Plumage Characteristics of Indigenous Chickens in Borno State, North East Nigeria

Abstract

Plumage characteristics were studied on 600 indigenous chickens in Borno State, Nigeria. The plumage colours were ash, black, black with white stripes, brown, brown red, multicolour, red, white, white with black stripes, yellow and others. Their respective frequency distribution were 6.8 %, 10.7 %, 8.2 %, 7.5 %, 3.8%, 31.3 %, 4.0 %, 12.5 %, 3.3%, 2.7 % and 9.2%. The feather characteristics studied in the chickens were normal feather, naked neck, frizzle feather, silky and feather crestedness. Their frequencies were 43.0 %, 16.0 %, 24.3 % and 16.7 %, respectively. Chickens without crest and with crest had 78.0 % and 22.0 %, respectively. Plumage colour distribution of indigenous chickens in Borno State is highly variable. Multicolour birds were most frequent. Aside, white birds abound in the Central part contrary to the Southern part with abundant black birds. Large variation in feather colour revealed much genetic dilutions within the indigenous chickens. Normal feathered birds were predominant while frizzle feathered, silky and naked neck were scanty. The normal feathered and naked neck had more cocks while more drizzle hens were in abundant. Silky had 50 – 50 for both sexes. Larger percentages of the birds were without crest while the crested birds were abundant in the southern part. Most likely, the scale of preference weighed heavily against chickens with these features.