Abstract

Objective: The influence of the degree of pigmentation, shine, weight, and form index on the hatchability rate of quail eggs (Coturnix coturnix japonica) was examined.
Materials and Methods: Three thousand three hundred eggs were incubated after they were classified according to the degree of shell pigmentation: high (HP), medium (MP), and low (LP); shell shine: shiny (SS), and opaque; Egg weight: 13 gm; form index: 78%. The Mann–Whitney non-parametric test for independent samples was used to evaluate hatching data.
Results: Hatchability was best in eggs with HP and SS (p < 0.05): 69.2% and 75.7%, respectively; eggs with MP had the lowest hatchability rate (63.1%). The highest risk of embryo death (17.8%) was observed in eggs containing LP (p < 0.05). Eggs weighing between 12 and 12.9 gm had the highest hatchability rate (p < 0.05) (79.11%). Eggs with a form index >78% had the highest hatch¬ability rate (p < 0.05) (67.62%).
Conclusions: HP, MP shell eggs, and SS eggs with a weight of between 12.0 and 12.9 gm and a shape index of greater than 78% have a higher hatchability rate.

Key words: Poultry; hatching; incubation; cotorniculture