Abstract

Objective of this study was evaluating effect of storage duration of Japanese quail eggs for
two, seven and fourteen days before incubation on egg quality traits, egg weight loss,
hatchability, growth performance and behaviour (exploratory behaviour, fearfulness,
learning ability and memory) of birds as those behaviours were measured by performing
open field test and spatial learning test. A total of 740 fertile eggs stored at 23°C and 65%
humidity and divided into three treatments (Each treatment represented with four
replicates), treatment 1 (T1) = egg stored for two days, treatment 2 (T2) = eggs were stored
for seven days and treatment 3 (T3) = eggs were stored for 14 days. A significant effect of
egg storage period on Haugh unit, yolk index and albumen Percentage were recorded.
Weight loss and embryonic mortality rates increased when egg storage prolonged. Hatch
weight and body weight at 5th week of age were significantly decreased in T3 birds. Also
prolonged egg storage negatively affected the exploratory behavior, fearfulness, learning
ability and memory of birds. Birds of T1 exhibit more exploratory behaviour due to
decreased fearfulness and higher learning ability and stronger memory than birds of T2 and
T3 that considered as second grade chicks.

Key words: behaviour, T-maze, open field, hatchability, embryo mortalities, growth performance