Egg taste and yolk colour
- Thread starter Blaine9
- Start date
What're you feeding currently?
They have pellets.. H J Leas ones and a feeder for mixed grit!
chrismahon
Well-known member
Pellet feed for chickens kept in an enclosed space normally has colourants added to it. Some are just a dye labelled as 'yolk enhancer' and some are a natural colourant like dried and powdered marigold petals. Naturally chickens eat a lot of grass and other leaves which colours the yolks and we have fed then finely chopped dark green cabbage to get the same effect, because our feed at the time had no colourants at all. We did experiment once with no colourant and the result was yolks so pale they weren't much different to the yolk.
As to the taste, there is a genetic condition which imparts a 'fishy' taste to the egg. Whilst the are edible they don't taste that nice and based on one hen we have now (Verity) they don't improve very much in time, although I can now eat them, whereas before we were throwing them away. In all the hens we have had (perhaps 100) this is the only one with the condition, so I'd try a better quality feed first- another brand more expensive, because in my experience cheap feed is exactly that, cheap quality. Avoid anything containing a cheap fish by-product based protein, which you can usually smell in the food anyway.
As to the taste, there is a genetic condition which imparts a 'fishy' taste to the egg. Whilst the are edible they don't taste that nice and based on one hen we have now (Verity) they don't improve very much in time, although I can now eat them, whereas before we were throwing them away. In all the hens we have had (perhaps 100) this is the only one with the condition, so I'd try a better quality feed first- another brand more expensive, because in my experience cheap feed is exactly that, cheap quality. Avoid anything containing a cheap fish by-product based protein, which you can usually smell in the food anyway.
I'd echo what Chris says. Quality feed for your pullets = quality eggs for you. Our girls also get veg trimmings (in small quantities) when we have them, but their layers' pellets form at least 95% of their diet.
I've just looked up HJ Leas layers' pellets, as I hadn't heard of them, & have deduced that you probably live in Cheshire. In that case I'd strongly recommend Smallholder Layers Pellets; they're what I use & contain marigold flowers to enhance yolk colour.
Be warned: feed with artificial colourants can give some horribly lurid egg yolks!!
Be warned: feed with artificial colourants can give some horribly lurid egg yolks!!
Hi Blaine.
"Smallholder" layers' pellets https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/layers/natural-free-range-layers-pellets/
Youngs Animal Feeds in Somerford & Homefeeds Pet Supermarket in Shavington both sell them (I just looked for stockists close to the Cheshire Cheese at Wheelock).
I have fond memories of HJ Leas' premises in their former guise. After walking from Kidsgrove to Wheelock with a windlass on a number of occasions, a pint in the Commercial Inn always went down well.
"Smallholder" layers' pellets https://www.smallholderfeed.co.uk/products/layers/natural-free-range-layers-pellets/
Youngs Animal Feeds in Somerford & Homefeeds Pet Supermarket in Shavington both sell them (I just looked for stockists close to the Cheshire Cheese at Wheelock).
I have fond memories of HJ Leas' premises in their former guise. After walking from Kidsgrove to Wheelock with a windlass on a number of occasions, a pint in the Commercial Inn always went down well.
Excellent thank you! Been to one close to us in Northwich and got some yesterday.. Thank you for your advice much appreciated!
You're welcome. Enjoy your eggs.
You may find that your girls are happier if you gradually switch from their current feed to their new feed. Top up their feeder with the Smallholder layers' pellets (on top of their existing feed) and they'll get a mixture of both, followed by just their Smallholder layers' pellets.