Abstract
In this study, the effects of storage of Hungarian pheasant (Phasiasnus colchicus) eggs reared under intensive conditions for 0–7, 8–14, and 15–21 days on egg quality characteristics and some hatching characteristics were investigated. The eggs were kept in the egg holding cabinet, adjusted to 14 oC and 70% humidity, and taken to the pre-development and hatching machines, respectively. Before storage, external quality characteristics were analyzed. The effect of egg weight, white weight, hatchability, hatching efficiency, and fertility rate were found to be very significant (P < 0.01) with the prolongation of the holding period. The differences between the groups in terms of specific gravity, Haugh unit, yellow ratio, shell ratio, white index, and yellow index were found to be statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). As a result, keeping the Phasiasnus colchicus eggs for a maximum period of 0–7 days will eliminate the negative effects and contribute to sending the animals to nature as soon as possible. As a result, egg weight, white weight, hatchability, hatching efficiency, and fertility rate decreased with the prolongation of the holding period of the eggs to be used in Hungarian pheasant production. It was concluded that the storage of eggs after 0–7 days for a high hatching power in the hatchery will cause a decrease. In addition, it was determined that the best performance in terms of embryo mortality and hatchability could be obtained from hatching eggs obtained from quails aged 8–10 weeks.