Husbandry Practice and Reproductive Performance of Indigenous Chicken Ecotype in Awi Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to generate comprehensive information on Husbandry practice and Reproductive performance of indigenous chicken ecotype in Awi zone in Adiss-kidame town in fagita district of Awi Zone, Amahara Regional State, Ethiopia. The study was performed based on household survey and observation. For household survey, three kebeles were selected and a total of 60 households (20 from each kebeles) were involved. Most of the household in the study area was practiced backyard chicken production systems (73.3%). The major objective of raising chicken in the study area was egg production (46.7%) and income generation (46.7%). The majority of the households in the study area were practiced semi-extensive management systems (60%). The entire households in the study area were providing supplementary feed and water for their chicken. The age of cockerels at first mating and pullets at first egg laying were 5.21 months and 5.77 months, respectively. The entire households in the study area were hatching (brooding) the egg by using natural incubation hence broody hens used as a natural incubation method. Indigenous breeds of chickens are playing an important role in rural economies in most of the developing (underdeveloped) countries especially in Ethiopia. Since local chickens have good potential to adapt in different agro-ecology, Variations of disease and water shortage of the environments. They play a major role for the rural poor and marginalized section of the people with respect to their subsidiary income and provide them with nutritious of chicken egg and meat for their own consumption. This finding was baseline for understanding about Husbandry practice and Reproductive performance of indigenous chicken ecotype.