A yolk question

[Earthbabe]

Unfortunately I am not yet able to keep chickens however we bought a dozen eggs at the weekly market at our nearby farm from someone from Dorset. Of those we have opened (about 7) we have had 4 double yolks.

Question is - how does this happen. Is it more common in "happy chickens" or is it more prevalent among certain breeds?

Sorry to be so thick I was just amazed to have over 50% so far like this so I thought I'd turn to those at the business end (so to speak) for an explanation.

Thanks

[JennieAtkinson]

I have noticed Earthbabe that if you get one in a box of six there is normally bound to be another one! (Perhaps it is the same chicken?) Although having said that I haven't had one for a while from our locally produced eggs.

[Alice]

The tendency to lay double yoked eggs is an inherited characteristic - twins I suppose. I googled for that one.

[FoxHillGardener]

That's weird. I'd not seen a double yolk for years and then recently I had a box where all 6 were doubles!

[Earthbabe]

Same here. They almost took on the status of "urban myth".

[yoanbob]

its inherited but some breads lay more than others, its just like fraternal twins if the yolks are compleatly seperate, or you can get conjoined ones that are like identical twins gone wrong.
our warren lays two double yolkers a week!