Tsudzuki M
Department of Laboratory Animal Science, College of Agriculture, University of Osaka Prefecture, Japan.
Poult Sci. 1994 Jun;73(6):763-8. doi: 10.3382/ps.0730763.
Chinese painted quail (Excalfactoria chinensis), which is sometimes reared as a bird for pleasure, appears to be an excellent candidate for a laboratory research animal. Handling and general care of this species are very easy because of its small body size and hardiness. The body weight (mean +/- SEM) of the newly hatched chick, adult male, and adult female is 3.93 +/- .05, 47.66 +/- .52, and 55.89 +/- .75 g, respectively; that is, approximately half the size of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Furthermore, Chinese painted quail shows excellent reproductive performance. It reaches sexual maturity around 8 to 9 wk of age. Laying ability, fertility, hatchability, and viability up to maturity are 60 to 80, 91, 84, and 78%, respectively. These values are equal or superior to those of Japanese quail, which has been widely used for biological research. In the future, Chinese painted quail may be an alternative to Japanese quail or might surpass Japanese quail as a laboratory research animal because of its smaller body size and excellent reproductive performance.
中华鹧鸪（蓝胸鹑）有时作为玩赏鸟类饲养，似乎是实验室研究动物的极佳候选对象。由于其体型小且耐寒，对该物种的处理和一般护理非常容易。新孵出雏鸟、成年雄性和成年雌性的体重（平均值±标准误）分别为3.93±0.05、47.66±0.52和55.89±0.75克；也就是说，大约是日本鹌鹑（日本鹌鹑）大小的一半。此外，中华鹧鸪表现出优异的繁殖性能。它在8至9周龄左右达到性成熟。产蛋能力、受精率、孵化率和幼雏成活率直至成熟分别为60%至80%、91%、84%和78%。这些数值与已广泛用于生物学研究的日本鹌鹑相当或更优。未来，中华鹧鸪可能成为日本鹌鹑的替代品，或者因其体型更小和繁殖性能优异而超越日本鹌鹑成为实验室研究动物。
