Metabolism Body Size and Age in Baby Chicks

Abstract

Summary

Fasting baby chicks from 5 to 20 days of age showed an increase in metabolic rate with increasing age. This increase was 0.2 to 1%† per day for the metabolic rate per unit body weight, 2% per day for the metabolic rate per kg^3/4 and 3% for the metabolic rate per unit surface area. Baby chicks thus deviate systematically from the rule which is valid for the relation of body size and metabolism in mature homeotherms. This confirms an earlier deduction based on an observation on full fed baby chicks.