The Hen's egg: Variation in tensile strength of shell material and its relationship with shearing strength

Abstract

The tensile strength of egg‐shell material is believed to play an important role in determining whether or not a shell will crack when exposed to an environmental insult. Experiments are described in which shell tensile strength was measured. It is concluded that: Implications for poultry breeders are discussed; it is suggested that they should select for shell strength instead of shell thickness, measuring strength as shearing strength.