Eggs with a pale yolk

[Madsometimes]

Our lovely chickens have settled down nicely and sorted out their pecking order. They are laying an egg most days.

Their eggs have a very pale yolk. Dh says it is because they are not good at eating their greens. They do get offered cabbage and brocolli, but they are very fussy with their food. I have heard that is is because commercially farmed hens are given a colourant in their food to produce eggs with an attractive yolk. So which is it, and are we doing anything wrong to get pale yellow yolks?

If your hens are eating pellet food and a few greens then the yolks will be pale.

If they live in a grass pen, or free-range on grass for a few hours a day, and eat a mix of corn & pellets, or just corn, then the yolks will become a beautiful yellowy-orange.

My hens are on grass and have such yellow eggs that everyone in the know can easily spot my yellow Victoria Sponge cakes.

Our hens live on woodchip/aubiose and eat mash plus treats such as raisins, corn on cob and meal worms. They will not eat dry pellets, they are incredibly picky! Thanks for the tip about the grass.

buy some value frozen sweetcorn for a treat for them