Double or multi-yolk eggs
Written by Tim Daniels
Double or multi yolk eggs whilst very enjoyable are actually a fault. They are common
in young, laying hens, especially from hens that are from highly productive
strains.
A double yolk egg is formed when two ovulations take place almost at the same time and go down the oviduct together and both get encased in shell.
Double yolks in eggs (also know as double yolkers) are in fact quite rare but if you like the yolk more than the white in eggs then it's a rather nice surprise when you open it to find you have two or more yolks!
Poultry genetics says there should only be one yolk per egg. There would be insufficient space for two chicks to develop inside a shell and the breed would effectively die out.
As the hen matures, she will normally only lay single yolk eggs. Double yolk eggs are in fact a fault that occurs when two or more yolks are released inside the ovary at the same time, causing them to be wrapped in albumen (white) and then an outer shell.
It isn't possible to find breeds of hen that will consistently lay double yolkers unfortunately although some shops will sell double yolk eggs where these have been selected when they are candled for blood spots and other problems at the packing station since a premium price can be charged for these.
It is rare but people also find more than 2 yolks in a multiple yolk egg. The most yolks ever found in an egg was 9!
Written by Tim Daniels
Double or multi yolk eggs whilst very enjoyable are actually a fault. They are common
in young, laying hens, especially from hens that are from highly productive
strains.
A double yolk egg is formed when two ovulations take place almost at the same time and go down the oviduct together and both get encased in shell.
Double yolks in eggs (also know as double yolkers) are in fact quite rare but if you like the yolk more than the white in eggs then it's a rather nice surprise when you open it to find you have two or more yolks!
Poultry genetics says there should only be one yolk per egg. There would be insufficient space for two chicks to develop inside a shell and the breed would effectively die out.
As the hen matures, she will normally only lay single yolk eggs. Double yolk eggs are in fact a fault that occurs when two or more yolks are released inside the ovary at the same time, causing them to be wrapped in albumen (white) and then an outer shell.
It isn't possible to find breeds of hen that will consistently lay double yolkers unfortunately although some shops will sell double yolk eggs where these have been selected when they are candled for blood spots and other problems at the packing station since a premium price can be charged for these.
It is rare but people also find more than 2 yolks in a multiple yolk egg. The most yolks ever found in an egg was 9!
How to Use Chicken Manure as Fertilizer:
Using Chicken Manure as Garden Fertilizer and Soil Amendment
Poop. It's a word that makes little boys giggle mischievously. And it's something that your chickens produce a lot of. Instead of viewing it as undesirable, change your paradigm and recognize chicken manure for what it is: A literally transformational, nutrient-rich substance that can work wonders in your garden and add a magical boost to your landscape. And best of all, it's free!
The University of Florida says the following about chicken manure as fertilizer:
Just like commercially prepared synthetic fertilizers, chicken manure is very high in nutrients. The combined average percentages (per total weight) of aged chicken manure and litter--yes, you can use old litter from your chicken coop as a fertilizer!--is about 1.8 nitrogen, 1.5 phosphate, and 0.8 for potash.
With that much nitrogen, phosphate and potash, how much poultry manure should you use? An annual application of 45 pounds of chicken manure and chicken litter, or more, per year for every 100 square feet will be just right to work wonders in your vegetable garden and increase the fertility of your soil. 45 pounds is the approximate amount that one hen will produce every year. Thus, the average small-scale chicken flock of 5-10 chickens should be enough to take care of your entire vegetable garden and yard!
Here are a few general pointers and tips for using chicken manure as a fertilizer:
1) Never feed fresh chicken manure to young, tender plants! Fresh chicken manure is "hot," meaning it is very high in nitrogen and will "burn" the growing plants. This will kill your plants! Also, too much nitrogen can produce negative plant growth. This is why you need to age your chicken manure!
2) Poultry manure makes a great addition to compost! I recently received an "Earth Machine" composting bin as part of my local county government's initiative to reduce green waste in Hawaii's landfills. Although you do not need a "real" composter to compost, it can save you time. Whether or not you use an actual composter, any sort of composting converts nitrogen into a form that a plant can use without being burned. Composting also destroys the coccidia bacteria (a chicken disease), bacteria, worm eggs, and viruses, and stabilizes potash and nitrogen levels. Any composter will do, from the fancy type you see in Organic Gardening magazine, to simple homemade bins made of 2x4s and chicken wire.
Important note: Manure that is composted without carbon-based material (such as dry grass clippings) will overheat.
3) Give chicken manure time to age by spreading fresh poultry manure over your soil and turning the dirt at the end of the growing season to allow it time to decompose over the winter. However, you'll be required to keep your poultry birds out of the area for at least a year, preferably more.
You can also try making "tea". Chicken manure fertilizer tea; sounds delicious, eh? To make fertilizer tea, scoop the chicken manure into a burlap bag. Then, throw a rock into the bag to weigh it down and place the whole thing into a 35-gallon garbage can. Fill the garbage can with water and let it sit for about three weeks. Once the three weeks are over, you will have nutrient-rich chicken manure fertilizer tea as the water becomes infused with the nutrients from the chicken manure. You can use this fertilizer tea to water your plants to give them a vitamin boost.
Your plants will love you for it. Here's to bigger tomatoes!
Poop. It's a word that makes little boys giggle mischievously. And it's something that your chickens produce a lot of. Instead of viewing it as undesirable, change your paradigm and recognize chicken manure for what it is: A literally transformational, nutrient-rich substance that can work wonders in your garden and add a magical boost to your landscape. And best of all, it's free!
The University of Florida says the following about chicken manure as fertilizer:
- Animal manures have been used effectively as fertilizers for
centuries. Poultry manure has long been recognized as perhaps the most
desirable of these natural fertilizers because of its high nitrogen
content. In addition, manures supply other essential plant nutrients and
serve as a soil amendment by adding organic matter. Organic matter
persistence will vary with temperature, drainage, rainfall, and other
environmental factors. Organic matter in soil improves moisture and
nutrient retention. The utilization of manure is an integral part of
sustainable agriculture.(University of Florida: Poultry Manure as a Fertilizer by D.R. Sloan, G. Kidder and R.D. Jacobs;)
Just like commercially prepared synthetic fertilizers, chicken manure is very high in nutrients. The combined average percentages (per total weight) of aged chicken manure and litter--yes, you can use old litter from your chicken coop as a fertilizer!--is about 1.8 nitrogen, 1.5 phosphate, and 0.8 for potash.
With that much nitrogen, phosphate and potash, how much poultry manure should you use? An annual application of 45 pounds of chicken manure and chicken litter, or more, per year for every 100 square feet will be just right to work wonders in your vegetable garden and increase the fertility of your soil. 45 pounds is the approximate amount that one hen will produce every year. Thus, the average small-scale chicken flock of 5-10 chickens should be enough to take care of your entire vegetable garden and yard!
Here are a few general pointers and tips for using chicken manure as a fertilizer:
1) Never feed fresh chicken manure to young, tender plants! Fresh chicken manure is "hot," meaning it is very high in nitrogen and will "burn" the growing plants. This will kill your plants! Also, too much nitrogen can produce negative plant growth. This is why you need to age your chicken manure!
2) Poultry manure makes a great addition to compost! I recently received an "Earth Machine" composting bin as part of my local county government's initiative to reduce green waste in Hawaii's landfills. Although you do not need a "real" composter to compost, it can save you time. Whether or not you use an actual composter, any sort of composting converts nitrogen into a form that a plant can use without being burned. Composting also destroys the coccidia bacteria (a chicken disease), bacteria, worm eggs, and viruses, and stabilizes potash and nitrogen levels. Any composter will do, from the fancy type you see in Organic Gardening magazine, to simple homemade bins made of 2x4s and chicken wire.
Important note: Manure that is composted without carbon-based material (such as dry grass clippings) will overheat.
3) Give chicken manure time to age by spreading fresh poultry manure over your soil and turning the dirt at the end of the growing season to allow it time to decompose over the winter. However, you'll be required to keep your poultry birds out of the area for at least a year, preferably more.
You can also try making "tea". Chicken manure fertilizer tea; sounds delicious, eh? To make fertilizer tea, scoop the chicken manure into a burlap bag. Then, throw a rock into the bag to weigh it down and place the whole thing into a 35-gallon garbage can. Fill the garbage can with water and let it sit for about three weeks. Once the three weeks are over, you will have nutrient-rich chicken manure fertilizer tea as the water becomes infused with the nutrients from the chicken manure. You can use this fertilizer tea to water your plants to give them a vitamin boost.
Your plants will love you for it. Here's to bigger tomatoes!