Laying performance of five local hen phenotypes, in improved rearing conditions

The laying performance was evaluated for 2 years on 5 free-range local hens. Their phenotypes were: the normal, the naked neck, the dwarf, the silky and the frizzle. These were allocated into a family of 6 hens and 1 cock in duplicate at research station. Laying cycle, number of laid eggs, egg weight, egg length and diameter, day-old chick weight and phenotype were the collected data. The egg characteristics results in terms of egg weight and egg diameter were not significantly different among the phenotypes (P<0.05). But on the other hand significantly (P-value) longer eggs were recorded with dwarf hens and naked neck. Frizzle hens laid significantly more eggs (135 eggs/year/hen) than normal hens (51 eggs/year/hen) and were the most precocious (149.1 ± 3.3 days) and significantly heavier at sexual maturity stage (1065.1 ± 42 g) than the other hens. The mean interval between consecutive laying periods was shorter with dwarf hens (21.2 ± 1.5 days), naked neck (21.8 ±1.7 days) and frizzle (22.4 ± 1.5 day). Significantly lower chick weight was recorded in silky phenotype compared to other phenotypes. Results indicated that, provision of better health care, better feeding and management helped the free-range hens to better express their genetic make-up. The phenotype effect herein observed on laying performance proved that the choice of hen phenotype will be a determinant in selection programs for free-range local hens laying performance improvement.