EXTERNAL EGG QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF SEVEN-CHICKEN STRAINS FROM SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effect of strain on external egg quality characteristics of seven-chicken in South-Western Nigeria using a total of 195 point of lay hens. Each of the seven strains used was replicated three times at 10 birds per replicate, making a total of 30 hens per strain except for the frizzle feather that were 15 in number. Completely randomized design was used for the trial that lasted for 22 weeks. A total of 936 eggs were collected between weeks 30–37 from the hens for external quality studies. The birds were fed experimental diets during the period of the study. Results of this study showed that egg weights, shell thickness and colour were significantly different (p<0.05) among the seven strains. Hubbard strain eggs had the highest egg weight (50.53g). Also, eggs of indigenous chickens are generally small/peewee in size (37.11g–43.23g) and the eggs of Fulani ecotype chickens weighed heaviest (43.23g) with thinnest shell (0.31mm) among the indigenous chickens. Brownish colour eggs are more pronounced in exotic chickens than the indigenous population. It can be concluded that normal feather chickens possessed good shell thickness and Fulani ecotype chickens possessed the greatest potential for laying large size eggs. Shell colour which could appeal to consumers in indigenous chickens should be improved upon. Fulani ecotype chicken is recommended for improvement and incorporation as indigenous layer bird while normal feather chickens are recommended because of their egg shell strength. Researches on Nigeria Indigenous Chickens for improvement in egg shell colouration to attract consumers are highly advocated.