Technical Abstract: In recent years, there has been increased consumer concern regarding the contamination of products with salmonellae. Poultry products are among those products sometimes contaminated with various types of Salmonella and are a source of human salmonellosis. Factors involved in preventing young chicks from being colonized by salmonellae are the early establishment of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract and the production of volatile fatty acids, such as propionic acid. Adequate information is not available on the effects of various components of the diets on the chick microflora and the resistance to salmonellae colonization. Some grain sorghum varieties available for use in poultry diets are known to contain high levels of tannins or tannic acid. In the present study, chicks were fed diets containing no tannic acid and diets containing tannic acid to determine its effects on the amounts of volatile fatty acids and colonization of the chicks by Salmonella. Feeding chicks tannic acid had variable effects on the amounts of volatile fatty acids but did not increase colonization by Salmonella. Weight gain was reduced by tannic acid at concentrations of .75% to 1.50%. This information will be useful to the poultry industry when determining factors that may influence the occurrence of Salmonella in the chicks and is an important consideration in planning an overall salmonellae protection plan to insure a continued supply of safe poultry products for consumers.