Effect of the diet with common flax (Linum usitatissimum) and black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) on quail performance and reproduction

Experimental flock, a total of 105 birds, was divided into 5 groups (with three replications), 15 females and 6 males in each. Group I (control) was fed a complete feed mix of standard composition. Feed mix for groups II and III was the control one with 4 and 7% common flax seeds (CFS), whereas that for groups IV and V was the control one with 2 and 5% black cumin seeds (BCS) added, respectively. During the whole study that lasted from week 6 to 40 of quail life, feed intake and egg number and weight, as well as deaths and cullings, were recorded on a daily basis. In the last week of experiment, quality of eggs was evaluated, determining their morphological composition. Egg hatching proceeded at 26, 32 and 38 weeks of quail life. The best egg laying performance (about 86%) was characteristic of the quail groups being fed with 4% CFS or 2% BCS, whereas a significantly lower was that of the control group (82%). No effect of the experimental factors on egg morphological composition was observed, except the eggshell percentage which was significantly lower in the quails receiving 4% CFS in their diet. The highest egg fertilization (95%) was obtained when feeding the quails with feed mix containing 7% CFS. The best hatchability of fertilized eggs (about 90%) was observed in the quail groups receiving feed mix supplemented with 7% CFS and 5% BCS. The results obtained in these quail groups differed from the hatchability of eggs of the control group (81%).