By Sarah Kelly, Kent’s Feed Barn
There is just something special about cracking open a farm-fresh egg and seeing a rich, colorful yolk staring back at you. That deep golden-orange color feels like sunshine in a skillet, and for backyard chicken keepers, it is one of those little joys that never really gets old.
But colorful yolks do not happen by accident.
A hen’s diet plays a big role in the eggs she produces. Healthy birds need steady, balanced nutrition every single day. Protein, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, calcium, and quality ingredients all work together to support strong shells, consistent laying, healthy feather condition, and the beautiful eggs we all love to gather from the nesting box.
That is why I believe so strongly in feeding a complete layer feed instead of relying on scratch grains, kitchen scraps, or whatever happens to be on hand. Treats are fine in moderation, and Lord knows chickens love a good snack, but treats are not a complete diet. A good egg starts inside the hen, and the hen needs the right nutrition to do her job well.
I learned this firsthand about nine years ago. Like a lot of backyard chicken keepers, I started out buying feed from everyone’s favorite big box farm store. It was easy, familiar, and seemed like the obvious choice at the time.
Then I heard about this awesome family owned feed store, Kent's Feed Barn, in Cedarville, OH and switched to Kent’s Feed Barn and started feeding higher quality feed.
I never switched back.
I have been feeding Kalmbach Feeds to my chickens and goats ever since, and what I noticed was simple: better feed meant less filler, less dusty waste, and more of the bag actually going into my animals instead of settling at the bottom of the feeder. My flock was getting more consistent nutrition, and I was not throwing away as much powdery leftover feed.
In the long run, my monthly feed bill actually went down.
It was a win-win.
Who knew switching chicken feed would eventually lead me to writing this very blog post as an employee of the little feed store I came to love?
Kalmbach Feeds understands that consistency matters. Their poultry feeds are made with fixed formulas, which means the ingredient and nutrient profile does not constantly change from bag to bag. That matters more than people realize. When feed formulas are changed often to chase the lowest-cost ingredients, birds can experience swings in nutrition. With a fixed formula, your flock gets dependable nutrition every time you open a bag.
And when birds are fed consistently, they are better supported from the inside out.
Healthy hens are more likely to produce quality eggs. Strong shells, vibrant yolks, and steady egg production all begin with what goes into the feeder. You cannot ask a hen to give her best if she is not being fed her best.
That is also why we love YolkProud™ by Kalmbach Feeds.
YolkProud™ is Kalmbach’s all-natural blend of flower and vegetable extracts designed to help create those beautiful, vibrant egg yolks backyard chicken keepers get excited about. It is not just about a pretty egg, though the color certainly is something to brag about. It is about feeding a quality complete feed that supports the whole bird, not just the egg.
When you choose a premium Kalmbach layer feed with YolkProud™, you are choosing nutrition that helps support healthy hens and eggs you can feel proud to bring into your kitchen, share with neighbors, or sell from the farm stand.
Because around here, we believe good eggs start with good feed.
And when your hens are laying eggs with yolks worth talking about, you can be Yolk Proud, too. Just like me!