AquaBeads® supplementation stimulates activity and improves the 10-day growth performance of turkey hen poults

Early life nutrition plays a critical role in the growth performance, health, and welfare of poultry. This study investigated the effect of AquaBeads® supplementation on the early behavior and 10-day performance of turkey poults. On day-of-hatch (d0) 720 turkey poult hens were randomly assigned into three treatment groups (n = 8 pen treatment replicates): 1) Control (no AquaBeads®): both feed flats contained feed without AquaBeads®, 2) AquaBeads®: both feed flats supplemented with AquaBeads®, and 3) Preference: one feed flat with AquaBeads® and the other without. Feed and individual poult body weights (BW) were recorded on d0 and d10 and were used to calculate body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). At 15- and 45-minutes post-placement, the gastrointestinal tract was examined to determine the presence of AquaBeads® in the crop and lower ileum. Early foraging behavior was analyzed from video recordings during the first 60 minutes after placement. Crop fill was assessed at 24 hours post-placement. Results showed that both AquaBeads® and Preference groups had higher (p < 0.05) BW at d10 and BWG from d0-10 than the Control group. In the AquaBeads® group, AquaBeads® were present in the crop of 50% of poults at 15 minutes and increased (p < 0.05) to 100% at 45 minutes. Behavioral observations revealed that poults in the AquaBeads® groups exhibited higher foraging activity during the first hour after placement, with a significantly greater percentage of poults on AquaBeads®-treated feed flats compared to the Control group (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that AquaBeads® supplementation can enhance early poult growth and behavior, making it a potential feed attractant to improve early performance.