The Feed and Yolk Experiment: Chicken feed and dark orange yolk color

[jacksun]

My chicks free range and have self feeders available . I go for egg taste not color. For some reason store bought eggs make me burp like they have sulfur in them.

 

[CatCohen]

I can promise you in Europe, with their strict standards, they are not feeding their hens the kind of chemicals you find in non-organic feed. The eggs (and you and the hens) will be healthier with organic, non-soy food. No corn in summer, it makes them too hot.

Try finding marigold extract and I read that either cayenne or maybe it was paprika will make the yolks orange. And the hens don't sense the heat. I was actually looking that up when I ran across your post and thought noooooo! Don't use those chemical filled fake foods.

 

[K&S_Farms_]

Why do some yolks not have an even color? Yes, I do understand my pullet egg shown is fertile, but in the yolk you can see it's not an even orange color throughout.

 

[ShanandGem]

I don't feed for yolk color but my hens all lay dark yolked eggs. They get on average 2 hours a day of free ranging. I do feed a lot of cooked pumpkin, grated fresh carrot, purple cabbage and zucchini. They also eat a lot of seeds (millet, pumpkin, flax, and sunflower). I grind my own feed with no soy and roasted field peas as its main protein source.
My eggs are delicious, with complex flavor due to the varied diet my chickens eat.
Oh, and I feed almost no corn. They get a handful of popcorn every morning for a treat.

 

[Smith 35]

I feed my 5 girls unlimited access to Purina Layena feed. In the morning I toss out some scratch with a couple handfuls of Chubby brand mealworms. Mid day I make them a salad, primarily kale with a few chopped veggies or grated carrot. Sometimes they get treats. Blueberries are their favorite or scrambled eggs, crushed shells included. I let them free range on weekends and evenings if there is enough daylight. Their yolks are dark orange, thick, rich and delicious! I also offer oyster shell, but I don't think they ever touch it.

 

[johnjuanita]

Very helpful. Thank you so very much.

 

[mobius]

Plant the calendula marigolds around fencing...I think this is a simple and cool kind of organic answer, and spring is here! Make things pretty with flowers and let your birds harvest them for rich orange yolks!

 

[Bella54330]

Hi there! Just another update Oh the yolk color/feed experiment. I've just recently replaced my flock, and have started feeding capsicum powder in the pellets. I'm also going to try algae and died beet pulp (cheaper), but I got a 5#bag of chili powder from the Asian grocery for $12, so I've been just adding that only so far.
I must admit, the color change is staggering. The yolks on the top are from two weeks ago with no chili powder, the bottom (darker) ones are from last week, and the really beautiful sunset orange one is from this morning. I've come to the conclusion that the chili (capsicum powder) makes a substantial difference within a couple of weeks.

 

[Bella54330]

I'll also add that they free range all day, and are still on Purina Layena pellets. I feel that the taste from the chili powder eggs is superior to without, but I tend to eat with my eyes first, so attractive foods always taste better to me.

 

[aart]

Hi there! Just another update Oh the yolk color/feed experiment. I've just recently replaced my flock, and have started feeding capsicum powder in the pellets. I'm also going to try algae and died beet pulp (cheaper), but I got a 5#bag of chili powder from the Asian grocery for $12, so I've been just adding that only so far.
I must admit, the color change is staggering. The yolks on the top are from two weeks ago with no chili powder, the bottom (darker) ones are from last week, and the really beautiful sunset orange one is from this morning. I've come to the conclusion that the chili (capsicum powder) makes a substantial difference within a couple of weeks.

Pretty cool, great update, can't wait to see the algae and dried beet pulp results.
I assume you will try both of those separately and feeding plain feed (of same brand all the way thru) for a week or so between each for clear untainted results?
How much capsicum powder are you adding to how much feed?