Hybrid chick adoption by local broody hens

Abstract

Local broody hens (2) were each offered day-old, broiler chicks (10) Ibr adopiion, They adopted, brooded and reared thce chicks under free range. The growth rate, survivability and profitability of the adopted chicks were compared with a set of 20 intensively reared broiler chicks, and a set of 16 local chicks hatched and reared under free range, by their own mother, hens. The intensively reared broilers (IRB) attained 2.22kg live weight in 10 weeks, with no mortalities and they yielded a profit of N233/bird. The adopted, extensively reared broilers (ERB) took 20 weeks to attain 2.25kg, only 20% of the birds survived to this age and a loss of N3 was incurred for every chick stocked. The local chicks (LOC) weighed only 0.98Kg at 20 weeks, only 25% survived to this age and they yielded a profit of Nl33 per chick hatched. Results from this study demonstrate the possibility of using local broody hens to brood and rear hybrid chicks, and suggest protective restriction in the first few weeks at life. and a vaccination/medication regime as intervention measures that could improve the survivability and profitatbility, of hybrid chickens reared under free range conditions.