Hatching performance of backyard hens in Peshawar, Pakistan  

M Farooq,  K Javed*, F R Durrani, K Irfanullah** and N Chand

Poultry Science Department, NWFP, Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan
geanes@psh.paknet.com.pk or durraniff@yahoo.com  or durranif@hotmail.com
* World Wide Fund (WWF), Peshawar, Pakistan
** In-service Training Institute, Peshawar

Abstract

A study was carried out during the year 2000 in 13 randomly selected villages of Peshawar to investigate egg holding time and hatchability of eggs set under a broody hen. From each village,  10 female farmers were randomly selected.

Average egg holding period was 10.5±0.36 days. Eggs were held for a longer period during the winter (14.0±0.81 days) than in the summer season (6.28±0.27 days). Average number and frequency of eggs set per year under a broody hen was 57.5±3.67 eggs and 4.10±0.11, respectively. The number of eggs at any one time was 14.0±0.81. Average hatchability on the basis of total eggs set was 60.8±1.56%.  Hatchability was significantly (p<0.001) and negatively associated with egg storage period (b=-2.482±0.30). Association of number of eggs set with hatchability was also negative (b=-0.230±0.14; p<0.09). Significantly higher (p<0.05) hatchability was found for Desi (64.3±2.77%) and RIR hens (63.0±2.71%) than for Fayumi (55.1±2.43%). Higher (p<0.05) hatchability was observed with an egg holding period of <7 days (78.6±1.90%) than at >14 days (46.7±2.59%). Hatchability was higher in spring (78.0±1.03%) than in summer (46.5±3.01%). A higher proportion of the farmers (43.8%) selected eggs on the basis of weight for hatching than those selecting on the basis of egg weight+shape+shell quality (9.23%). A smaller proportion of the farmers (10.8%) were holding eggs for <7 days than those holding eggs for >7<14 days (63.9%).

A shorter egg holding period, setting an appropriate number of eggs under a hen in relatively favorable seasons of the year and selection of eggs on the basis of egg weight+shape and shell quality were suggested as key factors for increased hatching performance of backyard chicken.

Key words: Backyard chicken, Desi, eggs holding period, egg setting frequency, Fayumi, hatchability and RIR

Introduction

The production potential of backyard chickens can only be increased when there is an adequate number of viable chickens available for replacement of the uneconomical birds.  This is mainly a function of the quality of the eggs set for hatching (North 1984). The higher the proportion of quality eggs, the better will be hatchability. Higher hatchability in turn will ensure more intensive selection. Thus, hatchability of eggs should play a major role in determining the number of chicks to be kept for breeding purposes or the number of birds to be replaced. Backyard chickens are usually produced as scavengers, in conditions where they have a limited access to nutrients needed to give a balanced diet; therefore, a wide variability is expected in their hatching performance compared with those produced under commercial farm conditions. Thus in the study reported by Farooq et al (2000) hatchability varied from  63.1 to 84.1% of eggs under backyard conditions. Hatchability is a variable phenomenon and is affected by several factors, among them being egg size, weight, shell thickness and egg holding period. Under backyard conditions the eggs are usually hatched through a broody hen, thus variability in the number of eggs set or management faults could adversely affect hatchability. Similarly, seasonal fluctuations could cause wide variability in hatchability. North (1984) reported better hatchability in eggs set in spring as compared to those set in summer.

The present study was an effort to investigate practices followed by female farmers for selection and management of hatching eggs under scavenging conditions.

Materials and methods

The study was carried out during the year 2000 in 13 villages of Peshawar district to investigate egg holding time and hatching performance of chickens through natural incubation under backyard conditions. Peshawar is the capital city of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) with a big poultry market and well-established animal and poultry institutes. Thus, better hatching performance of backyard chicken is expected in the area as the farmers are supposed to be more aware than in other parts of NWFP.

Selection of the farmers

Thirteen villages were selected at random in the vicinity of Peshawar district to generate data. From each village 10 female farmers were selected at random. The data were collected on a prescribed proforma from female farmers rearing backyard chicken

Data collection

The following information was collected from each female farmer:

• Egg holding period in summer, winter, fall and spring
• Egg selection criterion (egg weight, shape, egg shape+weight+shell quality)
• Number of eggs of Desi, Fayumi or RIR hens set under a broody hen in summer, winter, fall and spring seasons of the year
• Number of eggs set per time under a broody hen
• Frequency and number of eggs set over the whole year
• Number of chicks of Desi, Fayumi and RIR chicken hatched in summer, winter, fall and spring season per number of eggs set

Data analysis

The data were analyzed using relevant statistical techniques of data analysis namely, GLM (General Linear Model) procedures (Steel and Torrie 1981), univariate, multiple regression models and chi-square test. To study the effect of egg holding period, type of chicken, egg selection criterion and season of the year on hatchability of eggs under backyard conditions, the following statistical model was constructed;

Y_ijklm = μ + ai + b_j + c_k + d_l + e_ijklm

Where, Y_ijklm was response variable (hatchability),

μ = population constant common to all observations; a_i = the effect of i-th egg holding period; i= <7 days, >7<14 days and >14 days, b_j = the effect of j-th type of chicken; j= Desi, Fayumi and RIR chicken, c_k = the effect of k-th egg selection criterion; k= eggs selected on the basis of weight, shape or weight+shape and weight+shape+shell quality, d_l = the effect of l-th season of the year on hatchability; l = spring, summer, winter and fall, e_ijklm = the residual term associated with each Y_ijklm, normally, independently and identically distributed with mean zero and unit variance.

For comparison of the female farmers following variable practices in selecting hatching eggs and maintaining variable egg holding periods, the following form of Chi-square test was used;

x² = Σ (O-E)²

Where "E" were expected events and "O" were observed events for each practice followed.

The association of hatchability with egg holding period and number of eggs set under a broody hen was worked out using the following regression model;

Y = b₀ + b₁X₁ + ε_i

Where, "Y" was response variable (hatchability), "b_i" partial regression coefficients, "X_i" the independent variable and "ε_i" was the residual term.

The coefficient of multiple determinations "R²" was worked out as follows;

R² = (r_y^y)²

Where "R²" was the coefficient of multiple determination and r_y^y was the correlation between predicted and actual values.

The R² was then adjusted using following the definition:

R² (adjusted) = [(n-1)R² - k]/[n-k-1]

Where, "n" was the number of observations and "k" the number of independent variables in the model (Wonnacott and Wonnacott 1985).

Results and discussion

Egg holding period under backyard conditions

The average egg holding period was 10.5±0.36 days (Table 1). Eggs were held for a longer period during winter than in summer.  Farooq et al (2000) reported a longer egg holding period in winter and summer seasons in Mardan than the present findings. The smaller egg holding period in the rural areas of Peshawar could probably be due to awareness of the female farmers about the importance of an appropriate egg holding period for better hatching.

Eggs set, frequency of eggs set and total number of eggs used by a household for hatching

The average number and frequency of eggs set under a broody hen was 57.5±3.67 and 4.10±0.11, respectively. Farooq et al (2000) reported a smaller frequency of eggs set and fewer eggs used for hatching by households in Mardan than the present findings. The higher frequency of eggs set or the higher number of eggs used by female farmers in rural areas of Peshawar could probably be due to awareness of the people about the ways to increase the number of chicks for replacement and sale

The findings of the present study for number of eggs set are in line with the reports of Qureshi (1985) and Farooq et al (2000). However, the higher variability in eggs set per time under a broody hen in the present study suggested that all the farmers were not putting a uniform number of eggs under the broody hens.

Hatchability of eggs

Average hatchability in the present study on the basis of total eggs set was 60.8±1.56 (Table 1). Farooq et al (2000) reported a slightly higher hatchability (63.1±1.51%) on the basis of total eggs set under a broody hen in Mardan, NWFP, Pakistan.  Murad et al (2001) and Farooq et al (2001) reported higher hatchabilities (>80%) on the basis of total eggs set than the present findings. The lower hatchability in the present study could be attributed to a prolonged egg holding period and a large number of eggs being set under a broody hen per time.

Hatchability was significantly (p<0.001) and negatively associated with egg holding period (b=-2.48±0.30). Holding other independent variables constant, then a one-day increase in egg holding period reduced hatchability by 2.48%. A prolonged egg holding period may cause a deterioration in the interior quality of eggs and increase the risks of embryonic mortality (Prabakaran et al 1984).  The number of eggs set under a broody hen  was also negatively (b=-0.23±0.14; p<0.09) related with hatchability. These findings suggest that increasing one egg in the number set under a hen will reduce hatchability by 0.23%.

Higher (p<0.05) hatchability was found for Desi and RIR hens than for Fayumi (Table 2). Farooq et al (2000) and Murad et al (2001) reported higher hatchability in Fayumi chicken than in the present study, while in the study of  Farooq et al (2001)  hatchability was similar in Desi chicken but lower in RIR.  The lower hatchability of Fayumi eggs in the present study could probably be due to more intensive inbreeding in this strain. Fayumi being native to Egypt were imported into Pakistan during 1978 and since then no new stock of Fayumi chicken has been imported. The existing stock is thus considered to be a more intensively inbred because of haphazard breeding and the lack of an organised selection program.

Egg holding period had a significant effect on hatchability. Higher (p<0.05) hatchability was observed with an egg holding period of <7 days than at >14 days (Table 2). North (1984) also reported improvement in hatchability when the egg holding period was reduced. This author recommended that eggs should not be stored for more than five days. The finding of the present study also suggested a deterioration in hatchability with prolonged egg holding period.

Season of the year had a significant effect on hatchability, being higher in spring than in summer.  Hatchability was also higher in fall than in winter. North (1984) and Farooq et al (2000) also reported poor hatchability in summer hatches. The higher hatchability during spring and fall seasons in the present study could be attributed to favorable conditions for egg storage and availability of more fresh eggs for hatching than in other seasons of the year.

Proportion of the farmers regarding egg holding period and selection criterion for hatching eggs

A higher proportion of the female farmers were selecting eggs on the basis of egg weight for hatching than those selecting eggs on the basis of weight+shape+shell quality (Table 3). Similarly, a higher proportion of the farmers was selecting eggs on the basis of weight+shape than those on the basis of shape only. A smaller proportion of the farmers were holding eggs for <7 days than those  holding eggs for >7<14 days . The proportion of the farmers holding eggs for more than 14 days was also higher than those holding eggs for <7 days. The findings suggest that few farmers were applying improved skills of hatching under backyard conditions.

Conclusions

• Increased egg holding period reduced hatchability. Better hatchability was obtained when the eggs were held for less than seven days.
• Hatchability was higher in RIR and Desi than in Fayumi chicken.
• Higher hatchability was observed in spring and fall than summer and winter seasons.
• A smaller proportion of the farmers selected eggs on the basis of egg weight, shape and shell quality for hatching and most of them were holding eggs for more than 7 days.

References

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Farooq M, Durrani F R, Aleem M, Chand N, and Muqarrab A K 2001 Egg traits and hatching performance of Desi, Fayumi and Rhode Island Red Chicken. Paper in press in Pak. J. Bio. Sci.

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