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Standard for Eggs.
External:
Shape; Showing ample breadth, good dome, with greater length than width, the top to be much roomier than the bottom and more curved. The bottom should not be too pointed, and a circular, or even narrow shape is undesirable. The ideal shape is described as an elliptical cone. In outline it is an asymmetrical ellipse or Cassinian oval and a cross section at any point across the egg's girth is a perfect circle. This description is best shown by the large fowl egg. Pullet eggs are less pointed where as some breeds of bantams characteristically lay more pointed eggs.
Size; Mere size is not a deciding point but should be appropriate for the breed and species. A pullet's normal egg when the bird starts to lay is 49.6g (1.75 oz) and increases quickly to 56.7g (2oz), exceeding that after several months of production. There is another increase in the hen egg after the moult. Bantam eggs should not exceed 42.5g (1.5 oz). Eggs weighing in excess of this should be passed.
Shell texture; Smooth, free from lines or bulges, evenly limed, smooth at each end, without roughness, porous parts or lime pimples.
Colour; Blue or green. Blue prefered.
Freshness, Bloom and Appearance. Shells to be clean, without dull or stale appearance as befits a new-laid egg. Shell surfaces should be free from stains and nest marks. Eggs may be washed in preparation but not polished.
Matching and uniformity; Eggs forming a plate or exhibit to be uniform in shape, shell texture, size, colour and appearance.
Internal:
Yolk; Rich, bright golden-yellow, free from blood streaks or meat spots. Well-rounded and well raised from the centre of the albumen. One uniform shade. Blastoderm or germ spot not discoloured and there should be no sign of embryo development.
Albumen; This is clear with no signs of blood spots or cloudiness and preferably with no tint of colour. It is of dense substance, particularly around the yolk and the differentiation between this thick albumen and the thin outer should be distinct.
Chalazae; Each chalaza to resemble a thick cord of white albumen opposite each other and attached to the yolk, keeping it to the centre of the inner albumen. Free of blood and meat spots.
Airspace; Small, about 1.5cm (.5 in.) diameter (1cm. three sixteenth in.) in bantams, the membrane adhering to the shell. It should be placed at the broad (dome) end, ideally just to one side.
Freshness; Indicated by small, taut airspace and unwrinkled top surface of yolk which should be raised and not lacking in height. A stale albumin lacks differentiation and is watery and runny.
Scale of points.
External
Shape 25
Size 15
Shell texture 20
Colour 20
Freshness, bloom & appearance 20
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100
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Internal
Yolk 30
Albumen 30
Chalazae 10
Airspace 10
Freshness 20
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100
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Serious defects (for which eggs should be passed)
More than one yolk. Staleness. Polished or over prepared shells. Overweight in bantam eggs including contents classes. A developing embryo as shown by a halo around the germ spot. Excessive blood streaks and meat spots.
Disqualification
Addition of colouring to shells. Artificial polish or colouring would amount to disqualification and a report to the Poultry Club of Great Britain.
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