Determination of Some Characteristics of Incubated Unfertilized Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) Eggs

The study was conducted to determine the weight, shell characteristics, internal characteristics, and weight loss of unfertilized emu eggs before and after incubation. Eggs collected from 2 female Emu raised in a private facility in the Antakya district of Hatay in 2022 were used in the study. Emu eggs were kept at 37.5 oC and 60% humidity and monitored for 56 days. Egg weight was determined before incubation, and using this weight value, egg height, and egg width were determined with the formula. In addition, shape index, elongation, pore count, pore density, shell weight, and egg shell index were determined. After incubation, the whole egg weight, content weight, and weight of the shell with uncleaned inner surface of the unfertilized eggs were determined. Absolute and relative weight loss was determined using pre-incubation and post-incubation egg weight. The mean shell thickness of unfertilized eggs was determined using the mathematical formula