What causes soft yolks?

[chicksgalore]

For the past few months of cold weather, we have been noticing the yolks in our eggs are very soft--that is to say they break very easily, whether you're frying them or trying to separate them for baking. Just wondering if anyone knows what would cause this?

 

[rowan1]

try hard boiling? LOL

 

[aberfitch]

are your birds caged up or free range? I find free range birds have strong yolks wile cage ones have soft yolks.

 

[debilorrah]

Hmmm never heard of that. Mine are cooped and theirs are nice and firm....

 

[ghulst]

As the hens get older the egg isn't as stong. Could be causing it.

 

[CovenantCreek]

I haven't had too many yolk problems, though I did have a marbleized yolk a little over a week ago. My older girls, however, are laying eggs with really runny whites.

 

[chicksgalore]

My girls are free range and the majority of the eggs I'm getting right now are from new layers that just started about a month ago...

This might sound stupid but I have a lot of roosters I need to cull right now--this wouldn't have anything to do with it?

 

[chickenlady]

Could be freezing during the day. Do you collect several times a day or once at night? Freezing and then thawing will make them less firm and runnier.

 

[chicksgalore]

You could have something there--we gather at night and it has been below freezing a lot here lately.

 

[chickenlady]

That could be it then. I noticed that some of my eggs get mostly frozen, not frozen enough to crack open, and then they thaw out. The contents are more runny than a fresh laid warm egg.