Palatability of the feed is extremely important to maintain feed intake of young birds (especially poults) when they
experience an intestinal upset. Palatability is more influenced by textural properties than by flavour because poultry
have few taste buds and a relatively dry mouth, especially when they are dehydrated because of diarrhea. Small firm
pellets and good crumbles with few fines is ideal to maintain palatability. Too much dry fines in feed is difficult for
birds to consume, much like it is difficult for us to eat a big mouth full of dry crackers without something to wash it
down. Dumping feed pans, cycling feed lines, and getting the birds up and moving frequently may encourage feeding
activity. Some people claim that afflicted birds can be encouraged to eat by top dressing the feed with grit, coarse
ground corn, whole kernel wheat, whole rolled oats, powdered milk, molasses or confectionery sprinkles. Starter diets
containing coarsely ground corn is better than finely ground corn because it results in less fines in the crumbled feed
and the poults are able to freely select the high carbohydrate ingredient if they need it. Diets containing high fat (about
7.5% total dietary crude fat) improve feed palatability by reducing fines and increasing oral lubrication. It may also
slow food passage rate, thus improving feed utilization.