Five experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary lactose and rye on cecal colonization of Clostridium perfringens in white leghorn chickens. Six days after oral inoculation of the organism, the numbers of C. perfringens organisms in the cecal contents were significantly lower in chickens on 2% and 10% lactose-supplemented feed than in chickens on unsupplemented feed. When C. perfringens was given in drinking water, 10% lactose supplementation was needed to significantly reduce the counts of C. perfringens 4, 6, and 8 days after feeding began. Effect of rye-ration on cecal colonization of C. perfringens was also examined. Counts of C. perfringens in cecal contents of chickens fed a diet containing 50% rye were significantly higher than control values 4, 6, and 8 days after feeding began. When chicks were fed a diet containing both 10% lactose and 50% rye, C. perfringens counts in cecal contents were lower than in chickens fed 50% rye only at 6 days after feeding began. Results led to the conclusion that dietary lactose is effective in reducing the cecal colonization of C. perfringens.