Effect of egg size, age of hen and storage period on fertility, hatchability, embryo mortality and chick malformations in eggs of japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of egg size, age of hen and storage period of eggs before incubation on fertility, hatchability, embryo mortality and chick malformations in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The study was carried out in quail farm located at Tanah Merah, Kelantan. Totally 1441 eggs of quail were set into the incubator by applying 9 treatments groups: 3 groups for egg size (6-7 g, 8-9 g and 10-11 g), 3 groups for hen age (≥ 3 - 0.05) on fertility and chick malformations. The age of hen had insignificant (P>0.05) effect on every aspect except fertility. Storage period had highly significant (P<0.01) effect on fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality rate. Results from this study concluded that heavy egg weight (10-11 g), middle aged hen (≥5 - <8 month) and shortest storage period (≥4 - <6 days) gave the best hatching performances.