SOME BLOOD CHEMICAL, ELECTROLYTE AND MINERAL VALUES FROM YOUNG OSTRICHES

Haematocrit, plasma osmolality and plasma calcium, inorganic phosphoru s and magnesium concentrations were measured in 10 healthy ostrich chi cks at 2-weekly intervals between 8 and 26 weeks of age. Plasma sodium , potassium and zinc concentrations were measured in an additional 50 chicks between 2 and 6 months of age. With the exception of calcium, b lood constituents did not change significantly with age. Overall, haem atocrit was lower and phosphorus and magnesium were slightly higher th an previously measured for adults, which is consistent with previous m easurements for chicks.