Laying performance of Nigerian and exotic chickens

The Nigeria local chicken has several important features like adaptation to the local environment, broodiness, desired pigmentation and taste. It constitutes about 92% of the total poultry population in Nigeria which is estimated to be 102.832 million. There is considerable scope for the development of stocks that are better able to survive under the prevailing conditions and with the ability to produce increased quantities of eggs. Considering the problems of lack of suitable stock, cross breeding and upgrading involving indigenous chicken with standard exotic breeds has been recommended to improve the quality of stocks suitable for rural condition. In a bid to seek solution to the problems resulting from importation of exotic poultry breeds to our economy and the poor performance of our local chicken, this study was directed at crossing the exotic poultry breeds that are available in the country with the local chicken to produce crosses having important economic traits of both parents which will serve as a foundation stock in the country.