The Effect of Feed and Water Deprivation on Water and Feed Consumption, Body Weight and Mortality in Broiler Chickens of Various Ages

Abstract

WILSON AND EDWARDS (1955) reported a loss in body-weight and reduced feed intake in pullets deprived of water. Bierer et al. (1965) observed that feed consumption declined in chickens, turkeys, guinea pigs and mice deprived of water, and water consumption declined in feed deprived treatment groups. Gee and Huston (1965a) found that the percent of body-water and plasma-water decreased during feed and water deprivation but that the rate of body-water loss remained constant. The effect of feed and water deprivation on mortality of chickens and turkeys has been investigated by Marion et al. (1956), Fisher et al. (1961), Sunde (1962), Marsden et al. (1964, 1965), Bierer et al. (1965), Gee and Huston (1965b), and Haller and Sunde (1965). In this study, daily observations relative to the effect of feed and water deprivation on water and feed consumption are correlated with body-weight loss and mortality data. MATERIALS AND METHODS Separate groups …