Some Effects of Saline Waters on Chicks, Laying Hens, Poults, and Ducklings

LARGE quantities of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate render so-called saline waters unsuitable for livestock and poultry consumption. Although sodium chloride is an essential ingredient in the poultry diet, relatively small amounts are required. Selye (1943) reported excessive intakes of sodium chloride via feed or water to cause sudden mortality. He and Peterson (1943) reported 2% sodium chloride in solution to be highly toxic, whereas 2% in feed resulted only in wet litter production. As little as 0.5% salt in solution was reported toxic by Selye (1943). These findings were supported by Field and Eveans (1946) as well as by Kare and Biely (1948). The latter workers found that chicks could tolerate approximately 4% sodium chloride in feed before showing toxic effects, whereas Barlow et al. (1948) reported 3% to be toxic. Equal toxicities were reported by Kare and Biely (1948) for 0.3% and 0.9% salt in…