Thyroid hormones are essential...

[helvella]

Thyroid hormones are essential...

for Christmas dinner.

Poult Sci. 1989 Aug;68(8):1126-32.

Effects of thyroidectomy on egg production, molt, and plasma thyroid hormone concentrations of turkey hens.

Lien RJ1, Siopes TD.

Author information

1 Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7608.

Abstract

Turkey hens were thyroidectomized at different ages and phases of their reproductive cycles. Egg production, primary remige molting, and plasma thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations were monitored during each of three experiments. Thyroidectomy of hens (26 and 30 wk of age) prior to photoinduction of egg production prevented subsequent egg production and molting. Thyroidectomy of adult hens (36 wk of age) early in the egg production cycle caused a gradual termination of egg laying without the occurrence of molting. Thyroidectomy of mature hens (66 wk of age) during the light restriction period prior to their second egg production cycle prevented subsequent egg laying and molting. All successful thyroidectomies reduced plasma T4 and T3 to concentrations below the sensitivity levels of the assays. Feeding 1 ppm T4 to thyroidectomized hens resulted in resumption of normal egg production and molting. These results indicate that the thyroid is essential for the initiation and maintenance of egg production and for molting in turkey hens.

PMID: 2780487

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/278...

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🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣🐣

[ Apologies to vegetarians, vegans. ]

[greygoose]

Oh. What a surprise. lol

[BadHare]

Apologies accepted!

I'm curious to know why hypo hens don't moult?

[helvella Administrator in reply to BadHare]

BadHare,

Does moulting occur when new feathers are ready to come through? Therefore no new feathers means the old ones remain in place (however tatty they get).

Just a guess.

[BadHare in reply to helvella]

Aaah!

Thanks helvella !

I'm unfamiliar with the vagaries of feathered critters!

[Heloise in reply to helvella]

Rod, you know way too much about hen culture. Cockadoodledoo anyway

[Treepie in reply to helvella]

A chicken and egg question! I think the old go before the new appear. Apparently in some countries forced moulting goes on to reinvigorate laying .This by denying food and water for a period or by using special diets. Not nice.

[Baobabs in reply to BadHare]

Perhaps they have good ferritin levels? Think I will apply the word ‘moult’ to myself rather than hair shedding , it feels a little more comfortably distanced from the horror of hair loss!

[helvella Administrator in reply to Baobabs]

Baobabs,

Certain supplements are widely used in animal husbandry - this is a link to their needs:

msdvetmanual.com/poultry/nu...

And this is one product's ingredients - including iron:

Fortex Poultry Vitamins - Supplement. Composed of Vitamins A, D3, E, K, B1, B6, B12, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Niacin, Choline Chloride, Sulphate, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Sodium Selenite, Zinc, Ethoxyquin, Cereal Carrier, Vegetable Oil, Cobalt and Iodine.

planetpoultry.com.au/fortex...

It is also widely suggested that poultry flourish when some apple cider vinegar (with mother) is added to their intake.

Of course, in many ways it is much easier to research dietary requirements of smaller animals - but they certainly do seem to have requirements better understood than in humans.

[Baobabs in reply to helvella]

I said this rather tongue in cheek but helvella your posting is very interesting. Just about to have poached eggs for breakfast, not sure now.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Baobabs]

Baobabs,

On the other hand, they might help with your intake of, for example, selenium...

I thought your iron comment was very appropriate and the tongue-in-cheek element was appreciated.

[Baobabs in reply to helvella]

I wish ! My selenium is above top of the range.

[TSH110]

Poor creatures - what a hideous experiment. And only T4 monotherapy to the few ‘lucky ones’

[silverfox7]

Feel sorry for the birds!

[Marz]

... still smiling Merry Christmas Rod ....