Effect of egg weight on chick weight, egg weight loss and hatchability in rock partridges (A. graeca)

This study was conducted to determine the effect of egg weight on chick weight, egg weight loss and hatchability in partridges. Eggs (847) obtained from rock partridges (44-46 weeks ages) were classified according to their weights as <18 g, 18.00-18.99 g, 19.00-19.99 g, 20.00-20.99 g, 21.00-21.99 g, 22.00-22.99 g and ≥23 g and incubated. A positive, powerful and important correlation (0.46 and 0.82 values) between egg weight and egg weight loss and chick weight in different groups was determined (P<0.001) in the study. The differences between hatchability and fertility in the egg groups were significant (P<0.05), but no differences were detected between hatchability of fertile eggs and embryonic mortalities. In conclusion, smaller and bigger eggs of partridges had low fertility while hatchability was disproportionately reduced in eggs that had lost less mass during incubation.