Effects of hot environments and carbonated drinking water on bone characteristics of eight-week-old broiler chicks.

Epiphyses of the femura from 8-week-old broiler chicks were examined for morphology using scanning electron microscopy and for elemental composition using energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis. Birds between the ages of 4 and 8 weeks were subjected to either 25 or 35 C environments and given tap or carbonated drinking water. The morphological appearance of the epiphyses was affected by the kind of drinking water but not the thermal environment. Elemental constituents, however, were affected by both environmental temperature and drinking water.