Abstract
The blood total ketone body level of chickens was found to be high at the time of hatching but to decrease markedly after ingestion and metabolism of a carbohydrate‐type diet. The blood ketone body level was maintained at approximately the day‐old chicken level by feeding a high fat, digestible carbohydrate‐free diet. By comparing the level of blood constituents in chickens fed such a diet with those in chickens fed a high‐carbohydrate, low‐fat diet, the absence of a relationship between blood total ketone body levels and blood reduced glutathione levels during the initial post‐hatching period was demonstrated.