Excess sodium bicarbonate in the diet and its effect on Leghorn chickens

1. A commercial 62-week-old layer flock experienced an acute drop in egg production and an increase in shell-less egg production within 2 days of consuming feed erroneously formulated to contain over 30 g/kg instead of 3 g/kg sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Other symptoms included increased water consumption, diarrhoea and increased mortality associated with visceral gout. 2. An experiment was conducted to assess the responses of hens under controlled conditions. Twenty Dekalb XL Single Comb White Leghorn hens (50 weeks old) were placed in individual cages, having ad libitum access to water from trough waterers. Ten hens were fed the TEST (High NaHCO3) feed for one week (Test group), and ten hens remained on normal commercial layer ration (Control group). 3. Hens in the Test group had high water consumption and watery droppings, but egg production and mortality were not affected. Physiological evaluations indicated the Test feed caused metabolic alkalosis. Plasma sodium, urine pH and urinary sodium excretion were increased, and glomerular filtration rates were decreased in the Test group. 4. These physiological effects are consistent with known responses to excess sodium intake in domestic fowl. The reduced egg production and increased mortality caused by the Test feed under commercial conditions may be related to more severe dehydration experienced by hens in multi-bird cages supplied by cup-type watering systems.