Tag: chicken nutrition

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What is That in My Egg!?

One of joys of having chickens is the ability to go out every day and eagerly collect those beautifully colored eggs. You know what you’re having for breakfast! You get your eggs to the kitchen, eye them proudly and prepare for cracking, already savoring the deliciousness you are about to enjoy! You crack your egg into a dish and are immediately puzzled because of some flaw in the much anticipated lovely deep hued yolk of perfection! Let’s take a look at some of those flaws and discover exactly what they are.

What’s that in my egg?

What’s that in my egg?

First let’s consider the color of the yolk. I often hear folks say that the darker the yolk, the richer the taste and more nutritious the egg. Is this true? What makes egg yolks dark in color and rich in flavor? Yes, the dark yellow, almost orange coloring of an egg yolk is a good sign of a healthy chicken, but did you know that it is what your chickens eat that is responsible for the color of the egg yolks they produce. Have you ever heard of Carotenoids? They are the yellow, orange, and red organic pigments that are produced by plants and algae, as well as some bacteria. These pigments are what give the characteristic color to pumpkins, carrots, corn, tomatoes, salmon, lobster, shrimp, and marigolds, to name a few. There are over 1,000 known carotenoids. Although animals don’t produce carotenoids they do need them for their antioxidant properties, immunity, reproduction and other health benefits. So, it’s a good idea to feed your chickens safe colorful fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, weeds and flowers. Carotenoid rich foods will affect the color of your chickens egg yolks. Commercial egg producers will poll consumers and then use
natural carotenoid extracts or synthetic carotenoids to achieve the specific yolk color that they believe their customers desire. The primary ingredients of most commercially produced chicken feeds is corn and soybean meal as well as some synthetic carotenoids.
Check out the label on your commercially produced layer feed to see what it contains. The carotenoids in these products will generally provide a medium yellow egg yolk. If you supplement a commercial feed with colorful treats, free-range your chickens, or
provide a versatile feeding program of colorful foods for your hens, you can expect darker variations of yellow and orange in your birds egg yolks. It’s all in the foods you provide! If you’re looking for a dark rich orange color, try including tomatoes and marigold petals in their diet and see what happens! As for the taste and nutritional value of the egg yolk, color isn’t really a good indicator of a more or less nutritious yolk. Scientifically speaking, lighter egg yolks are just as tasty and nutritious as darker colored yolks.

The color of the yolk is affected by what your chicken eats!

Have you ever spotted a small white circle somewhere on the surface of the yolk and wondered what the heck that was? This white spot is called the germinal disc and is more noticeable on fresh eggs. It’s the entrance to a tiny path that leads to the center of the yolk. It’s this path that the sperm in a fertilized egg will travel to create the embryo to form a baby chick. Once the egg is fertilized, several rings form around the dot, which is the one visible indication of a fertilized egg. This white spot is harmless, safe to eat and does not affect the taste of the egg.

The germinal disc

How about the long, white, squiggly, stringy things that can often be seen floating around the yolk and white of your egg? What is it called and what is it doing in my egg? When you crack a very fresh egg, you might see thin, white ropes trailing from the yolk. These are called chalaza and are simply twisted strands of protein that anchor the yolk in place in the center of the egg white. They are normally only visible in very fresh eggs. They are perfectly
edible, but you can remove them before cooking your egg if you prefer. Like little anchors, they attach the yolk’s casing to the membrane lining the eggshell. The more prominent they are, the fresher the egg.

Chalaza

Have you ever wondered what that small brown spot floating around in the egg white is. Nope, not the beginnings of a baby chick! These brown spots are called meat spots. They are most commonly found in the egg white and are typically formed from pieces of tissue picked up by the egg during formation when passing through the oviduct. These tiny protein deposits are totally fine to eat, but again can be removed before egg preparation.

Meat spot

Have you ever noticed a spot of blood on your egg yolk? When I was young, I was told that blood spot was a sign the egg had been fertilized and it was the beginning of embryo development. Not true! Occasionally you’ll find an egg with a tiny red speck (and sometimes not so tiny!) on the yolk called a blood spot. This is not an indication of a fertile egg, it’s merely a blood vessel that ruptured sometime during the formation of the egg. Although it’s perfectly edible, many people prefer to remove the spot before preparing the egg to eat.

Blood spot

Sometimes when I crack my egg into a dish the yolk will immediately break and begin to run. Is it rotten? The vitelline membrane is a thin covering that helps to keep the yolk contained. It’s strongest when the egg is fresh. This membrane allows fresh yolks to stand up nice and tall and not spread out when the egg is cracked. As the egg ages, this membrane thins and becomes weaker, making the yolk more likely to break when you crack it into your skillet. Even though the yolk breaks easily, it is still good to eat as long as there is no foul oder or abnormal coloring of the yolk or egg white.

The vitelline membrane

In most cases, the little oddities in your freshly cracked egg are harmless, though it is often best to err on the side of caution. If the egg looks off to you or smells funny, or if you simply don’t feel comfortable eating it, then don’t!

Resources:

What is the White Spot on Egg Yolks?

https://www.organicvalley.coop/blog/what-does-egg-yolk-color-mean

https://www.eggs.ca/eggs101/view/4/all-about-the-egg

https://www.thenolthomestead.com/new-blog/2020/3/5/the-anatomy-of-an-egg#:~:text=A%20small%2C%20almost%20unnoticeable%20white,to%20form%20a%20baby%20chick.

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On Feeding Chickens: A Nutritious and Varied Diet for Your Flock

You know your chicken is excited for their meal when they get right in the middle of it!
You know your chicken is excited for their meal when they get right in the middle of it!

I have been struggling for some time now with the thought of continuing to feed my chickens processed feeds. I recently saw a commercial for a newer brand of dog food and the spokesperson said something like ‘no animal should be made to eat the same food day after day’. That’s exactly how I feel about my animals, even my chickens, and I’m pretty sure they are all thinking that there has to be more to dinner then the same processed feed that they had for breakfast! We also hear a lot about creating our own chicken feed and how you need to be a math genius to figure out protein ratios. Honestly, I have never seen a free-range chicken pull out their meal planner and food tracking app and they seem to be some of the healthiest birds in the flock. When it comes to diet and nutrition, I believe our animals will generally make wise decisions if given healthy choices. I think that much of what we hear about feeding our poultry involves marketing strategies to help us spend money, and bloggers who don’t want to offer advice contrary to mainstream rhetoric. I remember when I got my first chickens, I fed my hens chicken scratch and table scraps. That was it! Not complicated at all. Of course that was some 20 years ago and poultry feed was most likely of a higher quality and I had a growing family with lots of table scraps.

Feeding our chickens a bag of name brand starter, grower or layer feed is by far a much simpler and a less time consuming process then trying to create and mix your own chicken feed. Many chicken farmers feed their birds strictly a commercially produced all around poultry feed, and this works great for them and their chickens. Personally, I have had a hard time trying to get my chickens to eat a specialized poultry feed. My chicks have always done great consuming a starter feed, but once I graduate them to a grower feed and then a layer feed, I start having some issues. I do believe in feeding variety, and I think once my birds find out that there is more to lunch than processed layer feed, they begin to look forward to excess garden harvests and table scraps and start to shun commercially processed feed.

A plate of cooked rice from dinner and eggs from breakfast. 
A plate of cooked rice from dinner and eggs from breakfast. 

Unfortunately I don’t have the land space to grow all of my own chicken feed, so I have to rely on purchased grains and other food sources, in addition to what I am able to grow and of course, good ole table scraps. I mean isn’t table scrap consumption and fresh eggs the two main reasons we started raising chickens in the first place?

So, what am I feeding my chickens these days? First, I did do some research and familiarized myself with the nutritional value of many different seeds, grains and legumes. Next, I experimented with what my chickens enjoyed eating and actually consumed. I want to steer away from GMO grains for the most part, but I am not able to eliminate all of them. I have a large barrel that I mix an adult chicken feed in. I add wheat, sunflower seeds, rice, rolled oats and chicken scratch. I use chicken scratch instead of cracked corn because of the added seeds in scratch that my birds enjoy and have nutritional value. I add in alfalfa leaves, various dried herbs and flowers and for calcium I save all the egg shells, dry and crush them and add them in. I tried rolled barley, dried lentils and split peas, but they were not well received. I have learned that lentils are a good source of protein, minerals, fiber and folate, so I sprout the lentils and feed them to my birds several times a week, especially during the winter, when they seem to be most needed and appreciated!

Because of their nutritional value, I sprout lentils to feed along with other grains and seeds.
Because of their nutritional value, I sprout lentils to feed along with other grains and seeds.

I do not have exact measurements of how much of each product I mix together. I watched what the consumption of each individual product seemed to be and adjusted my mix based on that information. The lentils, split peas and rolled barley were always left in the feed pans at the end of the day so I just eliminated these. The wheat, sunflower seeds and scratch were always well consumed as were the dried herbs and flowers. The oats and rice were generally well consumed with only a little remaining in feed pans at the end of the day. So, approximately 1/2 to 2/3 of the mix is comprised of wheat, sunflower seeds and scratch. The remaining 1/3 to 1/2 is alfalfa leaves, oats, rice, dried herbs and flowers, and anything else that sounds healthy and nutritious such as raisins, dried fruits and vegetables, and nuts. Just use good judgement and avoid junk foods. I also feed my birds table scraps, sprouts, garden excesses and I have started a meal worm farm.

It’s easy to pick out individual foods.
It’s easy to pick out individual foods.

A few of the benefits that I see to feeding my birds this way include actually being able to see and recognize what foods my chickens are getting. The chickens can also recognize different foods and are able to pick out what they want and need to eat. If they need added protein, they can focus on eating more wheat and rice. If they need a boost of calcium, they seek out the eggshell. The roosters who don’t need as much calcium as the hens, can pass on the eggshell and lower their health risk of too much calcium. Because I know exactly what is in the chicken feed, I don’t worry if one of my goats happens to get in with the chickens and eat their feed. Everything that is in it is ok for other animals to eat as well. My birds seem to consume their feed better. There is not much left at the end of the day. They are more excited at mealtime, eagerly greeting me to find out what yummy morsels I have for them! My birds look healthy, have good feather growth, lay well and eggshell structure is good. I actually save a little money. Not much, but every saved penny counts!

This new system is working well for me at this point and I am pleased with the results. However, it is your responsibility as a chicken farmer to conduct your own research related to your chicken’s diet and nutrition and make informed decisions on how you choose to feed your birds. Raising healthy chickens should not be stressful or difficult, and sometimes we tend to overthink and complicate issues like feeding our birds. I think that our job in feeding our chickens a healthy diet can be a lot easier if we just take our clues from Mother Nature!

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Is Alfalfa The Right Choice For Your Poultry?

Hay is not just for horses anymore!

Alfalfa is one of the predominant crops grown in the rural area where I live, and because we have horses and other farm animals, we happen to purchase a lot of it! Although we regularly feed alfalfa to our horses and other farm animals, I hadn’t ever really thought of feeding it to my chickens and geese until recently. And as I am learning, it turns out that alfalfa is actually good for a lot more things then just feeding to horses.

Apparently alfalfa is one of the oldest domesticated crops in the world and is presently grown on over 20 million acres of farmland in America. Alfalfa is part of the legume family, which was new to me. I always thought that legumes were beans and peas. Come to find out, that’s not the case. Other plants like clover, mesquite, lupine and locoweed are all part of the legume family. Not exactly what I think of when considering beans and peas.

The alfalfa plant is a perennial, living generally 4 to 8 years. It grows to a height of about 3 feet, and has a deep root system which allows it to seek out available sources of groundwater. In most areas, alfalfa can be harvested 3 to 4 times a year, but in some climates it can be harvested up to 11 times a year. The plants consist of roots, stems, leaves and small purple flowers. Following the flowers are spiraled fruits which contain 10 to 20 seeds.

The alfalfa plant is high in protein and contains a greater concentration of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and selenium then other grass feeds. It is considered a good source of calcium for all animals. I hope that includes chickens! It is also a good source of vitamins B, C, and K, and if you happen to be looking for deep yellow or orange yolks in your chicken’s eggs, you’ll be happy to know that alfalfa is high in carotenoids which are very efficient in coloring egg yolks.

There are many articles out there on alfalfa. Some articles state that alfalfa is difficult for chickens and geese to digest and might cause crop impaction. Other articles suggested that if the long stems were chopped, they were more easily digested. And, there are still others which talk more about the nutritional benefits and don’t really mention crop impaction.

When I decided to try feeding alfalfa to my chickens and geese, I considered these possible problems along with the nutritional benefits and the availability of alfalfa during the winter months when the ground is covered in snow. Here is what I did: First I made sure that my birds had access to plenty of grit to be able to adequately digest the alfalfa. Second, the alfalfa that I fed to my birds was the clean loose leaves found on the floor of the barn around broken bales, trying to avoid the long, thick stems. Lastly, I fed the alfalfa as a part of a well rounded diet which includes a variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, greens and other appropriate food sources for chickens and geese. The pan of alfalfa leaves that I initially offered my chickens and geese was met with enthusiasm. They were so excited to see the green on their winter plates.

I continue to give my birds a couple of handfuls of alfalfa leaves with their morning meal, making sure that all feed is eaten before any additional foods are offered in the evening. I don’t want my birds to eat only alfalfa to the exclusion of the other nutritious foods they get everyday. It is my belief that no animal should be fed the same diet day in and day out. Left to nature our animals would be enjoying a variety of foods and nutritional sources. I highly doubt that my hens would make a beeline in the pasture straight to that bag of processed layer feed while passing up leaves, seeds, bugs and worms. Although I know I can’t imitate Mother Nature perfectly, I try to give it my best shot. I do believe that prepackaged feeds have their place in an animal’s diet. After all, I can’t grow and process all my animal’s feed needs, nor do I want to. Animal health, longevity and enjoying mealtime are the goals on my farm. Another bonus is that alfalfa ranges between 15% to 20% crude protein.depending on the cutting. Even though I usually give my hens the winter off from egg laying, I think that this added source of protein should help my birds stay warm and healthy through the cold and be ready for a strong egg laying season as the days get longer.

So, my plan is to continue to provide my birds with a daily dose of alfalfa leaves, at least through the winter, and monitor their health, egg laying progress and enthusiasm at the sight of green alfalfa!

Sources:
Benefits of Alfalfa for Animals – Midwest Forage Association

The Benefits of Growing Alfalfa Extend Beyond Animal Feed

Wikipedia – Alfalfa

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Planting your 2024 Chicken Centered Garden

Can you believe that it’s January already!? It’s time to start planning out my spring garden. Here are some vegetables that I like to plant every year because I know that I will have plenty to satisfy the needs of my family, plus have lots of extras to feed my animals. I also know that including a rotation of these nutritionally dense foods in the diets of my animals will aid in promoting good health.

The first food is tomatoes, especially cherry or grape tomatoes. One cherry tomato plant seems to produce hundreds of little tomatoes. I have enough to put in salads, enjoy with a little mozzarella cheese and Italian dressing, AND supplement my chicken’s diet. Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and potassium, as well as vitamins A, C, K, and B9. Those little red fruits can be one of the most nutritious sources of food that your chickens will love to peck at.

We all know the joke about not leaving your car unlocked at church on Sunday, or you might come out and see that it’s been filled with your neighbor’s excess zucchini! I like to use zucchini in salads, eat it fried, and bottle relish, but if you can keep those pesky squash bugs at bay, you can have plenty of this vegetable to share with your birds and other farm animals, all summer and well into the fall. Zucchini is not only safe for chickens but also offers a range of nutritional benefits such as vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. Including zucchini in your chickens’ diet will benefit them and help you make good use of all the zucchini the neighbors provide.

Cucumbers are another crop that is refreshing to use in summer salads, solo with a little dip, or in vinegar with onions. Even if you bottle some for pickles and relish, there always seems to be plenty of these crisp vegetables to share with the chickens. Chickens can eat the flesh, peels, and cucumber seeds. Cucumbers are a healthy food source rich in vitamins A, C, B6, and K, as well as manganese and copper. Because cucumbers contain a lot of water, they can be very beneficial in helping to keep your birds hydrated on those hot summer days.

Greens! Lots and lots of greens! From leafy salad greens to kale and Swiss chard, your animals will thoroughly enjoy sharing these delightful treats with you. Greens, especially salad greens, are easy to grow in the garden, in containers, and even in hydroponic gardens. Some of my favorites include leafy lettuce, which provides a lot of nutrients like vitamins A, B-complex, C, K, folate, and lots of water! Curly kale is another one of my favorites, which includes much of the above, as well as manganese, calcium, and potassium. Rainbow Swiss chard boasts the addition of vitamin E and phosphorus, as well as fun and colorful stalks.

Let’s not forget pumpkins. Pumpkins are always a staple of my garden. I love their bright orange color in my fall garden and as fall decorations around my home. It’s always a surprise to see how many more pumpkins I actually end up with as they begin to turn color, then what I am able to spy when they are green. I don’t usually use a lot of pumpkin in my cooking, but all my animals, dogs, goats, chickens, ducks, and rabbits, love the orange flesh and jumbo seeds. Farmers have long believed that feeding their animals the seeds of pumpkins was a natural wormer. Although pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitacin, a compound proven to be an effective wormer, there is discussion as to whether or not the handful of pumpkin seeds our chickens consume is enough to be effective. Regardless, it certainly won’t hurt them, and if there is a chance that they might help, I say go for it!

Giving some thought to planning your family garden and taking into consideration foods that are healthy and beneficial for your animals will not only help your animals enjoy feeding time more, but it will help with food costs, reduce waste, and promote good health. What fun things do you plant for your animals?

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What Things Affect Egg Laying?

Most chicken farmers know that as winter approaches, egg laying decreases. But there are also other times during the year that we might see a fluctuation in egg production and wonder what is going on? Let’s explore some of the things that can affect a hen’s egg production.

black hen laying eggs
The average egg-laying cycle takes 25 hours from start to finish.
Continue reading “What Things Affect Egg Laying?”
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Oyster Shell vs. Chicken Grit

I often read comments from people indicating some confusion in understanding the difference between chicken grit and oyster shell. Oyster shell and grit are two different products that accomplish two different things, and they are NOT interchangeable. Let’s take a look at the two products and their purposes.

Black hen looking at the camera while resting in a nesting box
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Feeding Senior Chickens

I was at the feed store the other day and noticed a new addition to the supply of scratch feeds, laying pellets, and chick starters. There was a daily feed that has been formulated especially for Senior Hens! I guess that is because chickens are being kept more and more as pets these days and our hens are living longer…maybe even well passed the age of egg laying! There is absolutely nothing wrong with this at all. Sometimes our hens become as cherished as the family dog or horse. After all, they have probably served us well through several years of good egg laying, entertainment and maybe even companionship. But just like people and other animals, dietary needs change as a chicken ages.

chicken eating apple
This old matriarch sure enjoys a good piece of fruit on a hot day!
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Can I Feed Eggs To My Chickens?

The answer to that question is a resounding YES! Eggs are an excellent source of protein and make a great treat for chickens. The egg white contains more than half of the egg’s protein and none of the fat. The yolk contains all of the fat and most of the egg’s vitamins. In fact the egg yolk is one of the few foods which naturally contains vitamin D. Eggs are not fortified with vitamin D as is milk and some brands of yogurt and orange juice. The egg is also considered a complete protein food because it has all of the essential amino acids, and it’s tasty. So, yes, it’s not only o.k. to feed eggs to your chickens, but eggs are a healthy supplement which your birds will thoroughly enjoy!

chickens eating mashed eggs
Your chickens will thoroughly enjoy a treat of scrambled eggs!
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Can Chickens Eat Rice?

I remember going to weddings when I was younger, one of the best parts was getting one of those cute little netted bags that was tied with a pretty silky ribbon and contained rice. Throwing rice over the bride and groom as they ran to their waiting “Just Married” car was a much anticipated tradition at weddings. Apparently this tradition dates back to the ancient Romans. Tossing rice at the end of the wedding reception is meant to symbolize rain, which is said to be a sign of prosperity, fertility and good fortune. In more recent years, bird seed has replaced rice because some folks believed that rice was bad for birds, that if consumed the rice would mix with moisture in the birds stomach and expand and cause problems. In fact, you can still find evidence of this myth circulating on the internet today.

Chicken looking at can of rice
The truth is that uncooked rice is just fine for chickens.
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