Today, we will be talking about one of the wonders the world has given us: double yolk eggs. It might be a tiny wonder at that, but it is still a wonder.
Here is the complete guide to double yolk eggs. From the how? to the why? We will answer it!
Time to uncover the secret of a delicious mystery.
What Is a Double Yolk Egg?
We’re used to the ordinary egg. It has a shell, a yolk, and egg white.
You might be surprised to know, but there are many other types of eggs. Many are not familiar with these eggs because they’re not common. One of those eggs is the double yolk egg.
I think you already have an idea of what it is, but this is to be sure we’re on the same page. As you will see later, one type of rare egg is similar to the double yolk egg.
As the name suggests, it is like your ordinary egg, but with two yolks.
Is the Double Yolk Egg Safe to Eat?
Okay, don’t judge me! Safety didn’t even come to my mind the first time I saw a double yolk egg. I was just amazed.
Fortunately, double yolk eggs are safe to eat.
You might want to be a little cautious of double yolk eggs if you’re following a diet. Since it has two yolks, its nutritional content differs from an ordinary egg.
For example, the yolk has more cholesterol than the white. A double yolk egg would have twice the amount of cholesterol than usual.
| Nutrient | Regular Egg | Double Yolk Egg |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 68 cal | 102 cal |
| Total Fat | 5g | 10g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.6g | 3.2g |
| Cholesterol | 185mg | 370mg |
| Sodium | 71mg | 142mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 0.6g | 1.2g |
| Protein | 6g | 12g |
| Vitamin D | 41IU | 82IU |
| Calcium | 25mg | 50mg |
| Iron | 0.9mg | 1.8mg |
*The data is based on a typical medium-sized egg
How Do Double Yolk Eggs Happen?
Okay, so let’s talk a little about the reproduction process to answer that.
- Let’s start at the ovary. This part is where the yolk will remain until it’s ready to be released.
- The yolk will then go to the infundibulum, then to the magnum. Here, the albumen (egg white) will join the yolk.
- Then the yolk and albumen will go to the isthmus to get a shell membrane. The shell membrane is the film you see when you crack an egg.
- Finally, everything goes to the shell gland, where the whole package gets a shell.
That’s the simplest explanation of the egg-laying reproduction system of chickens. If you want to know more, then you can go to Penn State Extension. Professor Phillip Clauer gave a great explanation of the whole reproduction process.
Double yolk eggs happen when things don’t go as planned in the reproduction process. What happens is that after releasing a yolk, another yolk follows too early.
When do Double Yolk Eggs Happen?
This phenomenon mostly occurs in pullets and old hens.
Usually, this happens when a pullet is just starting to lay eggs. Since they’re new to the whole egg-laying process, the reproductive system of the pullets doesn’t run that smoothly yet. You don’t have to worry. This issue will get fixed over time.
On the other hand, it could also happen to your older ladies, those that are about to stop with their egg-laying career. Like with most things, the reproductive system of the chicken will eventually wear out. Near the end, their reproductive system will begin to get rusty. Slip-ups will then happen.
If it happens in the prime of the egg-laying career of your hen, then you might want to keep an eye out for her. Not always, but sometimes it signals a health concern.
How Can I Get a Double Yolk Egg?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to get your hens to lay double eggs. It’s usually up to chance.
However, there is a way you can increase your chances of getting double yolk eggs.
Genetically, the heavier breeds tend to give more double yolk eggs than others. You might still want to keep an eye out for them if they present double yolk eggs more often than usual. But double yolk eggs are more common for them than others.
Known egg layers might also give you a bigger chance of getting double yolks. As we have said, double yolks happen because of two yolks being released closely to each other. The more your hens lay, the higher the chance a slip-up would happen.
Where Can I Find Double Yolk Eggs?
You might have never personally seen this magical thing, and you might be wondering where you can buy it.
If you’re in the US, it’s unlikely you can purchase one in the store. Eggs sold in the store go through the grading process, and it involves candling. In this process, double yolk eggs are revealed under the light and removed from the pile. It is considered an imperfection, despite being a good one.
You can try searching the net if there are any egg sellers near you selling double yolk eggs. That might take some time, as double yolks don’t always happen. (Plus, the shipping time, if it’s going to be shipped.)
Overall, the best chance to find a double yolk egg is if you have your own flock.
Can I Hatch a Double Yolk Egg?
You might have wondered where you can get double yolk eggs because you want to hatch them.
Unfortunately, hatching a double yolk egg is much rarer.
With humans, the body can make proper adjustments if a female happens to get pregnant with twins. That is not the case with chickens. The egg might look a little bigger than usual, but the egg is only for one chick.
You can try to hatch a double yolk egg, but it’s usually not a successful process. If the egg does hatch, it could be that only the stronger one survives. It could also be that both chicks die.
But it does happen! Check out these little guys.
How Can I Tell if I Have a Double Yolk Egg?
Some would tell you that they look like any other egg. I personally don’t think so.
Usually, you will have a clue that you have a double yolk egg if it looks bigger than usual. It will also be heavier. To confirm, you can do a simple candling.
Other Types of Egg
There are many types of eggs that you won’t usually see. Let’s talk about three.
Egg Within an Egg
Earlier, we said that there are other types of eggs. Since we’re already talking about double yolk eggs, let’s talk about the egg within an egg.
Like the double yolk egg, this one has two yolks. The difference is that the yolks are still separate with this type. As the name suggests, an egg is within an egg.
This anomaly happens when an egg goes back instead of forward. It would bundle up with another unshelled yolk and albumen there. Then it will move forward with the yolk and albumen, receiving another layer of the shell.
As you can imagine, this is going to be a gigantic egg!
Fairy Egg
As much as the first egg is large, the fairy egg is tiny.
This egg is another type your pullet might give at first when she begins to lay. Again, her reproduction system is not yet running as smoothly as the older hens. Give her some time.
This egg usually doesn’t have a yolk, but it is also possible, a tiny yolk is present.
Shell-less Egg
As the name suggests, this egg doesn’t have a shell.
Earlier, we mentioned that the yolk and the albumen go to the isthmus where they will get covered in a shell membrane. With the shell-less egg, it seems the reproduction process ended there. The shell-less egg only has a shell membrane.
It’s usually safe to eat, but you should eat it as soon as possible. The yolk and the white might evaporate, or you might accidentally pop it.
It has several causes, like an unbalanced diet or old age. Sometimes, it is more serious, like a health problem. Watch your girl.
Have you been getting shell-less eggs? You might want to check out more about shell-less eggs.
Interesting Double Yolk Egg Facts
Here are some things we thought you might want to know about double yolk eggs:
- There is a 1 in 1,000 chance it would happen.
- It is possible to get more than two yolks, but that is rarer than a double yolk. Read about Emma and Steve Brooks and their 4-yolk egg here.
- The highest recorded number of yolks in an egg is eleven! Some say it’s nine. However, it is hard to find who got these eggs.
Double Yolk Egg Superstition
Before we finish, let us talk about some double yolk egg superstitions. I personally don’t believe in superstitions, but it’s usually fun to hear them.
Twins
It’s not surprising to know that some believe that a double yolk egg would symbolize twins. Some say that if you get a double yolk egg and you or someone you know is pregnant, it will be twins.
Good Fortune
On the other hand, some believe that it means that you will get good fortune. I don’t know about you, but I love sunny-side-ups. Getting a double yolk is already good fortune enough for me!
Summary
And that’s the complete guide to double yolk eggs!
When you look at the double yolk egg, it is just an ordinary egg with the extra yolk. However, it is one of the ways your chickens can surprise you.
Whether you’re a kid or an adult, double yolk eggs seem to be a sight to see.
It is unfortunate that we can’t get double yolk eggs when we want them. On the other hand, its rarity is undoubtedly one of its charms. We wouldn’t be as amazed by it when our chickens present it to us if it’s always readily available.
Joseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, he completed the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. He currently raises over 1400 chickens on his 7.5-hectare farm. He keeps sharing his experience on raising healthy and happy chickens on Chicken Scratch The Foundry.
