Indigenous Chicken Production System and Breeding Practice

The chicken production system observed in this study area was characterized with backyard scavenging (100%) with seasonal supplementation of feed (100%) and health care (p>0.05). The major disease easily recognized by the villagers was seen to be Newcastle disease (fengil). The result also indicates that traditional treatment (ethno-veterinary) practice is the major type of treatment often used by majority of village chicken owners in all the study districts. The mean chicken per household was found 24.31±1.21 (p<0.05). Of this the exotic chicken breed constitutes 57% (p>0.05) where as local breed accounts 37% (p<0.05) and crossbred 6% (p>0.05). For both sexes and three agro-ecologies farmers rate body weight, conformation, plumage color and comb type as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, respectively. The village chicken production system observed in this study is characterized with backyard scavenging, seasonal supplementation of feed and health care and even if local chickens are valued for majority of important adaptive and economically important traits, the trend in introducing, dissemination and crossbreeding activities are increasing.