Ethical compliance
All animal experiments were conducted in compliance with protocols
approved by the Sichuan provincial Laboratory Animal Management
Committee [Permit Number SYXK (Sichuan) 2019-187], and the Ethics
and Animal Welfare Committee (EAWC) of the Sichuan Agricultural
University. Humane endpoints were strictly adhered to over the entire
experimental period. Birds that were unable or unwilling to eat and/or
drink during the study period were immediately euthanized. All birds
were euthanized via cervical dislocation by a trained technician, as
approved by the EAWC.