The Timing of Ovulation, Movement of the Ovum Through the Oviduct, Pigmentation and Shell Deposition in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

THE time of ovulation in relation to oviposition of the preceding egg, the rate of shell deposition, the time of shell pigmentation prior to lay and the total time required for formation of the egg have been determined for the chicken (Warren and Scott, 1934) and turkey (Wolford et al., 1964). Comparable data for the Japanese quail have not been reported. Ovulation in the chicken and in the turkey is reported to follow oviposition by approximately 30 minutes. Arrington et al. (1962) observed that 24 out of 42 coturnix females examined had ovulated within 20 minutes after the previous oviposition. The present investigation on the coturnix was initiated to supplement information as to time of ovulation following oviposition, the movement of the ovum through the oviduct, pigmentation and shell deposition of the developing egg. One hundred-two coturnix females were necropsied at predesignated times following oviposition. Observations were made on…