Reproductive performance of different strains of indigenous domestic fowls at Takalmawa and Nasarawa villages of Sokoto State, Nigeria

A study was undertaken to investigate the reproductive performance (incubation, hatching and brooding) of 14 flock indigenous domestic fowls comprising of 119 hens from July to October, 2008. The study was conducted in two villages; Takalmawa and Nasarawa villages in Dange Shuni and Shagari Local Government Areas of Sokoto State respectively. The hens in the selected households were monitored weekly for three months and information such as date of visit, live weight, eggs laid, laying duration, egg weight and hatchability were recorded. Results of the study revealed that mean body weights of hens varied significantly according to physiological state and incubation periods (p<0.05). The mean body weights were 1.37, 0.88 and 1.08 kg for laying hens, incubating hens and brooding hens, respectively. The mean value for number of eggs laid, laying duration, egg weight and hatchability were 12.21, 16.70 days, 21.56 g and 86% respectively. Percent brooding loss was 20.89% and mean age at weaning was 44.33 days. Hatchability was negatively correlated with number of eggs laid and hen weight.