PURPOSE: To enable the long-term preservation of a bird egg, by coating the egg with a specific straight chain fatty acid glyceride or a mixture of the above glycerides thereby adjusting the respiratory activity of the egg to a proper level.

CONSTITUTION: A bird egg is coated with a 6W12C straight chain fatty acid triglyceride or a mixture of the glycerides. The glyceride can be prepared by reacting caproic acid, caprylic acid, lauric acid, etc. or their mixture with glycerine or by purifying coconut oil or palm oil. Although it is preferable to apply the triglyceride to the egg by spraying or dipping without dilution, the triglyceride may be dissolved or dispersed in a proper solvent or a dispersing medium. The amount of the triglyceride is pref. 0.05W0.20 per one egg.