Effects of high light intensity on egg weight loss, hatchability, embryonic mortality, and supply organ weight at hatch in quail hatching eggs during incubation

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of high light intensity on egg weight loss, hatchability, embryonic mortality, and supply organ weights at hatch in Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) eggs. A total of 640 hatching eggs were randomly distributed into 2 groups.  The first group of eggs were continuously incubated in the dark (Control; C), the second group of eggs were incubated in continuous light(L), the third group of eggs were incubated in the dark for the first five days of incubation (D5), and the last group were incubated in the light for the first five days in the eggs (L5). The light intensity at the surface of the eggshell varied from 5000 to 6000 lux as measured with a luxmeter.  No significant differences were found in egg weight loss, hatchability, and supply organ weight among treatments.  Embryonic mortality were higher in the L5 group than in the control group at 10 to 16 days of incubation. These results demonstrate that high light application during incubation affected the embryonic mortality negatively except hatchability and egg weight loss.