Orange yolks?

[ih66series]

Somone who buys eggs from me said something about an orange yolk and I told them it was beta karotine that comes from eating grass and other green things. Then I opened one and it was a really wierd orange color. Any other reasons for orange yolks?

 

[elevan]

Are they eating marigolds? Or anything else that is bright orange or yellow?

 

[Jynx21]

I noticed that my yolks were a very dark reddish orange after my hens dug up a small termite nest in an old stump. They might be getting some extra protien from bugs.

 

[vjbakke]

It's a sign that the hens have been eating bugs and plant life, however some hens are fed marigolds on purpose to make the yolks look like free range eggs.

 

[mandelyn]

Quote:
Sneaky!

 

[pwdhorn]

O'ragne u gett'n eggs?

 

[ih66series]

no marigolds but maybe its a protein thing

 

[sanyijr]

Doesn't corn have a similar effect?

 

[mcostas]

probably from the grass and other dark greens they eat. I knew someone that lived on the coast and fed her hens crab and scrimp scraps. The yolks were red! I just ran out and offered mine some marigold but they didn't seem interested. Mine have dark yellow yolks.

I think protien affects the egg whites. Mine have really thick viscoius whites! I used to gag when I read the labels on the eggs at teh store. Bragging about feeding vegatarian diet?!?!? I can understand the necesaity in it for commercial purposes but to twist that around like it's a good thing . . .

 

[colebarnhart]

How orange are you talking? I thought all farm fresh eggs were supposed to have darker yolks, but I recently just got my first ones and the yolks look darker than store bought.