Canthaxanthin (Cxn) is a fat-soluble red carotenoid pigment and is reported to be immunomodulatory. Broiler breeder hens were fed 0 ppm (Control), 6 ppm or 12 ppm Cxn to determine the effect of maternal dietary Cxn on chicks hatched from hens at 31 (Early), 45 (Mid) and 57 (Late) wk of age. Whole blood was obtained at 1 and 4 d of age to assess the number of cells able to engulf at least one Es...

Previous studies showed differences in in vitro heterophil function between parental (A > B) broilers and F1 reciprocal crosses (D > C). Our objectives were to (1) determine if in vitro variations translate to differences in resistance to Salmonella enteritidis (SE) and (2) quantitate cytokine mRNA in heterophils from SE-infected chicks. One-day-old chicks were challenged and organs were cultur...

Two experiments were performed to study Phe imbalance and toxicity in 1-wk-old Babcock B380 chicks resulting from the addition of either a mixture of indispensable amino acids lacking Phe (IAA - Phe) or excess Phe to a diet that was nutritionally adequate in Phe. Chicks received a preexperimental semipurified diet for 1 wk and experimental diets from 7 to 14 d of age. In the first experiment, t...

The effects of odor exposure during the last 2 days of incubation and immediately after hatching on subsequent responses by chicks to that same scent were assessed. When tested with an orange-treated and an unscented container, chicks that had been previously exposed to orange odor more rapidly approached both containers than did control chicks and spent more time near them. In both conditions,...

Despite numerous studies, the effect of artificial incubation on the hatchability and survival of nearterm ostrich chicks is still not well understood. Records from 13 975 eggs with embryos of 35 days and older, artificially incubated between 2006 and 2008, were analysed to determine the potential effect of pipping position upon the hatchability, and the subsequent survival of ostrich chicks. A...

Climate change is causing more frequent and intense storms, and climate models predict this trend will continue, potentially affecting wildlife populations. Since 1960 the number of days with >20 mm of rain increased near Punta Tombo, Argentina. Between 1983 and 2010 we followed 3496 known-age Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) chicks at Punta Tombo to determine how weather impacted t...

The common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, is a brood parasite that monopolizes parental care of its host species: soon after hatching, the chicks remove the host offspring. Although cuckoo chicks trick their foster parents into providing enough food, it is unknown whether cuckoo begging behaviour represents an advantage over that of the host chicks in a hypothetical competitive scenario. We studied t...

The current study was attempted to investigate the effect of Mr. Trivedi’s biofield energy treated energized water on chicken. The total 4200 chicks were equally divided into two groups i.e. control and treated. The biofield treated energized water was provided to the treated chicks, while the control chicks were drunk with standard drinking water. During the experiment the parameters such as m...

We examined whether low ambient temperatures influence foraging behavior of precocial Japanese quail chicks and alter the balance between investment in growth and thermogenic function. To test this, one group of chicks was exposed to 7 degrees C and one group to 24 degrees C during foraging throughout the developmental stage. Chicks adapted well to the temperatures through a high flexibility in...

Quail chicks encountered an autonomous mobile robot during their early development. The robot incorporated a heat source that stimulated following of chicks. The spatial behaviour of grown-up chicks was tested in an exploration test and a detour test. Chicks that grew with the mobile robot exhibited better spatial abilities than chicks grown with a static heat source. We discuss these results i...