EN
The changes of the relationship between force and deformation of pelvic and pectoral limb bones were measured in broiler chickens during the first 10 weeks of life with INSTRON 4302 apparatus. The female chickens were divided into 3 groups at 4,8 and 10 weeks of age and male chickens created one group at 8 weeks of age. With increasing age the progressive increase of the resilience and the resitance to the deformation and fracture forces of bones was observed, with higher values in the pelvic than pectoral limbs. The value of fracture force in the femur increased in female chickens from the lowest value at 4 weeks of age to the highest value at 10 weeks of age. A similar increase was observed in other limb bones of the female chickens during 10 weeks of their lives. Male chickens were characterized by higher values of resilience and fracture forces in comparison to values from female chickens at the same age. The results obtained indicate to a progressive increase in the resilience and resistance of bones in chickens during their development between 4 and 10 weeks of age with higher values in male chickens and, moreover, present a possibility of developmental estimation of skeletal remodeling and mineralization with the applied method. The implications of the observed changes to the locomotor function of bones in the developing stages of chickens have been discussed.