We will explore the excretory system in domestic fowl, like chickens. It’s all about how these birds eliminate waste from their bodies.
The Kidneys
The excretory system in chickens consists of two important parts – the kidneys and the cloaca. Let’s start with the kidneys.
The kidneys in chickens are small, reddish-brown organs located near their backbone, behind the lungs. They look a bit like kidney beans.
What Do Kidneys Do?
Kidneys have a crucial job. They help balance important stuff in the chicken’s body, like electrolytes and water. They also help eliminate waste products, especially nitrogen products, from chickens’ food.
Inside the Kidneys
Looking closely inside the kidneys, we see they have two parts – the cortex and the medulla. These parts are made up of tiny tubes called nephrons. These nephrons are like the kidney’s super workers.
Types of Nephrons
Chickens have two types of nephrons – “mammalian-type” and “reptilian-type.” The mammalian-type nephrons have the “Loop of Henle,” which helps make urine more concentrated. The reptilian-type nephrons don’t have this loop and are in the cortex.
How Nephrons Work
Each nephron has a “renal corpuscle” and various segments. The corpuscle is where the magic happens – it filters stuff from the blood. Then, there are segments like the proximal convoluted part, the Loop of Henle (if it’s a mammalian-type nephron), the distal convoluted part, and the collecting tubule.
Urine
Now, chickens don’t have a bladder like humans. Instead, their urine goes straight from the kidneys into the cloaca. From there, it moves backward into the large intestine.
How It’s Different
Unlike mammals, chicken urine isn’t liquid. It’s thick and pasty with high uric acid content. This is because chickens can’t concentrate their urine like mammals do.
What Happens Next
Inside the large intestine, some of the water from the urine gets absorbed back into the chicken’s body. This helps them save water, which is important for these birds.
So, if you ever see a whitish or creamy cap on chicken droppings, that’s their urine mixed with their poop!
Challenges in the Excretory System
Sometimes, the chicken’s kidneys might not work as well as they should. This can happen if the bird is sick or eats too much high-protein food. When this occurs, too much uric acid can be in the blood, which is not good.
What Can Happen
If too much uric acid builds up, it can cause problems. The kidneys may get swollen, and this condition is called nephritis. Also, uric acid deposits can form on various organs, causing visceral gout. This can make the chicken very sick.
Conclusion
So, that’s how the excretory system works in domestic fowl. It’s a bit different from ours, but it keeps these birds healthy by eliminating waste and keeping their water balance in check.
Next time you see a chicken and its unique droppings, you’ll know more about what’s happening inside its body!
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