Review of chicken productive and reproductive performance and its challenges in Ethiopia

This review gathered information about the reproduction and production performance of indigenous, exotic chickens and hybrids in Ethiopia. The indigenous chicken egg production performance under the backyard system within the ranges of 30–80 eggs per hen annually, with an average egg weight of 38–45 g, laying 10–15.7 eggs per month. Indigenous chicken eggs had a hatchability rate of 78.6–85.8%, however more than 40% of chicks died before reaching sexual maturity. At hatch, local chickens weigh 27.1–28.8 g, whereas at maturity they weigh 1300–1600 and 987–1300 g, respectively, and indigenous male and female chickens reach sexual maturity within 23.48–26 and 20–28 weeks, respectively. Each exotic chicken produces 135–185 eggs per year in the village with a 43–52.5 g weight, but it may rise to 250 eggs with a 60 g weight in the marketable sector. Exotic chickens were low in hatchability, 39.3–76.1%. While their cross laid 33 eggs in 3.1 clutches in 31.6–38 days and their eggs weighed 40–49 g with 67.9–85.8% hatchability. Cross-breed chickens and exotics produce a weight of 27–40.1 and 35.2–38.8 g respectively