Distribution of Pores on Hatching and Nonhatching Turkey Eggs

Eggshells from hatching turkey eggs were observed to have significantly (P<.01) more pores on the air space and at the equator than eggshells from nonhatching eggs. Pore concentrations at the small end of eggs were significantly (P<.01) less in eggshells from embryos that died during pipping than in eggshells containing embryos which hatched. A significant (P<.0001) interaction between time of the laying cycle and hatchability of eggs was noted among pore distributions. Pipped but nonhatching eggs laid early in a cycle had greater pore concentrations on their air space and equator than corresponding eggs which hatched. The converse was true for mid and late cycle eggs. It is proposed that the distribution of pores on a turkey egg contributes to embryonic livability.