The effect of environmental temperature on potassium concentrations in the blood of the domestic fowl.

The effects of environmental temperature on the blood potassium concentration of chickens of different ages were studied. The mean environmental temperatures used were 8 degrees, 19 degrees and 30 degrees C. There were no statistically significant differences in blood potassium concentration between age groups within a given temperature. Birds acclimated to an environmental temperature of 30 degrees C., had a lower mean blood potassium concentration than birds acclimated to an environmental temperature of 8 degrees C. There was no significant difference between the birds at 19 degrees C. and the other groups. Birds transferred from the 8 degrees to the 30 degrees C. environmental temperature showed a significant decrease in whole blood potassium concentrations as early as six hr. following transfer. In birds transferred from the 30 degrees to the 8 degrees C. environmental temperature, the blood potassium concentrations before and after transfer did not differ significantly. The results of this study indicate that blood potassium concentrations change with acclimation by the domestic fowl.