Effects of Short Periods of Incubation During Egg Storage (SPIDES) on Egg Quality, Hatching Performance, and Chick Quality in Long-Term-Stored Chukar Partridge Eggs.

This study investigated the effects of short periods of incubation during egg storage (SPIDES) on egg quality, hatching performance, and chick quality in Alectoris chukar eggs subjected to extended storage durations. A total of 800 eggs collected from a 60-week-old chukar partridge breeder flock were allocated to eight experimental subgroups in a 4 × 2 factorial design, with storage period (35, 42, 49, and 56 days) and treatment (control or SPIDES) as the main factors (100 eggs/subgroup). All eggs were stored at 9-12 °C and 75% relative humidity in a pointed-end-up position with 24 rotations per day for their assigned storage duration (35, 42, 49, or 56 days). In the SPIDES groups, eggs were incubated for 2 h at 37.7 °C and 59% relative humidity in 7-day intervals, commencing on day 28 of storage. As storage duration increased, Haugh unit, albumen index, and yolk index decreased significantly (p < 0.001), while yolk ratio (p < 0.05) and yolk-to-albumen ratio (p < 0.01) increased. The overall hatchability decreased at 49 and 56 days of storage, while the hatchability of fertile eggs was lowest at 56 days (p < 0.05). Early embryonic mortality increased significantly at 56 days of storage (p < 0.05). SPIDES had a limited effect on most egg quality traits, including Haugh unit, albumen index, and egg component weights, but significantly improved the hatchability and hatchability rate of fertile eggs, reduced early embryonic mortality, and enhanced the overall chick quality score (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that chukar partridge eggs exhibit considerable resistance to long-term storage; however, SPIDES represents a beneficial management strategy for maintaining embryonic viability when storage duration exceeds practical limits.