title: Hatching of Japanese quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica) following long, daily cyclical interruptions of their incubation.
abstract: The adaptive advantages were studied of long, daily cyclical interruptions of incubation for the hatching of Japanese quail. The aim was to mimic in a more pronounced form the natural cyclical variations to which avian embryos may be subjected and still survive. The results indicated that by consecutive daily 8-h interruptions of incubation it was possible to lengthen the embryonic period by one-third without apparent harm and with potential improvement in hatchability. After consecutive daily 12-h interruptions of incubation the length of the embryonic period could be doubled to 33 to 34 days; however, only about one-fourth as many embryos as in the control group hatched.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Rijksuniversitair Centrum Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Callebaut
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003370:Coturnix / Q000196:embryology*; D006358:Hot Temperature