Types and Usage of Common Natural Color-Enhancing Feed Additives for Chickens

Adding a certain amount of natural feed rich in carotenoids (xanthophylls) to chicken diets can enhance the color of poultry products and raise their commercial grade. Examples include: marigold, comfrey, clover, kelp (or other seaweed), pine needle powder, gardenia, orange peel powder, amaranth, alfalfa, pumpkin, red chili powder, kale, and others.

Marigold: collect marigold petals, air-dry them, and grind them into a fine powder. Adding 0.3% to chicken feed can make laying hens produce eggs with deep orange yolks and give broiler skin a golden yellow color.

Comfrey: cut, air-dry, and grind into powder. Adding 5% to chicken feed can raise yolk color from grade 1 to grade 6, and make chicken skin and fat golden yellow.

Clover: chop fresh clover and add 5%-10% to chicken feed. This can save part of the feed and significantly enhance yolk color.

Kelp or other seaweed contains relatively high levels of carotenoids and iodine. After grinding, adding 2%-6% to chicken feed can increase yolk color by 2-3 grades and can also produce high-iodine eggs.

Pine needle powder: air-dry young pine branches and leaves and grind them into fine granules. Adding 3%-5% to chicken feed not only has a good color-enhancing effect but can also increase the laying rate by about 13%.

Gardenia: grind gardenia into powder. Adding 0.5%-1% to chicken feed can make yolks deep yellow and increase the laying rate by 6%-7%.

Orange peel powder: air-dry orange peel and grind it into powder. Adding 2%-5% to chicken feed can deepen yolk color and significantly increase egg production.

Amaranth: chop amaranth and add 8%-10% to chicken feed. This can make yolks orange-yellow, save feed, and increase egg production by 8%-15%.

Pumpkin: chop old pumpkin and mix 10% into chicken feed. This can increase the color of chicken skin and yolks.

Red chili: add 0.3%-0.6% red chili to chicken feed. This can improve the color of yolks, skin, and subcutaneous fat, and can also stimulate appetite and increase egg production.

Calendula: add an appropriate amount (0.2%) of calendula petal powder to chicken feed. This can make laying hens produce eggs with deep orange yolks and give chicken skin a pleasing golden yellow color.

French marigold: cut, air-dry, and grind into powder. Adding 0.3% to chicken feed can raise yolk color from grade 1 to grade 6.5, and make chicken skin and fat golden yellow.

Honey: feed each laying hen 1 gram of honey per day. This can deepen yolk color and also improve the nutritional value of eggs, because honey is a natural health food containing various nutrients.

Yellow corn: feed a diet containing 60% yellow corn for 10 days. Yolk color can then rise from grade 1 to grade 8, and broiler skin can become an ideal apricot yellow.

Cow dung powder: sterilize fresh cow dung, dry it, and grind it into powder. Adding 2% to feed can significantly increase yolk color and can also turn chicken skin yellow.

In actual farming, there are many other commonly used natural color-enhancing feed additives, such as calendula, ryegrass, and more than 30 other kinds.

The feed additives recommended above are all natural colorants, safe and non-toxic. The "red-yolk eggs" and "three-yellow chickens" produced after feeding can be eaten with confidence.