Yellow egg yolks

[Tootie123]

What is that chickens eat that makes their egg yolks so much yellower
than eggs that you buy in the store. Is there something special to give
them to make their egg yolks as yellow as possible? My chickens
eat a combination of laying mash and scratch feed. They also
free range. Their yolks are yellow but seem need to be more
yellow. Any ideas?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Chickens don't assimilate carotene. Excess carotene will show up in the egg yolks.
Any food, from corn to carrots to greens that provide carotene will make their egg yolks darker.

 

[Tootie123]

I do throw out vegtables scrapes from the kitchen but they don't
seem to eat them much.....carrots, lettuce, tomato, etc.

 

[Jarrett Dobbins]

You will find that your egg yolk color will differ from that of a store bought egg due to the lack of hormones and pesticides in their feed. Unless your egg yolks are green, purple, red, black etc., I wouldn't worry about it. For more:

 

[dragonlair]

I had bought bagged alfalfa hay made for livestock that my goats refused to eat. I decided to give it to my chickens and Guineas. They LOVED it. I gave them some every day to supplement their regular feed this frigid winter. They repayed me by giving me ORANGE yolks! And.....an increase in eggs production. (high protein and calcium)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I do throw out vegtables scrapes from the kitchen but they don't
seem to eat them much.....carrots, lettuce, tomato, etc.

I think most scraps need to be chopped up before giving them to the chickens. Tomatoes and other soft things are no problem but things like carrots and broccoli stalks must be chopped or they will be ignored. They don't have teeth or hands so can't eat them.

 

[Tootie123]

That is true...maybe too large of pieces for them.
Good idea, hadn't thought of that....daaa.....
Will make an attempt to give them smaller pieces.
Thanks.

 

[Ignorant Sally]

You will find that your egg yolk color will differ from that of a store bought egg due to the lack of hormones and pesticides in their feed. Unless your egg yolks are green, purple, red, black etc., I wouldn't worry about it. For more: www.dobbins4025.wix.com/chicken-boy

I just knew that those eggs sold in stores were full of hormones. Now I have proof, and I'm going to show this thread to all my coworkers that have been laughing at me and calling me crazy for believing it. Thank you so much BYC. This is such a great forum. I can't understand why so many people say this place is a joke.

 

[missnu01]

my egg yolks are pretty orange-y most of the time...and have way more taste than the store bought eggs. I don't ask why, I just keep collecting those delicious eggs.

 

[galanie]

Having access to something green to eat, like grass or alfalfa, will give the yolks more color. It is illegal in the USA to feed chickens or cows hormones and has been for a long time. They do give them antibiotics though.