Marigolds For Chickens🏵️

[KingD]

Well hello folks!

I have been wondering for a while now about growing marigold flowers to feed to the hens as their yolk colour has not been the most attractive.

I have very recently had to get rid of my whole flock due to illness but seeing as the run is empty I was considering turning it into a marigold patch. I could cover the highly fertile soil with seeds and fill the space with flowers.

My question is this, do dried marigolds have the same effect on chickens as fresh ones.
The reason I ask is because I won't have any hens for a few more months and by that time the picked flowers will have dried up.


Any information would be greatly appreciated!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

My question is this, do dried marigolds have the same effect on chickens as fresh ones.

Yes. Same effect.

 

[KingD]

Yes. Same effect.

Ok.
Is it the orange variety which is best to use?

 

[sweaterthebroodyrooster]

Yes, they work the same. I know a few people who dry them so they can have them in the winter as well.

 

[Katanahamon]

Well hello folks!

I have been wondering for a while now about growing marigold flowers to feed to the hens as their yolk colour has not been the most attractive.

I have very recently had to get rid of my whole flock due to illness but seeing as the run is empty I was considering turning it into a marigold patch. I could cover the highly fertile soil with seeds and fill the space with flowers.

My question is this, do dried marigolds have the same effect on chickens as fresh ones.
The reason I ask is because I won't have any hens for a few more months and by that time the picked flowers will have dried up.


Any information would be greatly appreciated!

French Marigolds, most commonly grown, are not edible..well, maybe possibly edible, but not tasty..it’s actually calendula flowers or “pot marigolds” that are used to color up yolks. Krill, kelp, chilis and paprika too..
here’s a good article..it’s confusing, for sure..
http://khkeeler.blogspot.com/2016/10/plant-confusion-marigolds-and-calendulas.html

 

[sweaterthebroodyrooster]

Ok.
Is it the orange variety which is best to use?

Yes. Orange is the best, but a yellow or red may work as well.

 

[sweaterthebroodyrooster]

French Marigolds, most commonly grown, are not edible..well, maybe possibly edible, but not tasty..it’s actually calendula flowers or “pot marigolds” that are used to color up yolks. Krill, kelp, chilis and paprika too..
here’s a good article..it’s confusing, for sure..
http://khkeeler.blogspot.com/2016/10/plant-confusion-marigolds-and-calendulas.html

Hmm that’s interesting. I have several friends who use the French Marigolds and haven’t had any issues.
Are you saying it’s not safe for the chickens or it doesn’t taste good in the eggs?

 

[Katanahamon]

Yes. Orange is the best, but a yellow or red may work as well.

Read the article about which marigolds vs calendulas are edible..also, truly dark yolks actually need a red component like chilies, paprika, krill, things like that. I’ve been researching this after reading about a chef in San Antonio that raises chickens and has red yolks. Certain algae species, krill, carrots, tomatoes, all have effects, and certain ones make the colors change, but can also affect egg frequency and or size..

 

[sweaterthebroodyrooster]

Read the article about which marigolds vs calendulas are edible..also, truly dark yolks actually need a red component like chilies, paprika, krill, things like that. I’ve been researching this after reading about a chef in San Antonio that raises chickens and has red yolks. Certain algae species, krill, carrots, tomatoes, all have effects, and certain ones make the colors change, but can also affect egg frequency and or size..

Cool, I read up on it some more. Thanks for the article.

 

[Katanahamon]

Hmm that’s interesting. I have several friends who use the French Marigolds and haven’t had any issues.
Are you saying it’s not safe for the chickens or it doesn’t taste good in the eggs?

Im still researching myself..I just know that online you can buy organic calendula blossoms, I bought a bag along with organic paprika to help color up the yolks, I put another post here about the topic..I don’t think any marigolds or calendula affects egg flavor, just our preference, I think Tagetes species fr marigolds are bitter. Interestingly some don’t think too much flax makes eggs fishy tasting, some hens lack an enzyme to deactivate whatever compound in flax that supposedly makes the eggs fishy from an overdose of too much flax, but, I can’t find any list of which breeds..