GEB Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Anything green is supposed to make the yolks orangey GEB. I give mine a handful of spinach everyday/other day. Too much can cause curry sauce poos though They are still quite new to laying, so give it a few weeks and see what happens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Hi Geb, Mine won't eat any greens but they are huge fans of mixed corn (I think they prob have too much), and corn on the cob and the yolks are really dark yellow and tasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 yes mixed corn is a favourite here too and it makes the yolks lovely and yellow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Ditto! Now and then we do get the odd pale yolk though. Maybe you could change your pellets. Some have natural "colouring" agents in them, usually marigold petals, although I am not convinced of the need for this myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Spinach does it for mine too. You get a wonderful deep gold yolk with Spinach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harriet Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 my girls love broccoli, chocolate cake, raisins and all types of leaves is too much bad for them?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Plemty of worms helps too , and our eat any kind of greens like the bottoms off cauliflowers and cabbage. they are reluctantly eating the leaves from our purple sprouting at the moment but they prefer crisp young leaves like lettuce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I think farmers often put colouring in the feed to brighten the yolks. I use Spillers pellets, which has paprika in it I think and our eggs look a nice colour, not too bright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindyloodles Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 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 I'm really glad you posted this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwichick Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 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 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...