EGG PRODUCTION POTENTIAL AND EGG QUALITY TRAITS OF BLACK ROCK, RED CORNISH AND VANARAJA CHICKEN REARED IN COASTAL CLIMATIC CONDITION OF ODISHA, INDIA

Hundred (100) day old straight run healthy chicks from three chicken breeds were randomly selected and kept for 40 weeks under standard managemental conditions in deep litter system. Black Rock and Vanaraja attained sexual maturity earlier than Red Cornish. The egg production potential of Black Rock and Vanaraja was higher than Red Cornish. No difference of fertility was seen among the three breeds but higher hatchability on total egg set basis and fertile egg set basis were seen in Black Rock and Vanaraja breeds in comparison to Red Cornish. Higher egg weight, albumin index and Haugh unit was seen in Red Cornish but no difference was seen between Vanaraja and Black Rock.