Parts of the Egg
This part of the egg holds the yolk in the center and keeps it in place.
What is the chalazae?
This system breaks down food so the bird can absorb nutrients.
What is the digestive system?
This label means hens are not kept in cages but may still live indoors.
What is cage-free?
The ideal temperature for incubating chicken eggs in Fahrenheit.
What is 99.5°F?
The total number of days it takes a chicken egg to hatch.
What is 21 days?
This part of the egg provides most of the protein.
What is the albumen (egg white)?
This system allows the bird to breathe and take in oxygen.
What is the respiratory system?
This label means hens have access to the outdoors.
What is free-range?
Eggs should be turned this many times per day during incubation.
What is 3–5 times per day?
The chick first starts to form this structure around day 3 of development.
What is the heart?
This thin layer just inside the shell helps protect against bacteria.
What are the shell membranes?
This system carries blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.
What is the circulatory system?
This label means hens are fed feed without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
What is organic?
This tool is used to check the embryo’s development inside the egg.
What is a candler?
The chick uses this part to break through the eggshell during hatching.
What is the egg tooth?
This part of the egg forms when the contents of the egg cool and contract after being laid.
What is the air cell?
This system produces eggs in hens.
What is the reproductive system?
This label means hens are raised on grass with access to pasture.
What is pasture-raised?
This element must be controlled along with temperature to prevent chicks from sticking to the shell.
What is humidity?
This process allows the chick to breathe before it hatches.
What is pipping into the air cell?
This is the part of the egg where the embryo begins to develop.
What is the germinal disc?
This system controls movement and responses using signals from the brain.
What is the nervous system?
This claim is often seen on cartons but is misleading, since these substances are already banned in poultry production.
What is "no added hormones" or "no antibiotics"?
This happens if eggs are not turned regularly during incubation.
What is the embryo can stick to the shell or develop improperly?
Too low of a temperature during incubation can cause this result.
What is delayed hatching or weak chicks?