Poultry Judging Practice Test

In which part of the oviduct is the hard shell added to the egg?

1. Infundibulum

2. Uterus

3. Vagina

4. Ovary

The correct answer is: Uterus

The hard shell of a poultry egg is formed in the uterus, also known as the shell gland. This part of the oviduct is where the egg spends the most time after it has been laid and is crucial for shell formation. The uterus provides the conditions necessary for the deposition of calcium carbonate, which is the primary component of the eggshell. The process can take up to 20 hours, during which the egg is coated with multiple layers of the shell material. In contrast, the infundibulum is responsible for capturing the ovulated egg from the ovary and is primarily involved in the initial stages of egg formation, where fertilization occurs. The vagina serves as the passageway through which the egg exits the hen’s body and plays no direct role in the formation of the shell. The ovary is the site where the eggs are produced before they move into the oviduct, but it does not contribute to the formation of the shell. Thus, the uterus is the correct answer as it is specifically responsible for shell synthesis.