Telemetry measured body temperature of domestic fowl at various ambient temperatures.

Adult, male Single Comb White Leghorn chickens (SCWL) were housed unrestrained in individual cages in a controlled environment room with a photoperiod of 12L:12D. By means of surgically implanted radio transmitter, body temperatures were recorded hourly for five consecutive days at each of six experimental temperatures: 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, and 38 C. The data were evaluated statistically by correlogram, periodogram, and harmonic analysis. Period length of each cycle was about 24 hr at all ambient temperatures. No significant differences in deep body temperature were observed until the ambient temperature reached 32 C; but highly significant increases were detected between 32, 35, and 38 C. Diurnal differences in body temperature ranged from .6 to 1.1 C. It has been suggested that the body temperature of male chicken may be under the control of a biological clock that synchronizes with the solar day.