Digestion of feed by chicks with pale bird syndrome

Unaffected chicks (normal) and chicks with pale bird syndrome (pale) were fed a control diet or a test diet obtained from the broiler house containing the pale chicks. Pale birds digested less (P < 0.05) dry matter and ether extract than normal chicks, and the nitrogen content in their feces was greater. The chicks from both sources digested more (P < 0.05) dry matter from the test feed but also excreted more (P < 0.05) nitrogen than those fed the control diet. Neither diet resulted in differences in the digestion of ether extract. The cause of pale bird syndrome was related more to source of chicks rather than source of feed. Depigmentation may have resulted from decreased pigment absorption because of reduced absorption of dietary components, including ether extract.