Egg Shape

[Carm]

Does anyone worry about egg shape for breed character or hatching? I have a LF Buff Orpington hen that looks like the other hens, but consistently lays narrow tall eggs. Does this matter for any reason? Will the chick be the same size as the ones out of the regular rounder eggs?
Thanks

[schroeder]

I can't answer the second part of your question, but my pullet eggs aften are long and narrow, such that they won't fit into a carton. I am getting fewer of this shape now that the pullets have been laying for several weeks.

[aveca]

I get those torpedo eggs too.I have one hen that every egg is smaller and torpedo shapped...I try to pick eggs with the best shape to hatch..I have to say..I have gotten a few whopper big birds out of those torpedos..that type hen has a more narrow vent..the chicks reach thier full genetic potential thou..I still cherry pick ones with the best shape..This hen has won many awards, she is in great health..nice egg layer with no physical problems, no egg laying problems so I figured she was worth hatching eggs from..was suprised that these massive birds grew out of those smaller eggs..

[harrys]

Sometimes one is limited to ones resources and as the old timers say use what you have. I am not in the same position so I personally would not use any eggs with odd shapes because I was told it was inherited. I would not also use pullets eggs even though some say the chicks would mature to the same average size as their parents. I do not have the time to waiste proving either is good or bad. I just use the best I have.

[reniespeeps]

Just lay them down on their side during lock down.

[Carm]

Thanks for the replies. I have decided to go with harrys advice. And only hatch the best. Especially with high feed costs lately. I only want to hatch what has the greatest chance of being as close to the standard as possible. This hen is also slightly lighter coloured and not quite as compact bodied or roundish, if that was a word, and wide as I would like. That's why I wondered if the egg shape might be a throw back to a characteristic of a different breed. So really, egg shape is a bit of a third minor strike for this hen. Thanks again for everyone's feedback.