Avian Production Management

Shell

EGG SHELL

The egg shell consists of

• Cuticle
• Spongy or calcarious layer
• Mammillary layer or matrix and pores  
• Pores are funnel shaped, distributed at right angles to the shell surface and form connecting passages between the shell membrane and cuticle.  
• Average number of pores varies from 8,000-10000 per egg, distributed unevenly over the shell surface with more number of pores at the broad end than at the narrow end.