Many people encounter such an anomaly as a double yolk in the process of preparing dishes. Chicken coop owners rejoice at this phenomenon and believe that this is a huge plus in the household, but experts say otherwise. You need to figure out which chickens usually lay double-yolk eggs and whether you should start worrying about the laying hens.
How to distinguish a chicken egg with two yolks
It is almost impossible to visually distinguish an egg containing two yolks.There are several signs that can be used to identify such a deviation, but such a check will not guarantee accuracy:
- The size of this specimen is one and a half to two times larger than usual.
- Weight is a parameter that can be easily measured using ordinary food scales. A regular egg weighs from 50 to 70 g, and the weight of a double-yolk egg varies from 100 to 110 g.
- Shape: compared to other products, the product is more oblong.
For the most accurate determination, it is better for an experienced farmer to use a special device for candling eggs - an ovoscope.
Important! The calorie content of one two-yolk egg is twice as much as usual.
Norm or deviation?
Some poultry farmers claim that the presence of double-yolk eggs indicates excellent productivity and high fertility of chickens. Others unconditionally consider this an anomaly and, having discovered such a product, threw it away, and the hen was identified and sent for slaughter.
According to laboratory studies, you can eat eggs with two yolks if the chickens are completely healthy. They are endowed with the same qualities of taste and benefit the body as single yolks. If blood clots and other foreign bodies were detected during disclosure, then unforeseen consequences in the form of infectious diseases and severe allergic reactions may occur during use.
The presence of two yolks indicates a hormonal imbalance in the laying hen.
They are not suitable for incubation, since none of the embryos survives. The first will die during the process of growth and development, due to lack of space, and the second will begin to feed on the resulting decomposition products and will also not survive. Many experiments were carried out in special factories to produce chickens from defective eggs, but none of them gave positive results.
Why do chickens lay double-yolk eggs?
There are several factors that can cause the formation of a double-yolk egg. The reason is the age of laying hens, hormonal imbalance due to poor quality care, as well as the development of diseases.
Laying hen age
Eggs with two yolks are mainly found in young laying hens that have just entered the stage of puberty. At this moment, the maximum amount of hormones is produced that provoke an increase in fertility.
The activity of chickens deteriorates over time, as the tone of the genital organs decreases.
During this period, due to hormonal imbalance and pathologies, laying hens can produce such a product.
Hormonal supplements
In poultry farms, chickens are bred exclusively for industrial purposes. In a short time it is necessary to achieve the maximum amount of production to obtain a stable income. To speed up the onset of puberty and increase productivity, hormonal drugs are added to the feed of laying hens. If additives are used incorrectly and excessively, chickens begin to lay two-yolk and even three-yolk eggs due to abundant stimulation. Eggs saturated with hormones are unsuitable for use and dangerous to human health.
Important! If two yolks are detected, reduce or completely eliminate the introduction of harmful additives into the feed. After 1-2 months, ovulation will normalize and recover.
Diseases
Poor and untimely care of the chicken coop can cause dangerous diseases. There are many infections in dirt and droppings, and a humid environment only improves their development.
There are several important rules to follow:
- Periodically treat the room with slaked lime.
- Wash and disinfect not only feeders, but also drinkers.
- Clean the coop 1 hour after feeding.
Laying hens that have contracted the infection can be recognized by certain signs:
- uneven and fragile shell;
- presence of growths;
- thin shell with dents and cracks;
- when opening, blood clots and other atypical substances;
- disgusting smell.
This product is strictly prohibited for use in food.
Hormonal imbalance in a laying hen
Also, the cause of two yolk eggs may be a hormonal imbalance. It may occur in the following cases:
- unbalanced diet;
- poor quality feed, excessive or insufficient nutrients;
- unsuitable living conditions in the chicken coop;
- sudden changes in temperature, very hot or cold weather;
- stress, fear.
The factor that provoked hormonal disorders in the chicken must be excluded.
How to solve this problem
If double yolk eggs are a recurring occurrence, it is recommended to address the problem depending on the cause. Send old laying hens to slaughter and replace them with new representatives.
Hormonal imbalance can be easily restored by tidying up your diet and eliminating all sources of stress. If the cause is illness, identify the sick chicken and show it to the veterinarian to prescribe the correct treatment.
Which chickens lay double-yolk eggs?
There is no specific breed that lays eggs with two yolks. Not a single chicken is immune from this anomaly. Apart from the reasons listed, there cannot be any other reasons for the development of several yolks.
Why is this product in industry?
Poultry factories specifically add a large dose of hormones to chicken feed in order to systematically produce double-yolk eggs.This product is quite profitable, and it is often used in the processing industry to make melange, which is actively used in cooking.
