Stupefying and lethal effects of alpha chloralose in chickens

Abstract

The effect of concentration of α-chloralose in a feed on mortality was examined using the chicken as an experimental model. When feed containing α-chloralose at up to 15% was offered to chickens the relationship between the concentration of the α-chloralose in the feed and its voluntary intake was non-linear. The intake of α-chloralose increased when it was included at up to 10% of the weight of the feed and declined as the concentration exceeded 10%. Mortality increased from 9 to 53% when the concentration increased from 2 to 15% of the feed, and beyond a concentration of 15% mortality declined. When the objective is to maximise mortality as part of a pest control programme, it is suggested that an α-chloralose concentration of between 10 and 15% would be appropriate. When the objective is to use α-chloralose for capturing live birds it is important to use much lower concentrations. Even at a 2% concentration some birds died. In one trial using a 10% concentration in 24-hour fasted birds, up to 94% of the birds were killed within 8 hours. The anticonvulsant effect of α-chloralose in response to neck dislocation of sedated birds was found to be greatest when a 10 to 15% concentration was used. © 1997 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.