Device for quantitative collection of chicken excrements in balance studies

Abstract

A simple method for quantitative collection of chicken excreta directly into plastic bags is described. The feathers neighbouring the cloaca are cut off and a polyethylene PE bag is sealed firmly to the body just around the cloaca using double-sided adhesive tape. Birds fitted with PE bags for a balance experiment were housed individually in plastic boxes for the next 6 days. The collection bags placed around the cloaca were changed each day during the balance measurement period. The described method proved to be an effective and inexpensive tool for the quantitative collection of excrement in chickens. The advantage of this approach is direct collection of samples into PE bags, which prevents their loss and contamination with feed during balance measurements of nutrients.