Effect of hen age on egg quality, hatching performance and chick quality in chukar partridges (alectoris chukar)
<b>Aim: </b>This study was aimed to investigate the effect of different hen ages on egg quality characteristics, hatching performance and chick quality in chukar partridges.<p> <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A total of 510 eggs obtained from chukar partridge flocks were...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Selcuk University Press
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eurasianjvetsci.org/pdf.php3?id=1444 |
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| Summary: | <b>Aim: </b>This study was aimed to investigate the effect of different hen ages on
egg quality characteristics, hatching performance and chick quality in chukar
partridges.<p>
<b>Materials and Methods:</b> A total of 510 eggs obtained from chukar partridge
flocks were used to determine the effects of different hen age on hatching
performance, egg quality traits and chick quality. Daily collected 20 eggs from
each age group (1, 2 and 3 years of age) were assessed for internal quality
characteristics. A total of 150 eggs per each age group were set into incubator
and hatcher set. After hatching, unhatched eggs were broken to determine
hatching performance and embryonic mortality. Hatched day-old chicks were
scored to determine chick quality characteristics.<p>
<b>Results:</b> Internal egg quality traits were not statistically affected by different
breeding ages. Different breeding ages did not affect hatchability, early and
middle embryonic mortality while late embryonic mortality and fertility
of eggs were statistically affected. The evaluated chick quality traits were
affected by the different hen age.<p>
<b>Conclusion: </b>Despite decreasing fertility rate with age, the results of this
study suggest incubating eggs of chukar hens with 3 years age for optimum
chick quality and being raised chukar hens up to 3 years of age. |
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| ISSN: | 1309-6958 2146-1953 |