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PALE YOLKS

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We've been getting some lovely eggs from our girlies, but despite tasting gorgeous (really creamy) the yolks are very pale in colour. From what I'd read i thought they would be alot brighter than shop brought eggs, but they are very very pale.

Have been giving them spinach and corn as treats thinking this would help, but no change. Maybe I'm too stingy with the treats? How many greens is it ok to give them? Is there anything else I can do that will give them more colour?

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Mine wouldn't eat greens to start with, but ate some cooked cabbage and this weekend they ate raw greens when they were in the run for a couple of hours (not eaten if they are free ranging).

 

Are they free ranging or on grass on just in a run? i.e. can they get their own greens, or can they only get greens if fed as a treat?

 

Tracy

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I boil up all the vegeatble peelings from our evening meals, and give lettuce leaves and herb stalks. The yolks have gradually got more orangey. But we've also tried a level teaspoon of organic paprika in the grub feeder too. The yolks are looking like the colour of sunsets now. :D

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my girls love broccoli, chocolate cake, raisins and all types of leaves is too much bad for them?? Confused

 

Yes. Basically to keep them in optimum health and laying well all they need is mash/pellets and water. Anything else you give them stops them eating their proper food, a bit like a child filling up on sweets then not eating dinner.

 

I went to a talk last week where we were told that mixed corn in particular should be fed very sparingly (he said he fed his 9 hens 1 handful between them 3 times a week) as it takes long time to digest and prevents the hens being hungry for their pellets/mash.

 

Since hearing this I've really cut back on the 'treat' foods and my girls are laying really well. Obviously they eat what tehy like when free ranging but that's not like handing them a bowl of pasta!

 

Jo

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annes eggs have much paler yolks than I was expecting, but as they taste fab I'm not bothered. What is great is that when you break them into the pan, the white stays in a nice firm blob, rather than spreading everywhere, gotta be a bonus for poaching properly!

 

My two don't seem to want cabbage, grapes, tomato, mini sweetcorn, cooked potato, or lettuce but go mad for a handful of mixed corn. Anne will also give herself whiplash pulling up a worm rather than letting go. And as for slugs - this year so far I haven't seen any so am presuming the girls are hoovering up for me!

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my girls love broccoli, chocolate cake, raisins and all types of leaves is too much bad for them?? Confused

 

Yes. Basically to keep them in optimum health and laying well all they need is mash/pellets and water. Anything else you give them stops them eating their proper food, a bit like a child filling up on sweets then not eating dinner.

 

I went to a talk last week where we were told that mixed corn in particular should be fed very sparingly (he said he fed his 9 hens 1 handful between them 3 times a week) as it takes long time to digest and prevents the hens being hungry for their pellets/mash.

 

Since hearing this I've really cut back on the 'treat' foods and my girls are laying really well. Obviously they eat what tehy like when free ranging but that's not like handing them a bowl of pasta!

 

Jo

 

EEK re the mixed corn, mine have a good handful a day between 2 hens - no wonder they are not eating many pellets then :shock: I'm really glad you posted this.

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we had to cut back the corn that ours were getting early on, and the 4 of them now get a handful of Super mixed corn which has a fairly high grit content too each day in the late afternoon usually to get them back in the run after free ranging. They alos have some form of greens to peck at in the late morning after they have eaten a good amount of their pellets, they don't get their pudding if they don't eat their dinner :lol:

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I diluted my mixed corn mix down with flax seed and black oil sunflower seeds. Flax seed for more Omega 3's and sunflower seeds for more "lube" and protein. I figure it's like making home made muffins with hidden veg - a healthy treat :wink: My two will not eat any greens I give unless it's peas in their yoghurt but generally spend most of the day eating grass, so their yolks are lovely and orange.

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Have been giving them spinach and corn as treats thinking this would help, but no change. Maybe I'm too stingy with the treats? How many greens is it ok to give them? Is there anything else I can do that will give them more colour?

 

If you are giving them mixed corn try switching to maize.

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