[HattonHill]

Hi all
I have had my 8 girls for just 7 days now :-

2 Rangers (Ginger & Hermione)
2 Ambers (as yet unnamed)
2 Black Rock (Ethel & Henrietta)
1 Bluebell (Derek - named by my daughter's boyfriend!)
and 1 Speckeldy (Babs)

Don't know what I did before they arrived !!

They have gotten off to a great start - 2 eggs the morning after they arrived, rising to 4 eggs today. However the first few eggs were small with white yolks - is this normal?
The more recent ones have been a yellower yolk, but not the rich orange normally associated with free ranging chickens. Am I feeding the right food - layers pellets - or will the yolk quality and colour improve with age?

[Kate and her Ducks]

Have they lots of access to grass and greens? They get a lot of the colour for the yolk from that. Mine are much paler in the winter when there is not as much grass for them to munch.

[HattonHill]

They have a huge fenced area of my paddock - approx 20m x 40m with loads of grass and greenery to nibble.

would I be best to change to an organic brand of layers pellets?

[HattonHill]

Would really appreciate some advice if anyone is out there.

[andreadon]

organic or non-organic is down to personal choice: I personally don't think it would make much difference to the dietary requirements. (same balance of nutrients).
It's the grass that makes the difference to the yolk colour.  Ours usually get a couple of hours free-ranging a day (depending on daylight hours), but in the winter they have cabbage- strung up in the run - one between the 3 of them every day.
Our new one that has just started to lay has very very pale yolks, but i'm sure that's because she's not had as much grass as the oldies.

Give it time to work through the system
 

[azubah]

Hi all
I have had my 8 girls for just 7 days now :-

2 Rangers (Ginger & Hermione)
2 Ambers (as yet unnamed)
2 Black Rock (Ethel & Henrietta)
1 Bluebell (Derek - named by my daughter's boyfriend!)
and 1 Speckeldy (Babs)

Don't know what I did before they arrived !!

They have gotten off to a great start - 2 eggs the morning after they arrived, rising to 4 eggs today. However the first few eggs were small with white yolks - is this normal?
The more recent ones have been a yellower yolk, but not the rich orange normally associated with free ranging chickens. Am I feeding the right food - layers pellets - or will the yolk quality and colour improve with age?

It is quite normal. The eggs will get larger as their bodies develop. They must be very young perhaps only 18-20 weeks old now. The yolks will slowly get brighter in colour in a week or two.
Love the names!