marigold flowers to their diet, they did it all on their own. How can I get those beautiful delicious golden yolks back?

 

[LisaStone]

Dark leafy greens, meat (bugs), and omega 3 fatty acids are the 3 contributors to a nice orange yolk.

 

[DrPatrickBiggs]

Many years ago, when I lived in south Texas, I had a flock of free-range hens of a mutt variety. There were Australorps, Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, and some Barred Rocks, and young uns mixed breed. The hens all laid eggs with rich, wonderful orange yolks. When I sold/gave away my flock and moved from the area, I tried raising chickens again, but no matter what I did, I could never get those rich, golden yolks. My original flock lived on a diet of bugs, regular scratch feed, and whatever they found in the scrub brush/cactus land. I never added beta carotene, carrots, or marigold flowers to their diet, they did it all on their own. How can I get those beautiful delicious golden yolks back?

This is a great question – one that I know affects many flock raisers. One of the great joys in raising a backyard flock is that feeling of cracking open a bright-yellow egg! For this reason, Purina Animal Nutrition includes marigold extract in our layer feeds – Purina

Layena

and Purina

Layena

Plus Omega-3 Premium Poultry Feeds. Marigold extract contains a high level of xanthophyll, which is a coloring agent that comes from marigolds. This ingredient should help your hens provide you with rich yellow yolks. Remember to limit additional feedstuffs, like treats, to not more than 10% of your hens’ total diet to avoid compromising the nutritional profile needed for optimal health and egg production.