The effect of feeding Hydrogel-95 to emu chicks at hatch

Influence of the preplacement holding time and feeding hydration supplementation before placement on yolk sac utilization, the crop filling rate, feeding behavior and first-week broiler performance

“…This leads to the hypothesis that not the kind of feed but the stimulatory effect of any feed on GIT secretions, growth factors or neuronal factors initiates the further development of the GIT and therefore gives an advantage to chicks provided early feed access ( Willemsen et al, 2010 ). In contrast to these previous findings, in the current study, feeding Hydrogel-95 in chick boxes during the preplacement holding period had no impact on BW at 7 d. In addition, mortality at placement and at 7 d of age after placement was not affected by using hatching supplements during the preplacement holding period, which is similar to previous studies ( Noy and Sklan, 1999 ; Batal and Parsons, 2002 ; Henderson et al, 2008 ; Lowman and Parkhurst, 2014 ).…”

“…Several previous studies have reported that chicks and poults with access to semisolid hydrated nutritional hatching supplements (Oasis) versus those fasted during the posthatch holding period had improved growth parameters ( Knight and Dibner, 1998 ; Noy and Sklan, 1999 ; Batal and Parsons, 2002 ; Mozdziak et al, 2002 ). In another study, feeding Hydrogel-95 (containing 95% water) to emu chicks posthatch and during the brooding period had beneficial effects on growth performance ( Lowman and Parkhurst, 2014 ). Furthermore, the use of Aqua Agar as a water replacement during the 24 h posthatch holding period improved the growth performance of young broilers at 21 d of age compared with the control group ( Incharoen et al, 2015 ).…”

Welfare of broilers on farm

“…Increasing space allowance in the chick boxes, increasing ventilation and reducing environmental temperature to the thermocomfort zone of the chicks and providing water via gel while in the boxes will reduce the risk of overheating (effective temperature > 35°C) and otherwise exacerbate the negative welfare consequences of prolonged thirst (Maman et al., 2019). Several studies have shown that provision of hydrogels during the post‐hatch holding period improves growth performance of broilers, poults and emus (Dibner et al., 1998; Noy and Sklan, 1999; Batal and Parsons, 2002; Mozdziak et al., 2002), but has no effect on mortality rates (Noy and Sklan, 1999; Batal and Parsons, 2002; Henderson et al., 2008; Lowman and Parkhurst, 2014; Özlü et al., 2022). However, a recent study showed no effects of provision of hydrogels in the chick boxes during the preplacement holding period on the yolk‐free body mass or residual yolk sac of broilers at placement, the state of crop filling 3 h after placement in the barn or on the body weight gain and cumulative mortality after the first week (Özlü et al., 2022).…”