Nutrients: Signs of Excess

In general, there is very little room for providing excess amounts of those nutrients that make up at least 0.1% of the diet.⁶ In some cases, as little as a 50% overage can result in toxicity.⁶ Trace minerals are the next most likely candidates for toxicity, as feeding 50-100 times the requirement may lead to health complications.⁶ The fat-soluble vitamins, particularly vitamins D and A, are the next most toxic to overdose, followed by the water-soluble vitamins.⁶ Nutrients which are unlikely to be toxic include: thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, potassium, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B₁₂), and vitamin C.⁵ The table^5,7 below explains some of the signs and health problems that result from overdosing various nutrients.

Nutrient	Overage	Signs of Excess
Protein	~	Weight loss/poor weight gain Gout Behavioral changes (feather picking, rejection of food, regurgitation) Death
Fat	~	Obesity Fatty liver infiltration Diarrhea Oily feathers Antherosclerosis
Vitamin D3	4-10 × requirement	Gout Increased calcium absorption & bone resorption Hypercalcaemia Mineralization of soft tissue Polyuria Nephrocalcinosis Hypercalcification
Vitamin A	20-100 × requirement	Weight loss Decreased food intake Swollen/crusted eyelids Inflammation of mouth and/or nares Decreased bone strength Dermatitis Yellow pigmentation on the sole of the feet Hepatopathy Hemorrhaging
Vitamin E	100 × requirement	Decreased growth Anemia Decreased bone mineralization Decreased liver storage of vitamin A
Vitamin K	1000 × requirement	High mortality Anemia Hyperbilirubinemia
Niacin	10 × requirement	Pruritus Gastroenteritis Vasodilation
Pyridoxine (B6)	50 × requirement	Decreased egg production Infertility
Choline	2 × requirement	Increased mortality Decreased use of vitamin B6
Calcium	2.5% of diet	Nephrosis Visceral gout Renal gout Hypercalcemia Hypophosphotemia Decreased food intake
Magnesium	20 × requirement	Decreased growth Decreased egg production Decreased egg quality
Manganese	20-50 × requirement	Iron deficiencies
Selenium	50 × requirement	Decreased weight gain Weight loss
Selenium	100 × requirement	Decreased egg weight Decreased hatchability Dermatitis
Copper	50 × requirement	Decreased growth Hepatopathy Death
Zinc	10-20 × requirement	Gastroenteritis Decreased food intake Anemia Decreased bone mineralization Depression
Phosphorus	2 × requirement, or if present in greater than the 2:1 calcium: phosphorus ratio	Decreased performance Decreased calcium absorption Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
Sodium	5-10 × requirement	Decrease in growth Loss of appetite Poor feathering Polydipsia Excessive thirst Polyuria Edema Dehydration Mortality
Iron	~	Reduced performance Eventual development of hemosiderosis Possibly hemochromatosis (change in skin pigment)
Iodine	1000 × requirement	Antithyroidal or goitrogenic effects Growth affected Egg production affected Hatchability affected

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