[The development of the red blood picture in growing parrot chicks].

In order to evaluate the development of the erythrogram of growing parrot nestlings, blood samples were taken monthly from birds of six different parrot species at the age of 30-200 days. Values for the packed cell volume (PCV), the total red blood cell count (TRBC) and the hemoglobin content (Hb) were determined directly and served as basic data for the calculation of the red blood cell indices MCV (mean cellular volume), MCH (mean cellular hemoglobin) and MCHC (mean cellular hemoglobin concentration). Additionally, stained blood smears were evaluated microscopically to judge the morphology of the red blood cells. The results of five species confirmed most results from earlier publications. The data from the species Pyrrhura leucotis formed an exception. The birds showed a decrease of the Hb during the investigated period. Simultaneously, an increase of the PCV and the TRBC could be observed. Thus an anemia as possible cause for the development of the hemoglobin content is rather unlikely. Possibly a certain hemoglobin structure compensates for this development and may be of metabolic advantage for the affected species.