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tastier and more savory than those of purebreds. Thus, inspite of their slow
growth and small size, they are more costly. It takes them a year to obtain full
size (1-1.5 kilograms). Under farm conditions, the hens give from 30-50 eggs in
34 cycles a year. The eggs are small and brown. The hens become broody for a
long period after laying a clunch of 10-12 eggs. (farmers control the broodiness of
native hens by soaking them in cold water, removing the laid eggs from their
nests, or even placing some salt or powdered pepper on their cloaca and also by
providing better feeds).
Some strategies in upgrading the native chicken
The government and agricultural universities as well as some private individuals
have embarked on some strategies to improve the native chicken. In a majority of
the villages where these programs have reached, the graded chicken have thrived
and performed well by crossing the local chicken with purebreds and general purpose breeds like Rhode Island, Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire Australorp and
Cantonese using the following strategies:
1. Introduction of purebred hatching eggs. Once the native bird starts to be
broody after laying a clunch of 10-12 eggs, all its eggs are replaced with purebred
hatching eggs. The purebred chicks will then be raised by the native hen.
2. Introduction of purebred chicks. Day-old purebred chicks are placed in the
evenings with the broody native hen, which is also rearing day-old native chicks.
Rubbing all the chicks (native and purebred alike) with some coconut oil prevents
the mother hen from recognizing her”real” chicks from the others.
3. Cockerel exchange program. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) introduced
this method as a means to upgrade local chicken by exchanging a local cockerel
with a purebred one. Thus, all native cockerels in the flock are eliminated.
4. Local farmers buying male purebred broiler from small broiler raisers.
These are then raised to become the breeders of the native chicken. Somehow,
the farmers must eliminate also the native cockerels from his flock.
Coupled with these methods of upgrading, the farmer should also put up a poultry
house of local materials as these purebred would not be able to roost on higher
branches of trees. They also need protection during inclement weather.
The offsprings of these are called mestizos or grades, whose size and egg production almost equal those of the purebred parents. Further mating of the graded females to purebred males produce birds that could be mistaken for purebreds.
White leghorn males are mated with native hens to produce grades for better egg
production. The offsprings may give more eggs at the start, but they are not so
hardy enough to sustain this under farm conditions. The same case goes for the
White Leghorn males’ performance. Given this limitation, providing proper feed,
proper care and management can do a lot to augment the situation.
Source: nzdl.org
Thanks for sharing Roosterman
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