Dark yolk colour?

[hopkinsontom]

My hens have been laying very dark colored yolk's, they are fed on layers pellets, ad-lib barley, and are free range on grass. they are very dark orange almost red yolks. the whites are pure white, my farther told me it was the fact that i had them running with a cockerel but i think he is trying to wind me up. others tell me it is the fact they are on grass, does any one have any ideas?

cheers Tom

 

[victorias poultry]

Hi Tom
It is all the good food that they are eating plus the green grass, has nothing to do with a cockerel (he is winding you up), tell your friend it is because they are running with a "gay" cockerel, that will make him scratch his head with dis-belief

 

[Rebelodicus]

they are running with a "gay" cockerel

:lol: :lol:

Yup and his genes are worn on the inside as a fashion statement. Or perhaps when he treads them he injects orange ink. 07

Good food, grass and happiness. My girls go bright orange in the yolk department when on fresh grass also. The lite white is because they're fresh. Both these things make my eggs VERY popular with my customers and me

 

[darkbrowneggs]

Pellets contain yolk colourant (sometimes natural sometimes artificial) Grass contains chlorophyll which is what naturally makes yolks yellow. Add the two together and you will have extra dark yolks even red.

Sometimes people who are "allergic" to egg are not, they are just allergic to the artificial colourant in layers pellets

All the best
Sue (I don't use pellets, just grains)

 

[hopkinsontom]

Pellets contain yolk colourant (sometimes natural sometimes artificial) Grass contains chlorophyll which is what naturally makes yolks yellow. Add the two together and you will have extra dark yolks even red.

Sometimes people who are "allergic" to egg are not, they are just allergic to the artificial colourant in layers pellets

All the best
Sue (I don't use pellets, just grains)

so you use no layers pellets at all? i have an unlimited supply of barley and wheat would the quality of the eggs be affected if i fed them only on the wheat and barley? they have always got fresh grass to roam on.

 

[darkbrowneggs]

You need to keep the protein levels up and wheat and barley would not be sufficient if you want plenty of eggs

This is a good Link to feed values

All the best
Sue

 

[Chuck]

You could certainly up the percentage of wheat but barley is fattening so feed in moderation. It does rather depend on the breed of hens. The modern hybrids are bred to lay masses of eggs and need a higher protein ration than some of the traditional breeds which tend to lay less. There's room to experiment and you may be able to feed a 50/50 wheat/pellet mix with little or no egg loss.