Effects of Long-Term Storage on Hatchability and Incubation Length of Game Farmed Quail Eggs

Abstract

The long-term storage of eggs before incubation is a common practice in some alternative poultry systems but needs to be performed under conditions that preserve egg viability. The effects of the long-term storage of game farmed quail (Coturnix coturnix) eggs on weight loss during the storage and incubation periods, chick weight at hatch, hatchability, and incubation length were investigated. The eggs were arranged in six treatments submitted to 0-, 7-, 14-, 21-, 28-, and 35-day storage periods at 15.8 °C and 80% relative humidity. The storage length reduced the hatchability of eggs (p < 0.05) when the storage was extended to 35 days, decreasing by more than half compared to eggs stored up to 28 days. Egg weight loss during storage progressively increased with the storage length (p < 0.05). Chick weight at hatching was reduced in eggs stored for more than 14 days (p < 0.05), and relative chick weight decreased significantly in eggs stored for 35 days (p < 0.05). Incubation length progressively increased with the storage length (p < 0.05), achieving less hatching synchrony in eggs stored for a longer time (p < 0.05). In conclusion, game quail eggs store well with little deterioration up to 28 days at 15.8 °C and 80% relative humidity, allowing for extended storage when shipping long-shelf-life eggs or assembling batches large enough to fully set an incubator in farms with small breeding flocks.

Impacts of storage period and egg weight on hatching and growth performance of growing Japanese quails

“…Also, hatchability increased until a certain point and then decreased because the pre-incubation intervals were stored for longer periods (up to 7 d), according to Uddin et al (1994) . Furthermore, González-Redondo et al (2023) found that quail eggs' longer storage times led to a noticeably lower hatchability percentage. Long-term egg storage decreased the hatchability of viable and set eggs and increased the percentage of embryonic deaths.…”

“…It is advised not to keep broiler and laying hen breeders' eggs for more than 7 d ( Archer and Cartwright, 2012 ; Özlü, 2021 ). Research indicates that eggs lose a substantial amount of viability after 2 wk of storage ( González-Redondo et al, 2023 ). Conversely, some bird species' eggs may withstand longer storage periods before incubation without deleterious impacts on their hatchability.…”