[Ma Lowe]

2 of our 4 girls have been laying eggs almost every day since we had them 3 weeks ago.
They were originally being fed on Farmgate Layers Pellets but we are gradually changing them over to the Small Holders Free Range Layer Pellets. They have a few handfuls of corn as a treat in the afternoon and some odd scraps of veg and a cabbage hung on a rope for them to peck at.
As you can imagine we have had quite a few eggs from them but they always have a pale yolk. Is there a reason for this and is there anything we can do.   

[nzdunn]

do they get access to grass ma lowe, i think its the grass, bugs, slugs and all that that gives them the lovely yellow yolk.   nickyx

[Ma Lowe]

Hi Nicky,

They have had access to some grass in their run which we have replaced twice now lol. They are not yet out in the garden as we have builders in next door and some of our fence is down  while they build an extention. As soon as we are able we will be letting them freerange the garden.

[GrannieAnnie]

But they are still getting cabbages!  so I can't see why the yolks are pale.  Mind you, ours go different shades of yellow, but it doesn't alter the taste so don't worry about it.  Still lovely eggs!!!   

[joyfull]

mine also vary in their colour depending on their age, if they are getting sweetcorn, and how much grain they get from the farmers field (as I am typing this I can see 3 of mine in the field eating the winter barley crops along with about a dozen pheasants and a few pigeons  )

[Ma Lowe]

Lol Joy. I am getting nothing at all done in the house as I spend the majority of my time watching the girls.
My excuse is that I am getting them used to me. They are now eating from my hand quite frequently

The eggs do taste lovely what ever colour they are  ::)and I am loath to put them in a cake yet lol.

[nzdunn]

lol yeah but they make the cakes taste even better, ive made a few cakes now and trust me im no cake maker but with all the eggs i need to put them to good use.   Im so glad things seem to have settled down with you now after wot you have been through.  nickyx

[Ma Lowe]

Thanks Nicky. Fingers crossed things stay calm.  We have decided to stick with the 4 we have for a while at least lol.

I work from home as a cake decorator and begrudge using any eggs for the cakes at the moment but I am sure that will change the more eggs we get lol 

[kitkat]

You should charge more for cakes that have your girls eggs in them Ma
      My yolks are a bit pale too, mine free range and get greens

[snowflake]

I find maise deepens the yoke colour I have to get the cut maize they dont like the whole one. Also the dark green cabbage helps but cannot beat a fresh egg in cakes they rise beautifuly and the colour of sponge whow.

[Roughlee Handled]

Carotenoids are what make the yolks of eggs yellow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carotenoid

"carotenoid (any of a class of highly unsaturated yellow to red pigments occurring in plants and animals)"
http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=carotenoid

The easiest thing to make your egg yolks yellow is to make sure that they have access to plenty of grass.