I coordinate a couple of local food clubs in my area of town, and we recently began purchasing eggs from a different farmer. These eggs are amazing and quite unlike anything you’ve ever purchased at the store I’m quite sure – organic or not!
Ever seen double yolk eggs before, not just one in a blue moon, but LOTS of them?Â
The egg delivery I received this week had eggs so large that some of them looked like duck eggs. In addition, half or maybe more were double yolk eggs! It is easy to see why eggs like this are never in stores. There is little chance they would even fit in a standard size carton!
In addition, eggs this size typically come from layers that are older. Since chickens that mass produce eggs don’t live very long due to unfavorable living conditions, this would also keep egg size in check.
If you’ve never seen eggs like this, why not? Are you still supporting the industrial food complex by buying your eggs at the store, which are, in many cases, months old?
Even organic eggs from the store are no comparison. Just get some farm fresh eggs and compare the difference. Deep golden to orange yolks, much bigger size, stronger shell, better taste, double yolks, cheaper price.
You don’t need any double blind studies to see and taste the difference. Your five senses will do you just fine, thank you!
By the way, if double yolk chicken eggs aren’t easily available to you, look for goose eggs instead. They are becoming more widely available and the larger yolk makes them comparably as rich as their double yolked cousins.
*Thank you to Paul Hardiman for emailing this mouth watering picture to me shortly after Tuesday’s pickup. What a fantastic brunch you enjoyed, Paul!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
I took the plunge about 13 months ago and started keeping chickens, and I love it! I have never had double-yolk eggs, though. I’ve heard of it before, even a triple-yolk, but even double-yolk is rare, according to my reading. I wish I knew your farmer’s secret! I’m guessing it’s a genetic anomaly. Six of my 20 hens are older (3-4, I’m not sure exactly), and their eggs are enormous, but all single yolks. Very yummy yolks from free-ranging hens who get supplemental organic (soy-free usually) layer pellets and occasional treats from me.
I wasn’t prepared for how much I would love chickens! Now I need to find more egg customers.
I am also looking for local farmers, I am a breastfeeding mom looking for better options than those offered at the supermarkets. How do I get in contact with local farmers? (Tampa bay area)
Oh! I forgot to mention that you can test the freshness of an egg by putting it in cold water; if it floats, throw it out! It should be heavy and stay put or raise up only slightly. Also, if you want to check for fertility, use a flashlight to “candle” them and look at the egg in a dark room. This takes some expertise and training, so at first it will be hard. Anyway, just wanted to share! (:
Sarah, my family has been raising free range chickens for 3 years now and it has been an awesome experience! I get 3 dollars a dozen for my eggs, while feed has gone up from 7 dollars a bag to 11! (People still act like 3 dollars is too high!) I only occasionally have a double yolker, but it really is a treat! The thing that I have wanted everyone to know is that your eggs are PERFECTLY safe if you DON’T wash them! They have a cuticle on them that protects them from everything! I saw a study where a man wanted to see how long his eggs would last without washing and still be good. He kept a dozen in a cool, dark closet for 6 MONTHS and they were still edible! He ate an egg every other week until they were gone! People from Europe have told me that the eggs are on the bread aisle! (Unrefrigerated!) People look at me like I have 2 heads when I ask if they want them washed or unwashed! (Of course, if they are dirty, we don’t sell them!) Wow, have those chickens taught us a lot!!! Thanks for your support!!! We need more farmers and ranchers!!! God bless!
Hi Sarah!
Oh I loved the double yolk eggs that one of our chickens churned out the first year of laying! My hubbie even got a tripple yolk one once! Like winning the lottery! Can’t wait to get them here and see if we can’t strum up that luck again!
Thanks for all your shared wisdom!
The first batch of chickens I ever had included some white leghorns which produced white eggs. As they grew, their eggs got larger, and eventually they produced double yolks. We were so excited! Then, because the eggs were so large, they developed prolapse, and we had to put them down, as there is no cure for this besides surgery. I think the vets were laughing at me after I called to ask what to do for them. No one would help me because it was “just a chicken”. I later found out another woman in our area lost all 72 of her white leghorns from this. I wondered if they were being bred for jumbo eggs, and this frequent double-yolk egg laying was from someone who thought big was better. Not sure if double yolks are good. I am not an expert. I never bought white leghorns again, and never had the problem again.
i live in dubai, and usually i buy the brown eggs. well last week, i got a wonderful surprise! one whole carton of large eggs, all with double yokes! i have never seen that and it was so cool!
Dubai??? How cool is that! Thanks for commenting! 🙂
I just love my international readers!
u r most welcome. i love your site!
Hi Sarah, how do I get in contact with local farmers?
Thanks, Bogdan
I’ve had a few double yolks in the eggs from my farmer, last spring/summer. Hoping I get more this year!
have you ever seen a tripple yolk egg, one morning i cracked a tripple yolk egg and then a double yolk egg after, i thought that was neat, what are the odds?