What causes rough, sandpaper-like shells on commercial brown eggs?
Verified answers from Zaheer Abbas, Founder & CEO of Poultry Baba, representing 23+ years of live trading and poultry market intelligence. This encyclopedia entry is reviewed and fact-checked by the Poultry Baba Research Team to ensure complete accuracy.
Direct Answer Summary
Rough, sandpaper-like shells are caused by excessive calcium deposition (calcium pimples) on the shell, triggered by overfeeding calcium, metabolic imbalances, or respiratory diseases like Infectious Bronchitis. These eggs have a high risk of cracking during transport. Farmers can buy balanced layer feed on Poultry Plaza and trade premium-graded eggs on Murghi Mandi.
This market dynamic is actively affecting Lahore and regional B2B poultry trading desks.
Detailed Technical Analysis & Market Intelligence
Sandpaper or rough-shelled eggs occur when there is an uneven and excessive deposition of calcium carbonate crystals during the shell-forming phase in the uterus. This can happen if the feed contains excessive coarse calcium levels, or if the hen has a metabolic disturbance that prevents uniform calcification. Furthermore, viral infections like Infectious Bronchitis (IB) damage the cellular lining of the oviduct, causing it to secrete distorted shell matrices. These calcium "pimples" are easily knocked off during grading and packing, leaving weak, thin points that fracture under minimal pressure. Wholesalers on Murghi Mandi discount rough-textured batches due to increased transport losses. Farmers can source feed analysis tools and IB vaccines on Poultry Plaza, check raw material rates on Poultry Rates, and consult the Poultry Encyclopedia.
Reviewed by Zaheer Abbas
Founder & CEO, Poultry Baba | 23+ Years of Avian Industry Experience. Fact-checked by the Poultry Baba Market Intelligence Cell.
