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LOCAL/INDIGENOUS CHICKEN PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA

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 Unlike the genetically improved or modern broilers and layers production business which many people are already into and the market is filled making it difficult for newbies to survive, local or indigenous chicken (Okuko'Igbo)production is yet to be untapped as most or intending farmers are unaware of the high demand of these birds in the Nigerian poultry market. It can be reared with little capital and with or no assistance and anyone (young or old) can manage the production.

Fulani Ecotype

Frizzled chicken
 Consumers of indigenous chicken breeds
• Any class (Elites,middle class,average class etc)
• Any religion (traditional, Christians, Muslims etc)
From the above, it simply means that consumption of Okuko'Igbo has no restrictions thus making the demand high.

Local chicken breeds in Nigeria includes;
1. Fulani breed(heavy ecotype)
2. Igbo breed (medium ecotype)
3. Yoruba breed (light ecotype)

Igbo Ecotype (Ichacha)

Yoruba Ecotype

Suitable Production System for the Nigerian Indigenous chicken (Okuko'Igbo)
• Extensive system
Nigerian Indigenous chicken breeds can survive on extensive system of production fending for themselves picking seeds,ants,lizards,leftovers etc with totally no assistance from the farmers or owners.

• Semi-Intensive system
These birds can be reared with little assistant from the farmer. The farmer provides the coop where the birds after roaming about during the day can go in at night fall as well as supplementing their diets with compounded feeds once in a while.

• Intensive system
The indigenous chicken breeds can as well adapt to captivity production system where all their needs (shelter,feeding, medications etc) are provided

Things to Note in Okuko'Igbo production
• How u feed determines the amount of egg it will lay and how it lays
 •The production system u adapt determines how many chicks u can get in a year from a hen
• How u feed them determines how you improve them as it regards fast growth and weight gain
• In local chicken production, the hen,when fed well goes back to laying after 2 weeks. Thus people that cannot brood the chicks do allow the hen to brood the chicks for 2weeks then will collect the chicks from hen so that the hen can go back to laying after 2 weeks
• To boost the production of local fowls be it any breed or for any purpose ( meat or egg) the energy requirements can be boosted by feeding them cereals at least once a day.
• Muiltivitamins and minerals which body needs for some metabolic activities both catabolic and anabolic can be given to the birds at interval.
• Use commercial compounded grower feeds for them.
• If this aspect of poultry farming can be carried out intensively, their egg number will definitely increase as they will not be allowed to seat on their eggs and prevent brooding their chicks
•One of the challenges local fowl keepers are having is  loosing of the chicks to carnivores(kites,snakes, cats,dogs etc),sometimes, man.
Thus it is necessary to build a pen to avoid such losses.

Difference between Okuko'Igbo and improved breeds (broilers/layers)
√ Local fowl do not lay like commercial fowl because of the genetics and nutritional standards
√ Commercial fowl can lay one egg everyday for more than a year and sometimes the xteristics of incubating the egg is not there. Local fowl can lay at least 100 to 120 eggs a year if kept and managed like improved breeds of fowl.
√ The locals spike day as it lays when it reaches it clutch of about 10 eggs it will go for a break for about 3 to 5 days
When commercial has fowl reached its clutch it goes for break for about 2 to 3 days and it clutch is about 15 to 20 eggs.

It is very important that youths in both rural and urban areas with a space should venture into this aspect of poultry farming as there's already a steady market for the product.

Acknowledgements:
We acknowledge the unalloyed contributions of the following.
Dr. Jude Okafor (Sunseed Nigeria Ltd)
Mrs. Linda O. (Zulinkx group)
Udeh V.C. (UNN)
David Ukweze (Dav. Farms)

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