Monday, December 19, 2011

Something I've Always Wondered About . . .

What do you think? Is the egg on the left a double yolker?

It sure is a honkin' big one compared to the normal sized egg on the right.

Yup, it really is a double yolker!

So here's a question for all you fellow keepers of the coop out there. I've always wondered if a double yolker were incubated, would twin chicks hatch? Or would there not be adequate room within the shell to allow two chicks to develop properly?

14 comments:

Susan said...

I have been told that only one would hatch, if any. It would be fun to have twin chicks - but I bet it would be pretty darn crowded in that shell!

dr momi said...

The yellow yolks in your yellow dish is so pretty! ....and I have no answer for you :-)

Sue said...

I had a gal that always laid double yolkers, but we never let her "set", so I think Susan is probably correct. By the size of that monster egg, I'd say someone is walking funny today-LOL!

Linda Foley said...

I've always heard that double yolkers won't hatch... or that it is recommended to not try and hatch them... I love the double yolked eggs!

Karen L. said...

Don't have a clue as to the answer to your question but I ded love the photo. Contrasting colors make me think of quilting. Would that dish be "cheddar" in color? That used to be a popular color in quilting. Oh, and is that fiestaware by any chance? Sadly I don't have chickens but happily I did recently find someone locally that I am buying from now. Yay!

Unknown said...

There's a video on youtube of both hatching and alive. The risk is not enough air for two. I say it's better on toast ;-)

judy said...

whoo ho,nice eggs,ha,ha-I'm only saying a little bitty comment just to see if this goes through this time ,only my 3rd try

Mama Pea said...

Susan - I still can't imagine how one chick manages to grow properly in that small space!

dr momi - Thank you! No answer is okay. :o]

Sue - Or saying, "Dang, I wish I'd saved that second yolk until I had a second shell!"

Linda - So if one saw a huge egg like that under a setting hen, it would probably be best to remove it, huh?

Karen L. - The dishes are Bauer Pottery but come in colors much like Fiestaware. Glad you found a source for fresh eggs. There's nuthin' like 'em!

Nancy - You're always good for a chirky laugh! Yes, on toast sounds good to me, too!

judy - You're comin' through loud and clear now. Keep it up!

Leigh said...

Ooo, good question. Interesting to read folks' answers. My Ameraucana eggs are often that big as singles. The poor dears aren't terribly big chickens, but they sure do give me big eggs!

Mama Pea said...

Leigh - So far, it kinda sorta sounds like it would be futile to let a hen set on what you suspect to be a double yolker. But with your Ameraucanas, how would you tell!!

Michelle said...

I get a lot of large eggs. Sometimes a double yolk. I don't think you would get twins. Not enough room. It would be nice . I have twin girls and I can tell you twins need a LOT of room. Human or chicken.

Mama Pea said...

Michelle - Well, sounds like you would be the expert on twins! It's looking like double yolk eggs probably don't have much of a chance. They sure do seem like a bonus when you crack one open though!

Erin said...

I had never even thought of that!

Mama Pea said...

Erin - Well, see, that's the thing. The egg is such a versatile food that we use so much in so many ways, we sometimes forget that they are actually the beginning of a chicken! Cluck, cluck, cluck!!!