addling

noun

1. (alt-of, alternative, uncountable)Alternative form of addlings (earnings).
2. (uncountable)The act of causing fertilised eggs to lose viability, by killing the developing embryo within through shaking, piercing, freezing or oiling, without breaking the shell or other outer layer.

   “The familiar hatchery practice of agitating the eggs after they are eyed, called shocking or addling, ruptures the yolk membranes of the ever-tender sterile eggs. The result is a precipitation of the globulin and a whitening of the egg.”

   “Egg addling was important in several species, but it was not recorded what proportion of the unhatched eggs were fertile. Compared with the amount of egg addling in some other birds, the amount among raptors is often high. In part this addling is linked with food conditions, as mentioned, and perhaps with the nutritional state of the female.”

   “[I]n 1999, we issued regulations for a special Canada goose permit to provide state wildlife agencies the ability to manage and control resident population Canada geese. These permits can authorize addling of eggs from March 11 through August 31.”

   “Addling accounted for 1% of clutches laid, 1% of all nests, and 2% of all complete failures. […] In most addled clutches all the eggs remained intact, but in some, one or more eggs were broken during incubation. […] [W]hile some egg addling was due to pollutants, other addling was probably due to natural factors.”

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of addle.