Every year during nesting season, people ask if it’s
possible for wild birds to produce twins--two chicks from a single egg. Chicken
eggs from the grocery store occasionally include some with double yolks. One
researcher in 1849 claimed to have a chicken that laid 10 double-yolked eggs,
which he allowed her to brood--9 hatched, producing 9 pairs of twins. However,
this has never been replicated. In one study of more than 1100 chicken eggs,
double yolks were found only 3 times--that is, in less than 1/3 of one percent.
In another, larger study, 2.8 percent of chicken eggs were double yolked. Very
few double-yolked eggs hatch. In that large study, 208 double-yolked eggs were
incubated and candled periodically to determine if they contained viable embryos,
and eggs were examined after the embryos had died. Over 64 percent of the
embryos died within the first 7 days. Two of the eggs--less than one percent,
pipped, and only one hatched into twin chicks. There are apparently two peaks
of mortality, one about a third of the way through development, and another
near hatching--apparently the two chicks against each other have a very
difficult time bracing themselves properly to pip the egg.
The yolk contains all the nutrition a chick embryo needs to
develop to hatching, so that’s not an issue for birds inside a double-yolked
egg. The problem is that two embryos need twice as much oxygen as one, and
their growing bodies cause the egg to lose water faster. The pores of an
eggshell are designed to provide oxygen intake for one developing chick. And as
they grow, each bird blocks the other from properly filling the available
space.
There are two ways a double-yolked egg can form. The hen may
ovulate two eggs at once, or she may ovulate properly but one yolk gets stuck
in the oviduct longer than usual. When she ovulates next, the second yolk moves
down with the first yolk, and both end up together where the shell is formed. A
case where this seems to have happened in the wild was in 1981, when an unhatched
Peregrine Falcon egg from Greenland was examined as part of a study on
pesticides. The egg was both longer and wider than a normal Peregrine egg; its
volume 35 percent larger. Inside this double-yolked egg were two dead embryos,
one that had died at about 24 days of development, the other at 22 days, so
both had reached the fourth quarter of incubation. The younger embryo was more
deteriorated and decomposed. The researchers believed that after this embryo’s
death, decomposition polluted the egg enough to kill the other embryo.
Besides that poor doomed Peregrine egg, there are a handful
of known cases of twin embryos in the wild. American Goldfinches, Song
Sparrows, and Brown Thrashers have produced twin embryos. There are also several
known cases of embryo twins in waterfowl, but only because such a large number
of duck and goose eggs have been studied for various reasons--fewer than a half
of a percent of examined wild waterfowl eggs have had twin embryos.
Interestingly, in several cases the twins weren’t the fraternal twins
associated with double yolks, but identical twins, caused when a single
fertilized ovum, or yolk, divides into two separate individuals. One 1974 study
which included both wild waterfowl eggs and duck eggs inside
temperature-controlled chambers found that cold temperatures before incubation
could lead to this kind of twinning. None of the embryos in this study survived
to hatching.
So twins are possible but unlikely in the world of wild
birds. Those grocery store eggs with two yolks are genuine rarities.
Three papers about bird twinning:
This happened years ago but, when I cut open a dozen hard-boiled eggs to make deviled eggs, several of them were double-yolked, giving me the impression that one or more related hens produced them with some regularity. I took 35mm photos at the time, but goodness knows where they are at this point.
ReplyDeleteVery Interesting .
ReplyDeleteBesides that poor doomed Peregrine egg, there are a handful of known cases of twin embryos in the wild.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this article; it’s been a really great interesting read.
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Double yolks aren't that rare actually. My family always buys Jumbo eggs at the store and there's usually one double - yolker per dozen. I've rarely ever seen a double yolk in the smaller sizes though, maybe twice ever.
DeleteYep. Double-yolked eggs aren't that rare. But twin hatchling birds are.
ReplyDeleteI have a Cockatoo egg in an incubator right now and there are twins alive inside of it. I am freaking out because of the low percentage of survival. They are 12 days old and doing very well. Both birds move interdependently and are frisky. It breaks my heart of their sure demise. I wonder if there could be a way to inject air into them. Does anyone have any ideas?
ReplyDeleteI'm curious what became of the twin egg?
DeleteI have no idea how to help. Maybe a vet school that specializes in captive rearing parrots? Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteJust had 2 healthy twin pigeons from 1 egg..what are the odds of that?
ReplyDeleteHello, we have had this just happen with Robin's in our back yard. I had been taking pictures all along side the eggs are laid and there was three. After a couple days after having I took another picture and it looked odd but just thought they were laying a bit goofy. Then last week since they are just above me being able to see in i counted by touch to make sure all were good. There is a darn cat roaming around and wanted to make sure they were ok. ( And before anyone trashes me who may not know, touching them resulting in them being abandoned is a wives tale (25 yrs SPCA Inspector and past president of a wildlife rehab). So, when I touch counted suddenly WAIT there is four. I went back and looked at the egg pics and yup only three but one was a bit later than the others. Well they are soon to be getting ready to start off in flight school and I am still proud father of four. Pics to prove, yup it happens in the wild and survived.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if these twins were identical or fraternal, i.e. resulting from one embryo separating into two VERY early on, versus two separate embryos. The given description strongly implies egg twins can only be fraternal.
ReplyDeleteIs this true?
This morning I had twin ducklings hatch from one egg. They are both alive and doing well. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it myself. I was helping the first duckling out of the egg as it seemed to be struggling, and once it came out I realized there was something heavy in there and when I looked in the rest of the egg there was another duckling. First, I didn't think it was alive but when I pulled the egg out from around it there it was! I am still in awe and looking for information on how often this happens.
ReplyDeleteSadly (my twins) were feral pigeon chicks nesting on scaffolding close to my kitchen window and did not survive. One was taken by a cat or a rat at about a week old, the other fell off the tiny ledge. I hope you got photos of the hatching - or people wont believe you - it is THAT rare. I didn't see my hatching properly - but there had been 2 eggs - 2 chicks - and an unhatched egg. I posted the pic looking for some info in a pigeon forum and was accused of putting an extra egg in the nest for publicity/attention- they were wild pigeons.
DeleteWhen I had it happen with pigeons I looked it up and sure it was something like one in 40,000 double yolk eggs result in 2 healthy chicks. Usually one or both die in the egg (lack of space) or there is severe deformity
ReplyDeleteI sought out this artical because I bought a carton of hens eggs extra large, I cracked open three eggs. All three were double yolks. I have nine to go.
ReplyDeleteI have 2 parakeets that laid 6 eggs. This morning I awoke to a big surprise. Out of one egg, emerged two chicks! Two healthy, peeping, Budgie babies.
ReplyDelete