The first egg retained in the pouch will have an extra layer of calcium seen as the white band marking.

If two eggs come into contact with each other in the shell gland pouch, normal calcification is interrupted. These eggs are too small or large, round instead of oval, or differ from normal shapes. The egg is cracked in the shell gland pouch and then repaired before lay.Ī diagonal break occurs during formation and is mended again before lay. When placed in front of a light, the translucent areas appear mottled or glassy as a result of the shell’s failure to dry out quickly. With smaller speckles than calcium deposits, these eggs may be laid down before or after the cuticle is formed. These eggs are classified by white, irregularly shaped spots deposited on the external surface of the shell. This problem includes hair line cracks, star cracks, or large cracks that result in a hole in the shell.Ĭharacterized by a very rough, corrugated surface, these eggs are produced when plumping is not controlled and terminated.Įggs with thinly creased and wrinkled surfaces.Ĭlassified by small lumps of calcified material on the egg shell, the severity of pimples depends on the foreign material present during the calcification process.Īn extra layer of calcium can be seen all over the egg or on just one end.

Laid with an incomplete shell, only a thin layer of calcium is deposited on the shell membrane. Manganese, or vitamin D3 6.) Soft-shelled Eggs Laid without a shell layer, these eggs are protected only by the shell membrane. Usually from pullets in early lay, eggs are contaminated by smears of blood from a prolapsed cloaca, vent pecking, or cannibalism. If the egg shell is stained by feces, it is important to avoid feed ingredients which cause wet and sticky droppings. The egg appears to be pink or lilac due to the association between the cuticle and an extra calcium layer. The degree of brown color in the egg shell is determined by the quality of deposited pigment in the cuticle.

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