Incubation characteristics of eggs from common quail (Coturnix coturnix)

The aim of the study was to investigate the main incubation characteristics of common quail (Coturnix coturnix) eggs, laid from industrially raised parental flocks. A total of 360 hatching eggs obtained from three groups (120 eggs per group) of parental flocks, matched for age, grouped by origin (three different populations raised in game farms), with a sex ratio of 1:3 were used. The following parameters were studied: egg weight (g), small (d, mm) and large diameter (D, mm) of the egg; egg weight loss on days 5th, 10th, and 15th of the incubation (g); day-old quail’s weight (g). Based on the data, the following parameters were calculated: egg shape index (%); relative egg weight loss (%); chick yield (%); hatchability of eggs set, and hatchability of fertile eggs (%). After candling and egg breakout analysis, the relative share of the eggs with early, middle, and late embryonic mortality, and the share of unfertilised eggs (%) were determined. The results showed differences in the main incubation characteristics between the groups. The most favourable parameters were reported for the eggs of the first group, and the most unfavourable - for the third group. The average weight of hatching eggs varied from 8.85±0.07 g in the second group to 9.56±0.07 g in the third group (P<0.001). The egg shape index showed little variation between groups with mean values ranging from 77.61±1.01% in group 3 to 79.79±1.43% in group 2. The highest unfertilised eggs share was reported in group 3, and the lowest in group 1 (18.33% and 3.33%, respectively). A significantly higher early embryonic mortality (15.83% and 16.67%) was reported in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 (6.67%). A similar trend was observed in terms of the culled day-old quails, with 3.37% recorded in group 1, 6.25% in group 2, and 7.27% in group 3. The most favourable hatchability were reported in group 1, respectively 74.17% of eggs set and 76.72% of fertile eggs. Group 3 showed the most unfavourable parameters in terms of hatchability of eggs set and hatchability from fertile eggs, 45.83% and 56.12% respectively. The presented results give us grounds to conclude that there is a significant variation in traits related to the incubation characteristics of common quail eggs related to the parental flock origin.