What can I feed to get brighter, richer yolks?

[TheOddOneOut]

Did your yolks improve darkness?
@TheOddOneOut

Slightly.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

I have nice yellow egg yolks.

I feed a no corn, whole grain feed mix. My birds get to wander and forage in my yard. They get greens out of the garden. Sprouts. I sometimes give them marigold or calendula flowers. Oyster shell/ egg shell. Kitchen/Table scraps. Sea weed, red pepper, fresh fruit and veggies, (yellow squash, pumpkin when available).

Yellow corn is a source of the yellow… but as I feed trying to avoid corn and still get super yellow eggs, it is not the only way.

The feed has varied considerably over the years… from hand mixing to current commercially made stuff.

 

[Windrider]

There is a program on PBS where they go around California looking for interesting stories. I remembered this segment on the special variety of marigolds grown for adding to chicken feed to color the yolks. The marigold seed is grown here in Ventura County and shipped all over the world.

If you re interested, here's the link to the program. The Marigold part starts at 13:40.
California's Gold

 

[Mrs. K]

I know a lot of you are pretty serious about their feed, as in only layer feed. But to me, then you get plain grocery store eggs. I myself, like a little scratch in the feed, all of the table scraps, and some digging while out and about.

I have a neighbor who does do the meal worms and layer but I don't really like those eggs.

Mrs K

 

[3KillerBs]

I know a lot of you are pretty serious about their feed, as in only layer feed. But to me, then you get plain grocery store eggs. I myself, like a little scratch in the feed, all of the table scraps, and some digging while out and about.

I have a neighbor who does do the meal worms and layer but I don't really like those eggs.

Mrs K

For me it's been pretty simple,

If the girls have green stuff their eggs are gorgeous.

 

[HenHouse Henry]

I’m just wondering.
Because as great as our lovely, colorful eggs are, I want them to blow people away. They have colorful shells, but the yolks are quite subtle. Just a plain yellow. People love ’em. Birds love ’em. View attachment 2927183
But when our pet hens stopped laying for the winter, we bought some expensive free-range eggs, and WOW. Such dark orange yolks! Such thick shells! And I know that the hens who laid them can’t possibly have as good lives as my girls, so I’m wondering what I can feed them to make their eggs look and taste the part as well.
They get cracked corn as a treat in moderate amounts. They are fed layer crumbles.
What else can I feed? Beets? Turmeric?
Lol, I know this is really just vanity. But I want bright yolks! Haha.

Marigold flowers, chili powder, crushed chilis, and red cabbage work great for darker yolks.

 

[DarJones]

Egg yolks turn yellow from carotenoids, the same stuff that makes the legs of yellow legged chickens yellow. The more carotenoids they eat, the darker the egg yolk. Carotenoids are produced by plants mostly as defensive chemicals. They protect the plant from being eaten in some cases and in others they protect from infections. Some carotenoids and most anthocyanins are produced to protect against UV in sunlight. Ever seen an orange tomato? That is beta carotene. A red tomato? That is lycopene, another carotenoid.

Feed some green grass or green clover and the eggs will develop more color.

 

[jjunge08]

I use Kalmbach Hi-Omega layer pellets for darker richer yolks!

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Greens, yellow, and orange type veggies/flowers get you nice yellow yolks and nice yellow legs. People complain about washed out legs in breeds with yellow legs (or white soles in breeds that are suppose to have yellow soles with black legs) and that means the chicken isn’t getting enough carotenoids in It’s diet and probably other nutrients too.

Flamingos are white feathered till fed the right feed, that contains carotenoid pigments. The more of the right carotenoids in their diet the brighter pink they get.

The preferred green sheen in black feathered chickens is a combination of genetics and diet as well. The diet end can be seen in what breeders and show folk do, higher protein, vitamins, probiotics, specific supplements are all fed to support and give the chicken all the nutrients it needs to produce good feathers.

Egg yolks, shell, taste and nutrients are effected by what you feed your chickens. I read enough studies to conclude good healthy diets for birds equal beautiful heathy yummy eggs for me.

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

I’m just wondering.
Because as great as our lovely, colorful eggs are, I want them to blow people away. They have colorful shells, but the yolks are quite subtle. Just a plain yellow. People love ’em. Birds love ’em. View attachment 2927183
But when our pet hens stopped laying for the winter, we bought some expensive free-range eggs, and WOW. Such dark orange yolks! Such thick shells! And I know that the hens who laid them can’t possibly have as good lives as my girls, so I’m wondering what I can feed them to make their eggs look and taste the part as well.
They get cracked corn as a treat in moderate amounts. They are fed layer crumbles.
What else can I feed? Beets? Turmeric?
Lol, I know this is really just vanity. But I want bright yolks! Haha.

I was just reading a post on this site that includes before and after images after feeding paprika for only 2 weeks. Not surprised - I give paprika to my bay horse to keep his coat dark in the summer and the sun does not bleach him out.
Will add a little paprika to my hens feed and see how it goes.