Breeding of chickens (Gallus domesticus) in South Kivu, Eastern DRC

This study was conducted in different local chicken (Gallus domesticus) breeding areas in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, to characterize the poultry breeding system. A sample of 450 adult local hens was randomly measured and a survey questionnaire was administered to poultry farmers. Two systems of rearing are practiced, the free-range and the extensive backyard system. The hens reared have a general average of 1390.054±804.941 live weight at adulthood and often have white, blackish, gray, spotted white, dirty brown, cuckoo, ash, silver black, partridge, silver salmon and golden salmon (the most dominant) plumage. Most of them have a reddish dwarf crest, with a more or less whitish and yellowish beak, fed with cereals and bone powder. The average age at the beginning of the laying period is 5 months, with ±10 eggs laid/laying cycle, among which 7 eggs are brooded but only 5 eggs are hatched. The frequency between two clutches is 21 hours. Weaning is on average 3 chicks per hen.