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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hatching egg weight on the hatching chick weight, posthatching growth performance and liveability in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A total of 228 quail chicks that hatched from three different egg weight groups (light: <10 g; medium: 10-12 g: heavy: >12 g) were used in the experiment. The study was carried out for six weeks. Parameters such as hatching and body weight, feed consumption and liveability of the chicks were investigated. The average hatching chick weights were 7.3 ± 0.08 g, 8.3 ± 0.03 g and 9.3 ± 0.06 g in the light, medium and heavy egg weight groups, respectively. The average live weights in the light, medium and heavy egg weight groups at the 3rd and 6dl weeks were 93.3 ± 1.22 g, 88.4 ± 0.88 g, 97.9 ± 1.05 g and 183.2 ±3.34 g, 178.2 ± 1.99 g, 181.6 ± 3.23 g, respectively. The posthatching growth performance was significantly affected by the hatching egg weight except the 6"1 week. Averages of total (0-6 weeks) feed consumption per quail were 701.36 g, 641.37 g and 685.56 g in the light, medium and heavy hatching egg weight groups, respectively.