This study was carried out to investigate the ultrastructure of eggshell, egg weight loss% and hatching traits of Japanese quail varying in eggshell color and pattern analyzed by image analysis. A total of 2900 eggs were selected from the four groups of eggshell color and pattern (1st group [light eggs (none or rarely of very small spots)], 2nd group [dotted eggs (small and much spots)], 3rd group [spotted eggs (large and many spots)] and 4th group [dark eggs (very large and few spots)] to perform two consecutive hatches of eggs collected for 12 days consecutive each. Eggs of the first hatch were stored for 11 days at room temperature (ranged from 21-25°C and relative humidity 50-60 %) and the eggs of the second hatch were stored for 11 days in a refrigerated room (17○C and 70 % relative humidity). The results of the present study are as follows:
- The palisade and mammillary layers were not clear in light eggshell group compared to the other types of eggshell and this light eggshell color was the worst group
- Light color eggs group had the highest values of red, green, blue, hue and lightness, egg weight loss % at different periods of storage and embryonic mortality % (mid and late) and it had the lowest values of hatchability % ,hatchability/fertile eggs % (H/F %), chick weight and chick weight %.
- Dark color eggs group had the highest values of hatchability % and H/F %. It had the lowest values of red, green, blue, hue and lightness, egg weight loss % at different periods of storage and early embryonic mortality %.
- Egg weight loss% increased with increasing time and temperature of pre-incubation storage
- Hue of Japanese quail eggshell positively correlated with each of egg weight loss % and embryonic mortality (mid and late) but it negatively correlated with each of hatchability % and H/F%. Saturation of quail eggshell positively correlated with late embryonic mortality % and negatively with H/F %.