Recent evidence in pigeons and chickens show that epidermal cornified cells sequester calcium (Ca²⁺) and that avian skin may inclose microenvironments with variable ionic composition. We tested our hypothesis that skin may function as a reservoir or a secretory pathway for Ca²⁺ by finding out whether appropriate cellular mechanisms exist for these functions in chickens. For calcium influx, the densities of dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs), and for intracellular Ca²⁺ release, densities of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) were examined with high affinity (-)-enantiomers of DHP and Ry labeled with fluorophores. Activity of ionic Ca²⁺ was measured in plasma and in extracellular fluid (SBF), collected by suction blister technique, and utilization of Ca²⁺ was investigated by measuring the activity of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Our results showed that both DHPRs and RyRs are present in all skin layers, however, the receptor densities being the highest in the surface. The densities were higher in males, particularly in the dermis and in mid epidermis. However, a reduction in the dietary Ca²⁺ decreased the densities to the same level as in females. Spatially, RyRs seem to be located in the periphery of the sebokeratinocyte, indicating proximity with DHPRs. The ALP activities were always lower in SBF in both genders. In females, both plasma and SBF activities increased after coming out of lay, probably indicating increased osteoblast activity related to the reformation of structural bone. We conclude that appropriate cellular mechanisms for Ca²⁺ influx and release are present in the skin of female and male chickens, and that higher densities in the males imply increased capacity for Ca²⁺ influx and intracellular processing. Based on these results in avians, our conception of the functions of the skin need to be reevaluated.