Behavioral Temperature Regulation in Neonate Chick of Bantam Hen (Gallus domesticus)

• Published in: Poultry Science
• Main Author: MYHRE, KJELL
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 1978
• Subjects: Physiology and Reproduction; Hen; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/57/5/1369; https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0571369

The colonic temperatures of Bantam chicks increased significantly (P<.001) from 38.4 ± .9 C (SD) on day one to 40.6 ± .6 C ten days after hatching, with a transient fall around the fifth day. When left alone for 45 min in a thermal gradient box providing temperatures from 16 to 45 C, the youngest chicks selected the highest ambient temperatures. The preferred ambient temperature dropped with age, especially between the fourth and the fifth day, remaining constant after the eighth day. The preferred colonic temperatures rose significantly (P<.001) from 38.6 ± .6 C on day one to 40.6 ± .5 C the ninth day after hatching, with no transient fall in between. These results were compared with similar results obtained in subarctic Willow Grouse chicks. It is concluded that the colonic temperature of the Bantam chick is regulated, mainly be behavioral means, with a low reference set-point immediately after hatching, and this set-point climbs to adult level during the next nine days. At the age of 5–7 days the chicks tolerate hypothermia in order to feed; otherwise they do not tolerate hypothermia, in contrast to subarctic species. Further, the set-point reaches adult level earlier in Willow Grouse chicks than in Bantams, which may represent an adaptation to cold climate in the former species.