The effects of temperature and relative humidity on the thermoregulatory responses of grouped and isolated neonate chicks

Abstract

SUMMARYMeasurements of O2 consumption (Vo2), CO2 production (VCO2) evaporative water loss and rectal temperature (Tr) have been made and metabolic heat production (H), evaporative heat loss (—E) and respiratory quotient (RQ) calculated with individual and groups of 1-day-old chicks at constant ambient temperatures (To) in the range 20—43 °C and 80 or 20% relative humidity (R.H.).Minimal metabolism (10·7 kJ/kgJ/h) occurred at 35 °C.One-day-old chicks act as heterotherms outside the zone of minimal metabolism since neither H nor —E are sufficiently developed mechanisms to maintain homeothermy.Huddling allows chicks to maintain a higher TT at a lower H per unit metabolic body size.Reducing E.H. from 80 to 20% raised the upper temperature survival limit (UTSL) from 41·5 to 43 °C.Panting was initiated when Ta = 38 °C and Tr was between 39·5 and 39·9 °C.