Use of Androgens to Obtain Red Comb, Face and Wattles in Estrogen-Fattened Chickens

Considerable interest has arisen regarding the possible use of estrogens for fattening poultry. Lorenz (1943 and 1944) has used subcutaneous implantation of fused diethylstilbestrol pellets. Jaap and Thayer (1944) discovered that dianisylhexene (diethylstilbestrol dimethyl ether) was relatively potent when mixed in the feed. Its value for fattening birds of all ages has been reported (Thayer, Jaap and Penquite, 1944). During the fattening process these feminizing hormones effectively suppress all redness from the comb, face and wattles of the fattened chickens. The resulting paleness of the head and its shrunken appendages gives the chicken an “unhealthy” appearance as early as 7 to 10 days after it is subjected to the estrogen, Many research workers have shown that redness as well as growth of the comb and wattles, even in the female, is dependent on the androgens. The following tests demonstrate that the red face and well developed combs which are characteristic . . .