EFFECT OF FLOCK AGE ON FERTILITY AND HATCHABILITY TRAITS OF SHIKABROWN® CHICKENS

Abstract

The research was conducted to determine the effect of flock age on fertility and hatchability traits of ShikaBrown® chickens in Aliero. A total of 1177 hatchable eggs were collected from birds of African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG) project in Kebbi State and incubated at different flock age (48, 49, 50 and 51 weeks). The experimental design used was the Nested type (Henderson, 1963). The Parameters considered include mean egg weight, fertility, hatchability, hatch weight and embryonic mortality. The data was analyzed using GLM of SPSS (2013). Significant interaction (P≤0.05) was observed between flock age and egg weight, fertility, hatchability, embryonic mortality and hatched weight. Highest egg weight (58.40±0.32g) and hatchability (68.57±1.91%) were recorded at age 51, fertility was highest (94.65±1.75%) at age 50 weeks and lowest (89.52±2.21) at 48 weeks. Egg weight, hatchability and hatched chicks‘ weight were amplified (P≤0.05) with increase in age (48-51 weeks). Embryonic mortality improves with advancing age (P≤0.05) and was highest at the early stage and lowest at mid-stage of incubation.