Qualitative Diversity of Northeastern Nigerian Indigenous Chicken Populations
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Date
2026-06-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian J. Anim, Sci
Abstract
A total of 600 adult indigenous chickens of central and southern parts of Borno state were
examined for qualitative characteristics which consisted of 322 (53.67%) males and 278
(46.33%) females. The qualitative traits considered included plumage colour, comb type,
feather characteristics and earlobe, shank and eye colours. Data collected on the qualitative
parameters were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, percentage and frequency)
using SPSS (2011), v. 20. There were abundant chickens with brown red (27%) and white birds
(17%) in the central while black birds dominated (17.4%) the southern part. Chickens with
multicolour plumage were most frequent (31.3%). More hens were multicoloured and cocks
were mostly white. Normal feathered chickens abound (59.7%), naked neck (16%) and frizzle
(24.3%) feathered chickens were scanty. Cocks of normal feathered (59.9%) and naked neck
(21.4%) were more prevalent. Reverse was the case for frizzle feathered (31.7%). Seventy
eight percent (78%) of the chickens was normal headed (with no crest). Crestedness was more
frequent with birds from the southern part (37.7%). Single comb chickens were in abundant
(75.2%). Chickens with white shank (30.3%) were predominant. Chickens with yellow shank
colour dominated the southern part (29%). Cocks were more of white shank (31%) and hens
were varied in shank colour. Chickens with orange eye colour were predominant (39.2%).
Most chickens possessed white earlobe (36.7%). The multiple variants in qualitative
characteristics revealed in this study provided essential tools for designing an effective
selection and conservation programme for improvement of qualitative potentials inherent in
these chickens