Poultry Judging Practice Test

What is the term for an egg shell that cracked inside the hen's body and was later repaired?

1. Body check

2. Shell fracture

3. Calcium repair

4. Internal rupture

The correct answer is: Body check

The term for an egg shell that cracked inside the hen's body and was later repaired is "body check." This phenomenon occurs when the egg experiences a crack during its formation, typically due to stress or injury to the hen. The hen's body then responds by utilizing calcium from its reserves to repair the crack, creating a temporary seal. While the egg may still be viable, the presence of a body check can lead to alterations in the egg's shape and may impact its marketability or viability due to the potential for contamination. The other terms do not accurately describe this specific condition; shell fractures generally refer to cracks that occur on eggs being laid or those that are already outside the hen's body, and calcium repair, while related to the process of healing, is not a term commonly used in the context of poultry anatomy. An internal rupture suggests a more severe, often harmful condition that does not align with the reparative nature of body checks.