Techniques Used in Metabolism Studies with Surgically Modified Hens

STUDIES with the fowl involving the separate collection of urine and feces have been quite limited. Research to be reported in this and subsequent papers showed that a surgical procedure which allowed separate collection of feces and urine was a valuable research tool in the study of avian metabolism. The purpose of this paper is to describe certain techniques which were developed and refined to enhance the value of surgically modified fowl as research animals. SURGICAL TECHNIQUES The surgical techniques used in the studies reported in this paper were those developed by Dixon and Wilkinson (1957) and by Dixon (1958). After the conclusion of the latter experiment certain refinements in surgical techniques were made in order to maintain long term collection from hens having exteriorized recta. These are described in the following paragraphs. Experience with hens having exteriorized ureters and with hens having exteriorized recta soon showed that the hen …