Prelaying Growth Performance and Mortality of Native Chickens Raised by Farmers in Villages of Lampang Province

Abstract

Native chickens aged 7, 8, 9, and 10 weeks were raised by 50 farmers under the traditional condition in the local village of Lampang province. Each farmer received 15 chickens (3 males and 12 females). The results revealed that the male native chickens had higher (P<0.01) body weights and daily gains than the female. Chickens which were allocated to the local farm at difference ages had significant difference body weight at started to weight at 24 weeks of age. The maximum weight was observed in the chickens allocated at 10 weeks of age. For the daily gain, the results were similar to those of the body weight. Mortality rate of the chickens. at 7, 8 and 9 weeks of age did not statistically differ (P>0.05) among each others but they were higher (2.91%), bitten by dogs (2.81%) and others (2.60%), respectively. (P<0.05) than that allocated at 10 weeks of age. The male and female chickens  did not differ in mortality rate. Total loss of native chickens raised in the village from the start of the experiment to 24 weeks of age was due to death rate (86.64%) which was the highest and followed in order by accidental loss (5.04%), bitten by pigs.