| Abstract: | Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica) were fed 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 p.p.m. Hg as mercuric chloride (HgCl2) from the time of hatching up to the age of 1 year. None of the birds manifested any gross signs of mercury poisioning. Food consumption, growth rate, and weight maintenance were unaffected. Initial oviposition tended to occur at a younger age as dietary mercuric chloride increased, e.g., the median age at which egg laying began among hens fed 32 p.p.m. Hg was 6 days younger than for controls. The average rate of egg production was positively related to the concentration of mercuric chloride with the most pronounced differences between treatments occurring among young (less than 9-week-old) hens. Beyond 9 weeks of age production was more uniform among the treatments, but even after 1 year hens on 32 p.p.m. Hg were laying an average of 13.5% more eggs than controls. Rate of egg fertilization was generally depressed for all Hg-treatments above 4 p.p.m. Hatchability of fertilized eggs and eggshell thickness appeared unaffected by mercuric chloride. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5221369 |
| Citation Author: | Hill, E.F.; Shaffner, C.S. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 1459 |
| Citation Issue: | 4 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Poultry Science |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 11 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 1449-1459 |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Sexual maturation and productivity of Japanese quail fed graded concentrations of mercuric chloride; 1976; Article; Journal; Poultry Science; Hill, E.F.; Shaffner, C.S. |
| Citation Start Page: | 1449 |
| Citation Volume: | 55 |
| Citation Year: | 1976 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Sexual maturation and productivity of Japanese quail fed graded concentrations of mercuric chloride; 1976; Article; Journal; Poultry Science; Hill, E.F.; Shaffner, C.S. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:19 -0500 |
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