[Air transportation of day-old chicks with regard to animal welfare]

The transportation of chicks by aircraft increased in the last years greatly. High losses occurred frequently. A very important reason is water and food deprivation for too long a time between hatching and the arrival at the consignee. The process of transportation by aircraft, the development of the animal at hatching, and the clinical and chemical changes caused by water and food deprivation are described. In our opinion pathophysiological conditions are likely to appear 48 hours after hatching, when the animals are not fed and watered. It seems to be necessary to pay more attention to this problem.