An automated multi‐calorimeter system: Preliminary experiments on laying hens

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
An open-circuit, automated, multi-calorimeter system for studies on the energy metabolism of the fowl is described. Discontinuous observations of 10 min duration, once each hour for 22 h, gave good agreement with continuous observations throughout 22 h. It is essential to train each hen before a series of calorimeter experiments. A distinctive pattern of light-entrained, diurnal variation of metabolic rate was observed in starving and fed birds of 2 laying strains.