Bright orange yolks aren't always what they’re cracked up to be!
posted on
June 14, 2025
🥚 Let’s Talk Yolk: What Egg Color Really Says About Pasture Health
Orange egg yolks might be trending like the latest superfood, but here’s a little unpopular truth:
👉 Bright orange yolks aren't always what they’re cracked up to be.
Yes, they can be a sign of healthy chickens and lush pastures… but they can also be the result of something else: color additives.
🧂 Wait… Additives?
That’s right. Many egg producers — even those labeled organic or natural — add things like marigold petals, paprika, or other plant-based dyes to their layer feed to give yolks a deeper orange color.
Sounds harmless, right? But here’s the issue:
🌱 It masks the true story of the pasture.
🌾 Yolk Color Should Change With the Seasons
On a real pasture-based farm, yolk color shouldn’t be the same year-round. Here’s why:
- Spring & Summer: Pastures are bursting with life. Chickens munch on greens, bugs, and wild seeds. Their yolks? Rich, golden, sometimes a deep orange—nature's nutrient boost.
- Fall & Winter: Dormant grasses, fewer bugs, less diversity. The yolks become lighter, maybe more pale yellow or soft orange. Still good—just different.
Both eggs are delicious and nourishing, but they reflect the natural rhythms of the land.
🌿 Nature’s Health, Reflected in a Shell
The color of an egg yolk is like a snapshot of pasture health.
🌤️ Vibrant yolks in summer? That’s the land thriving.
❄️ Lighter yolks in winter? That’s the pasture resting.
When producers use feed additives to keep yolks looking the same all year, they’re essentially putting rose color glasses on your view of the ecosystem.
You miss the seasonal cues. The story behind your food gets blurred.
🐓 At 2 Coots Ranch, We Don’t Color the Truth
Our hens live outdoors, roam freely, and forage through the seasons. Their yolks change color as the pasture changes—and we think that’s a beautiful thing.
No additives. No illusions. Just real eggs from real chickens living on real land.
So next time you crack open an egg and see a yolk that’s not neon orange? Smile. You’re witnessing nature’s truth, not marketing magic.
