Different yolk colours

[ridgwad]

I have 4 lovely girls who are laying well, but my young brown chicken’s egg yolks have become very pale. They are all fed organic grain with access to grass twice daily and lots of greens (kale, silver beet etc) and I have observed they all eat the same. The whites appear to be a bit cloudy, compared to the others. The chooks behaviour seems fine but I am worried there is something wrong and want to be proactive in avoiding any issues. If anyone can advise what might cause this or what I should do, I’d be very grateful. Pic attached of 2 eggs from the chicken in question and one of my other chooks. Note - she previously laid normal colour yolks and the feed has no colours etc

 

[ChickNanny13]

@Wyorp Rock @aart @azygous @casportpony @Texas Kiki

I've heard it's what they eat but yours are eating all the same so I have no clue. Someone with more experience me will help here ... Thank all in advance

 

[Sagey_7878]

It’s complete normal! Chickens that eat a higher concentration of xanthophylls (found in plants) have deeper orange colours in the egg yolk, the hen with the more pale is consuming less which is fine! They’re all safe to eat and all your hens are healthy!

 

[aart]

Nah, it's not normal....something is 'off'.

Note - she previously laid normal colour yolks and the feed has no colours etc

Most feeds are corn based and that is where a lot of the yolk color comes from, 'there are also additives in feed the enhance the yolk color.
How old is she?
How many of these has she laid?
I assume you know which bird it is?

organic grain

What exactly does this mean?
Is it a formulated poultry feed...if so, brand and model please?

 

[azygous]

I've noticed my hens' yolks are a paler color during winter when they aren't outside munching on green weeds and grasses. But this pale yolk suddenly appearing now gives pause for concern. Something could be going on in your hen that her body isn't processing these carontenoids. Let's say it could be an early warning sign her health is "off".

Here's a short interesting article on carotenoids and how they signal the health status of birds by affecting the plumage. https://www.poultryworld.net/Eggs/A...yolk-colour-comes-from-healthy-hens-2791241W/

 

[aart]

My birds rarely get greens(poor confined boohoo babies) their yolks are a pretty deep yellow...some are darker than others.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Your sequence of events is worrying since one hen's eggs gradually had paler yolks if the contrast between those yolks is an indication of how much it has gradually changed. A sudden change from light yellow to dark would be easy to explain, their diet changed. A gradual change to all the eggs from darker to lighter could be explained. But a gradual change in one hen's eggs but not the others when they are eating the same thing, I don't know.

They can get the pigments to color the yolks from eating different things, dark green veggies or even flower petals. Some Layer feeds contain marigold petals to color the yolks. It doesn't man the yolks are healthier or more nutritious, just that they have been dyed.

Yellow skinned chickens will use pigment from the skin to color egg yolks. As that pigment gets used up the skin can lighten. That's one way to tell which are your better egg layers if they are yellow skinned, the ones with the lighter skin are laying more eggs. But that much change in color does not come from that, that is due to what they eat or their bodies process.

I tried searching on the internet. Some diseases can cause changes to the eggs, but I did not find that yolk color is one of them. I can't point to anything specific there. Different hens digest nutrients differently, it's just the way their bodes work. If she was producing eggs with dark yolks something might have changed in the way she processes the pigments. I don't know what could cause that.

It may be nothing to worry about, but I think any unusual change is worth checking out. If you are in the USA, I suggest contacting your extension agent. If you are in another country maybe your agricultural ministry or whatever you call them can help. Try to emphasize that it is a gradual change in just one of four, that she was laying eggs with a much darker yolk and the others still are. If they try to blow you off, try to get them to put you in touch with a chicken expert. Some agents are better at that than others.

I don't know what else to tell you, I'm mystified. Good luck!

 

[ChickNanny13]

My birds rarely get greens(poor confined boohoo babies) their yolks are a pretty deep yellow...some are darker than others.

2x ... I used to feel guilty keeping mine confined but knowing where they are and safe has taken over Mine get Flock Raiser (fermented) and MW/BOSS when I close them up at night, a toss for scratching. Yolks are nice and deep yellow, once I had one that kinda of looked orange, Hubby wouldn't eat it So cooked it up as a treat for them, it was appreciated.

I would be concerned seeing a yolk that pale, keeping a good watch over the hen and health.

 

[janiedoe]

Are all your hens the same breed? Are they all close to the same age?