A Breed Difference in Feather Pigmentation of Vitamin D Deficient Chicks

Abstract

Abnormal blackening in feathers of New Hampshire chicks fed a vitamin D deficient diet was noticed by Glazener, Mattingly and Briggs (1946). Decker a and McGinnis (1947) reported abnormal black pigmentation in feathers of Buff Orpington chicks caused by a vitamin D deficiency. Glazener and Briggs (1948) observed that Buff Plymouth Rocks did not exhibit abnormal blackening of feathers on a vitamin D deficient ration. This was surprising since the two buff breeds are alike genetically from the standpoint of feather pigmentation. It seemed desirable to repeat the experiment with both breeds to determine if the results obtained by the above mentioned workers could be duplicated.Hatching eggs of two strains of Buff Orpingtons and Buff Rocks, were secured from different sources. Rhode Island Red chicks, which served as controls, were hatched from eggs laid at the Agricultural Research Center. The percentage composition of the vitamin D deficient diet was .