Abstract
This study reviews the productive and reproductive performance of indigenous chickens in Ethiopia with the aim of delivering summarized and synthesized information for the beneficiaries and producers. Chicken production encompasses into traditional scavenging, small and large-scale market orientated systems based on the objective of the producer, the type of inputs used and the number and types of chickens kept. In Ethiopia, indigenous chickens produces 10 to 20 eggs per clutch and 30 to 65 small eggs per hen per year in 3 to 4 clutches. Local chickens reach slaughter/market age at 8 to 12 months with 0.6 to 2.5 kg average weight at farmer management system. Indigenous chickens require long time to reach sexual maturity and takes longest time to recover reproductive cycle by local broody hen. The average mortality rate was highest and which affects both productive and reproductive performance of indigenous chickens by reducing survival rate. There were huge number of indigenous chickens existing in Ethiopia but productivity was disproportional to the number of chickens. The major constraint which affects productive and reproductive performance of indigenous chickens are diseases and predators, feed shortages, lack of training and extension services, and lack of proper marketing systems. Conclusively, lowest productive and reproductive performance was recorded which needs further improvement by adjusting training and extension service for farmers. Key words: Indigenous chickens, reproductive performance, productive performance, Ethiopia.  
Highlights
Poultry production is an important sector in Ethiopia where chickens and their products are important sources for income generation for rural peoples and important source for high quality protein for developing countries
There is a need for reviewing the productive and reproductive performance of village chickens to improve the indigenous chicken productivity and to save the indigenous genotype from distinction or replacement by exotic chickens. This being the cases, the objective of this review is to review the productive and reproductive performance of indigenous chickens in Ethiopia with the following specific objectives: 1. To review the productive performance of indigenous chickens in Ethiopia 2
Chicken production system encompasses into traditional, small and large-scale market oriented production system based on the objectives of the producers, the type of inputs used and type and number of chickens reared
Summary
Poultry production is an important sector in Ethiopia where chickens and their products are important sources for income generation for rural peoples and important source for high quality protein for developing countries. The diverse agro-ecology and agronomic practice prevailing in the country together with the huge population of livestock in general and poultry in particular, could be a promising attribute to boost up the sector and increase its contribution to the total agricultural output as well as to improve the living standards of the poor livestock keepers (Aleme and Mitiku, 2015; Hunduma et al, 2010). There were huge number of indigenous chickens in Ethiopia but its productive and reproductive performance were low and varies in different area, and are not reviewed and well documented for users and producers. There is a need for reviewing the productive and reproductive performance of village chickens to improve the indigenous chicken productivity and to save the indigenous genotype from distinction or replacement by exotic chickens. To review the constraints that affects productive and reproductive performance of indigenous chicken in Ethiopia
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