Method and system for processing a plurality of avian eggs

Abstract

Method for processing a plurality of avian eggs, in particular unfertilized eggs, including:—conveying at least a first egg (E) having a first eggshell color and a second egg (E) having a second egg shell color along a conveying path, the first egg shell color being different from the second egg shell color; —illuminating the first egg (E) with an illumination beam (B) of near infrared light, wherein at least part of the light is transmitted through the egg (E) and is detected by a near infrared light detector (); —illuminating the second egg (E) with the illumination beam (B) of near infrared light, wherein at least part of the light is transmitted through the egg (E) and is detected by the near infrared light detector (); processing light detection results of the infrared light detector () for determining a condition of the shell of each of the eggs (E, E); wherein the illuminating of the eggs (E, E) and/or the detection of transmitted light is carried out under substantially the same illumination and/or detection conditions, respectively.