An abnormal requirement for iron in dystrophic chickens.

Dystrophic chickens which were fed 1% or 1.5% Na2 EDTA developed white feathers and showed lower hematocrit and hemoglobin values than normal New Hampshire chickens. These abnormalities may be corrected by adding dietary iron, indicating that chickens with hereditary m uscular dystrophy have a higher dietary requirement for iron than normal chickens. No differences were found in the utilization of 59Fe.