Hatching performance of Japanese quail from eggs stored for different periods - a preliminary study

The results of the study confirmed the negative effect of long-term Japanese quail eggs storage on the hatching performance; however, the viability of Japanese quail embryos is noteworthy. The loss of egg weight during the incubation was directly proportional to the change in this trait before incubation due to the storage time. The prolonged egg storage may have negatively affected chick hatching by limiting the embryo's access to essential nutrients and oxygen. These results have important practical implications for small-scale poultry producers, as they suggest that storage times of hatching quail eggs can be extended, but not beyond 24 days, which is still three times longer than usually recommended seven days for hen eggs.