What motivates chickens to eat specific nutrients?

摘要

What motivates chickens to eat small or larger amounts of feed? Are there mechanisms in the bird that automatically respond to changes in their environment and result in changes in feed intake? Yes there are! A bird's daily consumption of feed ultimately governs its health, development and potential for reproduction. Diets are usually formulated with expectations of specific intake of feed or in special circumstances we may dictate intake through controlled feeding systems. If birds eat less than our standards or goals, genetic potential is rarely achieved. An understanding of the mechanisms that control feed intake is therefore essential in designing nutritional programmes and production systems. Chickens are omnivorous. Seeds and plant materialoften make up the bulk of their natural diet. However chickens also readily eat insects, small amphibians, reptiles and even mammals. Wild chickens also eat carrion, and instances of cannibalism can sometimes be precipitated by deficiencies of certain nutrients. A willingness to accept a wide range of feedstuffs is an evolutionary adaptation used to overcome seasonal fluctuations in the supply of individual ingredients. However, being an onmivore does not mean that the chicken eats indiscriminately. Anyone who has spent time observing birds eat, realize just how selective they are in picking out certain feed particles and/or swallowing what has been selected. The selection of feed by the bird is influenced by many factors such as visual appeal, taste and texture, as well as its nutrient content. Being able to select feed ingredients based on their nutrient supply is important for longterm wellbeing and productivity.