Different Types of Early Feeding and Performance In Chicks and Poults

These experiments examined the effect in chicks and poults of early posthatch access to water, non-nutrient bulk (sawdust), solid, semi-solid, or liquid nutrient, or feed and water. Ingestion of water immediately posthatch transiently enhanced body weight of birds, but no significant advantage was observed after 8 days. Access to a bulky solid non-nutrient (sawdust) also increased body weight close to hatch, but this effect was apparent only until 14 days. Feeding solid, semi-solid, or liquid nutrient posthatch resulted in increased body weight, which was maintained through marketing in both chicks and poults. Feed efficiency was not changed by early access to feed, but breast percentage was significantly increased by all nutrient supplements. No differences in the performance increment were observed between the different forms of early feeding.