[miccon63]

just got my sussex star just a few weeks ago shes just started laying before i got her and still to my astonishment shes giving me double yokers how long do you think this will last and how does it happen 

[Cinderhills]

Congratulations!  Our first egg was a double yolker too which was great because OH and I didn't have to fight over who ate it.   I believe this normally happens when they first start laying but I don't know why, but I'm sure someone on here will know.  Occasionally we still get a double yolker but very rarely.  Long may it continue for you.

[Izzy]

The only time we've had double yolkers has been when we've upset our girls' routine or there's been some other stress. Once due to a lack of communication they were shut in til early afternoon, another time storms & lightening.

[SallyintNorth]

With hybrids I used to find I got double yolkers if they had ad lib pellets and for some reason (eg horrid weather) they weren't free ranging and therefore ate more of their pellets and less of the other stuff they find about the place.

I used to worry about them having to work so hard, so if the weather was dreadful I'd make sure I gave them plenty of veges etc, and restricted their pellets to what they need.

[Greenerlife]

That's interesting Sally.  I was led to believe that you were supposed to leave food out so they could have as much as they wanted?  I always have since I got my girls back in Spring.  I got at least one double yoker a day out of 8 girls, but haven't had one for a while ow - I miss them! 

[ellied]

My RIR not only started laying first but quickly started producing massive eggs which she still does - her egg is always identifiable and  3 of those have been double yolks in the last couple weeks and the weather has been windy so maybe there's a link but I am enjoying them anyway.

I wondered if it was due to ovulating later in the day and then again in the morning but I know nothing about it really!

[tizaala]

I was given to understand that chickens (like women ) will only have a given amount of eggs to lay in a lifetime, ( lawter, sp ? ). If they give double yolkers they will get through their allocation quicker, consider it as an ealy menopause.

[SallyintNorth]

Technically true, tizaala.  But I think we (and chickens too, I guess) are born with millions of ova.  Plenty for even three a day (I did get a triple yolker once - poor henny penny! :ouch:) for the life of a hen.

[richard1]

I have a light sussex, She gives us one very large double yoker most weeks! Shes lays about 4 eggs a week, all are big eggs (she is quite a big hen) but the double yoker is even bigger than normal. I alsways thourt that double yokers were quite rear? But she lays one most weeks.
Our other 2 hens a warran and a speckledy have never given us a double.

[benkt]

Our khaki campbell duck have started laying over the last month or so and we're getting one double yolker a week from them - and a lot of shelless ones but that seems to be stopping now they're getting the hang of it.

[northfifeduckling]

That's interesting Sally.  I was led to believe that you were supposed to leave food out so they could have as much as they wanted?  I always have since I got my girls back in Spring.  I got at least one double yoker a day out of 8 girls, but haven't had one for a while ow - I miss them! 

I only give grain ad lib, too many pellets caused eggbinding problems in the ducks, so all birds only get pellets in the morning. I'd rather have healthy birds for longer than double yolkers, but they are supposed to be lucky , I've never had one Also - the more birds lay the shorter their lives, so I have read. This is why rare breeds  who do not lay every day apparently live longer than hybrids. not sure if it is true and if a double yolker actually counts as 2 eggs for the birds, who knows...

[jaykay]

Mine all get pellets ad lib and just a scattering of grain at this time of year in the afternoon, more when it gets cold. I've never (fingers crossed) had an egg bound duck, goose or hen and only very rarely get double-yolkers, usually from newly laying pullets or hens after the moult.