National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), PO Box 96, Tororo, Uganda
Kirunda, H., National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), PO Box 96, Tororo, Uganda; Muwereza, N., National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), PO Box 96, Tororo, Uganda
Different options for improving hatchability in indigenous free-range chickens were evaluated. The aim was to establish alternatives that could increase mean hatchability to more than 80% as previously reported in village chickens in other countries. A total of 1,182 hens were recruited. Farmers were required to provide water and feed provision at nest, turn eggs in the nest and monitor hens for any mite infestation. Independent variables were site of egg storage, type of nest material, number of eggs provided to hen to incubate and hen-cockerel relationship. The study response variable was hatchability proportions. Data on these parameters were captured. Quantitative data were analyzed by SPSS for descriptive statistics and determination of significance of relationships done using Kruskal-Wallis Test (p=0.05). There was a significant relationship (p<0.05) between hatchability and site of egg storage; nest material used; number of eggs incubated; and the relationship between parent hen and cock. Hens incubating egg stored on trays, using cotton as nest material, incubating 12-14 eggs and mated to unrelated cockerel had frequencies of >80% mean hatchability in at least 55.0%, 57.9%, 58.5% and 57.3% of the study hens, respectively. In addition to provision of water and feed at nest and turning eggs at least four times a day, farmers should be encouraged to use egg trays for storage, use of cotton, straw or sawdust as nest material, provide only 12-14 eggs and mate hens only to unrelated cocks if hatchability is to be increased to> 80% among free-range chickens in Eastern Uganda.