An Improved Method for Separate Collection of Urine, Feces, and Expiratory Gases from the Mature Chicken

Abstract

INTRODUCTION TO STUDY the metabolism of organic chemicals in poultry, it is often necessary to measure the chemical and/or its metabolites in the urine, feces, and respiratory gases. Separate collection of urine and feces from the bird is complicated by the mixing of urine and feces in the cloaca. Therefore, it is necessary to surgically modify and/or fasten mechanical devices to the bird to collect these excretion products separately. Nonsurgical techniques for collecting urine from the bird have been reported (Davis, 1927; Coulson and Hughes, 1930); however, these methods are not satisfactory for extended collection periods. Although several methods have been reported for surgical preparation of an artificial anus in the bird (Hart and Essex, 1942; Colvin et al., 1966; Imabayashi et al., 1956; Fussel, 1960), attempts to duplicate these techniques in this laboratory were not successful. In almost all cases there was recurring blockage of the artificial anus, rendering…