The hen's egg: A rapid method for routine estimation of flock mean shell thickness

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Abstract
1. A rapid, non‐destructive method of determining flock mean shell thickness, requiring only an automatic balance, a wire basket, a vessel containing water and a thermometer, is described. 2. An estimate of the mean effective shell thickness, Te (mm), of a sample of eggs can be obtained in 3 min by the solution of the equation: in which ΣWe (g) and ΣVe (mm)3 are the total weight and volume of the N eggs in the sample and m has the value 0.673456. 3. With a sample of 30 newly laid eggs the error standard deviation of Te , considered as an estimate of the flock mean, is 3.8 μm. 4. If the eggs are stored before weighing, the weight loss due to evaporation must be estimated and allowed for. 5. It is not necessary to use a computer; the estimate of Te can be obtained from a table (which is given), with simple interpolation and a correction for temperature.