The changes of some blood constituents during the initial post‐hatching period in chickens

Abstract

Two groups of chickens were used to measure the initial post‐hatching changes and the effect of feeding on the blood reduced glutathione levels and haematocrit values of chickens. One group was starved for 3 days after hatching, while the other was allowed food at all times. Blood samples were taken from both groups of chickens at various stages from 1 day to 3 weeks of age. Haematocrit values varied considerably in both groups of chickens. During starvation the haematocrit value increased, then decreased after the chickens were allowed food. In the normally fed chickens the haematocrit value decreased initially, then increased slowly to approach a more normal value. Reduced glutathione is an intracellular blood constituent, so the marked variations in haematocrit value influenced the concentration of GSH per unit volume of whole blood. Blood cell GSH levels gave a better measurement of the concentration of blood GSH. The blood cell GSH level increased markedly during the initial post‐hatching period, but not until the chickens had ingested and metabolised food.