ANALYSIS OF THE PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DOMESTIC CHICKEN PRODUCTION IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out using field data to qualitatively characterize local chicken under traditional system in Delta State. Traits considered were plumage colour, comb colour, wattle colour, earlobe colour, eye colour and shank colour respectively. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis to determine percentage distributions of the traits. Results obtained showed a percentage distribution of 68 %, 40 % and 41 % for red comb colour, red earlobe colour and yellow shank colour, respectively. Twelve (12) plumage colour variants were observed with black and brown predominating with 17 % and 16 %, respectively. The white and yellow colours were the least and constituted 1 % of the population. Two comb colour variants were identified among the local chickens. Sixty – eight (68 %) of the comb colour were red.