4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[cathychic]

Hi everyone,

 

As I have said before I have four hybrids (2 Bovans Goldline & 2 Speckledys). I have had them for about 6 weeks from POL and two started laying about 10 days ago, 1 goldline and 1 speckledy.

 

The speckledy's eggs are dark brown in colour and yolks are lovely and yellow, but the goldline lays very pale yolks. Although they are not on grass (on bark) they get veggies, corn, pellets and other greenery and both eat the same thing.

 

Has anyone any idea why the goldine should lay such pale yolks? Is it something to do with their age, or could it be a health problem. Or perhaps it is the breed.

 

Would be grateful for any advice?

[Egluntyne]

Probably the breed.

 

Why not give then spinach. That makes the yokls a deeper colour I have found.

[..lay a little egg for me]

Yes, my speckledy lays eggs with much yellower yolks than the black rocks and goldline. However, one black rock seems to yellower yolks than the other, so I think it must be both a breed and an individual thing. I did read somewhere that marans have dark yolks as well as shells, so since a speckeledy is a maran x RIR hybrid (I think), perhaps it is the maran genes coming out!

[wombatally]

Hi

 

I am the same as you - started out with two Goldlines and two Speckledys (one now deceased).

 

I had mine on bark till their big pen was ready and had the same thing so I started feeding them things from the veggie garden like the leaves of the broccoli, kale etc and grass clippings from the garden and they changed dramatically.

 

I now have them on grass and my Goldlines have much deeper yellows that mrs Speckledy and I'm sure it's down to the greens, I also get loads of double yolkers from one of them.

 

Regarding the Kale - Mine absolutley ADORE redbor kale - they can't get enough. If you have a small space I would really recommend growing even one plant - pick a few stems a day for them and the plant will keep going and the girls would love you! I have a few seeds spare that I'm more than happy to post to you.

 

Goldlines are lovely, I love their greedy little nature - always first for the snacks!

 

Alison

[cathychic]

Thanks for the offer of seeds Alison. I am sure I can find a small space to grow some. I think more and more of the garden will be devoted to the girls as time goes on.

 

One of my goldlines is boss chicken, but the other, Matilda, is bottom girl. But she is lovely, she is the only one who will sit on my lap and go to sleep.

 

My favourite is giving them grapes as they go absolutely mad and race around frantically - it is so funny to watch.

[..lay a little egg for me]

My goldline, black rocks and speckeldy are in a large run with lots of grass and they turn their beaks up at most greens...I reckon they are fed up of the green stuff and just want carbs...they go mad for potato, pasta, rice etc. However, the speckledy still gives much yellower yolks than the others. Maybe she just eats more grass.

[cathychic]

Actually I am amazed at what they will eat. I always thought chickens just ate grass and corn, but wow are they voracious eaters. I must try and stop cooking too much food - I have been cooking just a little bit too much for me just so they can have the leftovers, potato, rice, pasta, veggies - they area really being treated like royalty.