Increasing productivity of local chicken from local farmers through early separation of chicks from brooding hen in Dodoma, Tanzania

Abstract

Low production of local chicken was among the challenges faced by small-scale local chicken farmers in Dodoma, Tanzania, as reported in a previous study. In this case, this study stressed that understanding the manipulation of broody hens through early separation from chicks can increase the productivity of local chickens for farmers. Laying hens were monitored from the start of laying until they finished the circle and started laying again. The hen was allowed to lay, incubate, and hatch eggs. Following hatching, the chicks were separated from the hen by varying distances of 3 – 10 m. Eggs were laid, incubated and hatched, and the time interval taken for the hen to start laying again after the chick’s separation was recorded. The average number of eggs laid, incubated and hatched per hen per circle varied significantly (p<0.05) between wet and dry seasons. About 60% of the hens lost their brooding behaviour in the first week, while about 40% did so in the second week. The average   me it took for the hen to resume laying after chicks’ separation ranged from 14 to 15 days, depending on factors such as season, distance between chicks and hen. The calling of hens to chicks decreased significantly (p<0.001) in the third week. In this study, the single laying circle lasted about 30 – 34 days. Early chicks’ separation from hens can increase local chicken productivity for farmers, thus improving food security, income and employment.