Double yolker

[Jus1]

I had noticed from day 1 that more often than not I have at least 1 larger egg. I've had as many as 3 at a time and just doubled my price of what I was selling the normal eggs for. A few days ago we had our own batch we opened to cook and was surprised to find they were fertile seeing as how we removed all the males at 7 weeks. Well we decided to incubate them so we started those yesterday. Today we decided to take a look at the larger egg since we got another after incubating 2. We found double fertile yolks. I didn't know that before they went in the incubator. Has anyone ever had this happen, will it die off, or is there a chance for at least 1 baby? I am very curious as to what will potentially happen.

 

[MyISAbrownhens]

Wow! I have never heard of this happening and this is very interesting! I’m sorry but I have never encountered this problem before... I’ll ask around though. Hope everything turns out well!

 

[redranger209]

Maybe you missed a male. The double yolkers almost never hatch.

 

[oregonkat]

I had noticed from day 1 that more often than not I have at least 1 larger egg. I've had as many as 3 at a time and just doubled my price of what I was selling the normal eggs for. A few days ago we had our own batch we opened to cook and was surprised to find they were fertile seeing as how we removed all the males at 7 weeks. Well we decided to incubate them so we started those yesterday. Today we decided to take a look at the larger egg since we got another after incubating 2. We found double fertile yolks. I didn't know that before they went in the incubator. Has anyone ever had this happen, will it die off, or is there a chance for at least 1 baby? I am very curious as to what will potentially happen.

Double yolkers come with a long list of problems when trying to incubate and hatch them. One developing chick usually takes over and the remaining embryo dies due to lack of nutrition and then proceeds to rot causing bacterial infection for the survivor. If they do manage to share space there is trouble when hatching as there is not enough room for them both to rotate to correct hatching position and one chick is usually considerably smaller and less developed than the other. There are other problems that can arise also with the development of the feet, etc, etc.....
There is a video on BYC of someone hatching a double yolker but it is not pretty and we dont actually know if both survived and flourished.
In general, it is not recommended. Heartbreak and frustration await. Incubate your single yolk, healthy eggs and get healthy chicks instead! Just my advice!!

 

[Jus1]

Maybe you missed a male. The double yolkers almost never hatch.

I thought we missed a male as well. Still no males in the bunch and this is weeks later. I assume they hit sexual maturity early and the hens still have a build up of sperm. I read they can store it for a month.

 

[Jus1]

Double yolkers come with a long list of problems when trying to incubate and hatch them. One developing chick usually takes over and the remaining embryo dies due to lack of nutrition and then proceeds to rot causing bacterial infection for the survivor. If they do manage to share space there is trouble when hatching as there is not enough room for them both to rotate to correct hatching position and one chick is usually considerably smaller and less developed than the other. There are other problems that can arise also with the development of the feet, etc, etc.....
There is a video on BYC of someone hatching a double yolker but it is not pretty and we dont actually know if both survived and flourished.
In general, it is not recommended. Heartbreak and frustration await. Incubate your single yolk, healthy eggs and get healthy chicks instead! Just my advice!!

I will remove the double yolker. I can't handle the heartache if I knew it was something I possibly did. I deal with unknown circumstances if I have to, but can still get kind of wet behind the eyes. Thanks for the advise

 

[oregonkat]

I will remove the double yolker. I can't handle the heartache if I knew it was something I possibly did. I deal with unknown circumstances if I have to, but can still get kind of wet behind the eyes. Thanks for the advise

Good! I wish you a great hatch. Enjoy the double yolkers for breakfast and think about the next generation of healthy lovely hens that will, again provide breakfast for you!

I thought we missed a male as well. Still no males in the bunch and this is weeks later. I assume they hit sexual maturity early and the hens still have a build up of sperm. I read they can store it for a month.

A single dose of sperm can fertilize enough eggs for about 3 weeks. At least this is true for chickens, I assume something close to that for quail, also.