Buzz
There’s nothing else quite like the shape of an egg. It’s not perfectly round, nor is it entirely oval—describing it is a challenge. 'Asymmetric tapered oval'? Sounds good, right?
But what’s the reason behind this egg shape? The answer, my dear Watson, is evolution. Evolution.
If eggs were perfectly spherical, they’d be more prone to rolling out of a nest and breaking. The tapered end, however, causes them to roll in a circular motion, keeping them safely within the nest. Birds that nest on cliffs have eggs that are more oval-shaped, rolling in tighter circles, making them less likely to fall off the edge. On the other hand, birds that nest on the ground lay eggs that are less oval-shaped.
The tapered form of eggs helps them nestle together more comfortably, allowing them to keep each other warm.
The reason eggs are tapered is that this asymmetric oval shape is the best design for an egg to be pushed out of a hen. Eggs travel through the cloaca and exit via the vent, a part of the anatomy located just beneath the tail. Since the tapered end has more surface area than the blunt end, the chicken's muscles find it easier to push the egg out. (Fun fact: A hen’s intestines are also connected to the vent, meaning hens use the same opening to lay eggs and relieve themselves.)
