- Eleven to the Dozen
As the days grow shorter, work in the chicken coop slows down. During peek production in June and July, the five working girls were producing five to six eggs a week. We had a dozen ready each Friday for our neighbor, Jean, and had plenty left over for our own use. We often had an extra dozen in the refrigerator to take as a ‘hostess gift’ should it be needed – in place of the usual bottle of wine.
These days we are hard pressed to have just one dozen for our Friday commitment. Last Thursday we still had only ten eggs and we were hoping for at least two to round out the dozen, but we only got one. But what a one it was! Gigantic! At least a double-yolker. Jean was well satisfied that she was getting her due. We have yet to get the report as to the egg’s exact contents.
Apparently, about 1 in 1,000 eggs has a double yolk and in some countries markets sell cartons of double-yolked eggs. There are a number of folk-beliefs associated with them – that there will be a financial windfall (oh, I hope so!), an upcoming wedding (unlikely), or a death in the family (let’s not go there.) The chances of getting a triple-yolked egg are said to be a billion to one. The world’s record for yolks in a single egg is nine. Now that would be big news from the coop!
Contrary to popular belief, the double-yolked egg would probably not lead to twins (ditto triple-yolks and triplets etc.) but to a mis-hatch. The nutritional value for chick embryos is in the egg-white and in a multiple-yolker there is not enough white to supply nutrients to multiple chicks.
Although we’ve never had it happen, there is also the possibility of a no-yolker. Very often it is the result of a pullet’s first effort – before her laying mechanism is fully geared up. No-yolkers are called “dwarf,” “wind,” or most commonly “fart,” eggs. In olden times they were called “cock” eggs because, since they contained no yolk and therefore couldn’t hatch, it was believed they were laid by roosters. Works for me.
Sydney: LOVED this, it will be remembered, by me, as one of your best blogs. Great research! I will share with others who spend time “in the coop”…
Yes, Our hens have slowed down also, and they are (as I used to say as a kid) molding. We just had a thunder clap overhead, WOW I bet that will have an effect on laying!
At least you’re still getting eggs. Maybe we’ll be able to have fresh eggs for breakfast when I’m there in in a few weks.
Hold that thought!
wonders if the girls were spying on one another in June and July.
Peeking is not allowed in the henhouse. It’s every hen for herself.
“During peek production in June and July, the five working girls were producing five to six eggs a week.”
You are so right, John. All that peeking in the hen house causes a fit of pique now and then among the girls, especially during peak season.
We covet your eggs. The weirder the better!
At Fred Meyer in Warrenton Saturday I stood in line behind a woman who said she’d been to buy scratch for her hens because they were having a work slow down, too. I guess they are on strike all over!