SOME PHENOTYPIC PARAMETERS OF SCAVENGING CHICKEN IN RANGPUR, BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study was conducted among the marginal people of district Rangpur from January to March 2009. The target points of the study were to find out which season is the best for brooding, how many eggs they set for brooding, hatchability rate, how many chicks survive up to pullet and what is the average live body weight of mature female and mature male birds of the existing scavenging chicken rearing system. The results have shown that about 34% households choose the season Autumn as for brooding and 28% choose Late Autumn but only 2% choose Winter for brooding season, about 46% households like to set 10-12 eggs for brooding and 32% like to set 12-14 eggs but only 2% households like to set 14-16 eggs for brooding, hatchability rate is 86, only 1/3 chicks remain up to pullet and the average live body weight of mature female is 0.95 kilograms and average live body weight of mature male is 1.27 kilograms. It was found that poultry keeping was the women`s domain and the main reasons given for keeping poultry were a source of supplementary income as well as consumption during festival and special occasions. However no separate feeding was arranged for chicks and adults. Mortality in chicks was high at the first 40 days of life. Newcastle Disease, Coccidiosis, Fowl pox, Fowl Cholera and disease causes by various parasites etc. were the main diseases reported for chicken. It is concluded that, there is a need for awareness building training and systematic planning for scavenging chicken rearing system. Scavenge birds are highly sustainable in adverse condition. So by developing the scavenge chicken rearing system we may earn money and make the village people selfdepeanded.