AN ANALYSIS ON INTENSIVE REARING OF NATIVE BREEDER CHICKEN IN WESTERN

Native chicken constitutes rural poultry that offers many advantages and attracts the farming community, entrepreneurs, self-help groups, etc., Native chicken farming can be reared with very low investment, even illiterates can adopt it as it requires much less skill. Native chicken are sturdier and well adapted to local climatic conditions, can be sustained entirely in free range for both eggs and meat. Native chicken farming improves the nutritional status of rural poor; rural people have a traditional affinity towards native chicken and are well versed with its husbandry practices. Native chicken rearing is gaining momentum now among jobless youth, school dropouts, etc., in rural and semi-urban areas.