Ask the EB Eggspert
We compile all the useful, interesting and downright curious questions we get and submit them to our team of "eggsperts". Here are the results. Feel free to contribute a question if you can't find the answer already here.
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What does a square or oddly shaped yolk mean?
"The Avian Egg" indicates that abnormal yolk shapes are the result of variations in strength of the vitelline membrane that surrounds the yolk. Weaker parts of the membrane allow the yolk to bulge out to form the corners of the square. These formations are very rare and can be heart-shaped, U-shaped, triangular, etc. It is possible that a certain hen always produces yolks in this unusual shape.
This abnormality would not affect the safety of the eggs.
Filed under Eggs
Answered by Bart Slaugh, Ph.D.