The behaviour of calcium‐deficient chickens

Synopsis

Growing broilers were deprived of calcium to ascertain whether they could form a specific hunger for calcium. When their blood‐calcium levels were significantly lower than those of the control birds they were allowed a choice between two mashes, differing only by the absence or presence of a calcium salt. In two experiments the deprived birds discriminated in favour of the calcium rich mash. However the preference broke down when the calcium salt was offered in the form of calcium lactate in the drinking water, for both the deprived and control birds preferred distilled water. Finally deprived birds were tested to find out whether calcium deprivation led to a greater interest in bizarre objects of edible size, for specific hungers may lead to exploratory behaviour from which the animal may learn to correct its deficiency. The calcium deprived birds were found to show more interest in bizarre objects of edible size.

Notes

Permanent address: A.R.C. Poultry Research Centre, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, 9.

Rockefeller Fellow 1959–60.

Present address: Department of Zoology, of North Carolina at Raleigh.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

D. G. M. Wood‐Gush

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