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

[chickengeorgeto]

Just as an update-

It's been over a year now, and we've kept the girls on the Layena with Marigold extract diet. The yolks have continued to be about a 9 on the Roche color scale, but we're still striving for that beautiful darker red orange color. The girls have had all of the greens they could possibly want, and I am still not satisfied with the color, s


Here is a store bought egg




Here is one of my eggs while feeding Purina Layena, fresh veggie scraps, and free ranging for most of the day.

The funny thing is that the bottom egg would or could not be sold in a grocery store today because of it's low freshness grade. Only AAA, AA and grade A eggs make the cut. No others need apply.

 

[aart]

Peru that it is common practice to feed marigold flowers to commercial hens in order to fake organic eggs.

Actually a lot of feeds have marigold components added for yolk color, nothing to do with 'organic'.

Corn imparts color to yolks too. I have buddies that raise corn free layers and meat birds for someone who is deathly allergic to corn...the yolks are almost white.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

Actually a lot of feeds have marigold components added for yolk color, nothing to do with 'organic'.

Corn imparts color to yolks too. I have buddies that raise corn free layers and meat birds for someone who is deathly allergic to corn...the yolks are almost white.

That's odd! I didn't think corn would impact the yolk color! I'm might just start feeding them corn more often!

 

[aart]

That's odd! I didn't think corn would impact the yolk color! I'm might just start feeding them corn more often!

Most feed is mainly corn anyway....you have to look at total nutrition, not just adding things for yolk color.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

Most feed is mainly corn anyway....you have to look at total nutrition, not just adding things for yolk color.

That is true... it is not very healthy. I'm sure kale would be a better choice

 

[chicknmania]

That was a funny story. Apparently Layena might have something to do with yours, but just wanted to say that we have always let our flock free range and the ones that go out regularly do have the dark yolks. We have a few that don't choose to go out much, and they do lay lighter yolked eggs, so I know that free ranging does make a difference. We feed Layena but only occasionally. We do usually feed Purina feed though, or other recognized brand feed. It is always a good idea to stay away from cheap feed when feeding poultry. We also mix our feed with cracked corn and/ or scratch once in a while. Glad you are having fun with them and getting the best eggs.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I got my first egg yesterday and ate one today. It was a lot darker than I'm used to, but still not dark compared to the ones I see on here.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I have marigolds in my garden (no pesticides or fungicides of any kind) and I was wondering about adding them to my chicks' diet. The chicks are going on seven weeks old now and I've already been feeding them fresh oregano, thyme, rosemary, and dried mealworms in addition to chick starter and chick grit.
They seem to be doing quite well, as far as this first time chicken person can determine. Nicely feathered out, bright eyes, lots of kerfuffling, short-range test flights, and a few are trying out their clucking skills (the sweet peeping is slowly fading...). All have different personalities--who would have thought that?
I know I have a ways to go for that first egg but those dark yolks look lovely!
Thanks for any input here.

 

[rottlady]

I feed nutrena feather fixer and add calendula flowers as I happen to have them
Nice dark dark yellow or orange yolks

 

[kanina]

I don't understand the desire being the "dark yolk." As long as my chooks are healthy and well fed, I'm happy with what they give me. I've got one hen that gives me a rich yellow egg and some that give me a sunflower yellow, and one that gives me a pale chiffon yellow yolk. I got a deep orangey red yolk like OP was saying she was after, and after looking at it, it was veining. I had a hen that was a little broody but didn't stick to it.