Baseline data on chicken population, productivity, housebandry, feeding, breeding, health care, marketing and constraints in four peasant associations in Ambo Wereda

Field survey covering 396 randomly sampled households in four peasant associations was carried to generate baseline information on the chicken population, production goal, consumption pattern of chicken meat and egg, productivity, feeding, health care, breeds and breeding, marketing and to identify and prioritize the major production constraints in the peasant associations. the four peasant associations are Degfille, Kilinto Awaro and Birbirssa and Chirecha (BCBA). The survey result showed that home consumption and sales are the main objectives for rearing chickens except in the BCPA where 74.5% of the respondents raise chickens for triple purpose (home consumption, sales and breeding). The per capita consumption of egg and chicken meat were found to be 19 eggs and 0.54 kg. for Awaro, 19 eggs and 0.53 KG. for Degafille, 17.8 eggs and 0.44 kg. for Kilinto and 22 egs and 0.55 kg. for BCPA. The population appears to vary with the year and season of the same year. Highest population group observed were adult female chickens and matured male chickens being the least. The percentage of local and exotic breeds of chickens in the four PAS were found to be 100% and 0 in Awaro, 74.4% and 17.9% in Degafille, 80% and 85.9% and 13.6% in BCPA. The remaining unspecified percentages are crosses. Mean matured cockerel weight was found to be 1375.3 g. 1496.7 g, 1518 g and 1353.6 g for Awaro, Degafille, Kilinto and BCPA respectively. Mean matured weight of hen were 1241.5 g, 1284.2 g, 1240 g and 1233.7 g, for the four PAS respectively. The mean annual number of egg production per hen were 38.5, 42.1, 36.2 and 38.0 and the mean age at which pullets start to produce the first egg were 184.4 days, 187.8 days, 201 and 202.7 days respectively. The hatchability of the incubated eggs was high. It was observed that 81.8%, 81.6%, 85.8% and 68.4% respectively, indicating the good mothering ability of the local chickens. The chickens besides scavenging were estimated to be provided with 48.3 g, 70.2 g, 48.2 g, and 77.3 g of wheat, corn or sorghum whole grains. Disease outbreaks were common in the four PAS in the previous yours. The annual crude mortality rate fairly high and was observed to be 93%, 49.5%, 63.5% and 42.65%. Diseases mainly occur between the months of April and September and peak in the months of July and August. Uncontrolled mating was rampant and no selection. 80% of the respondents are interested in having and can afford to buy a mean 5 exotic chickens per household. Exotic breed preference was apparent. Price per chicken appears to vary with weight, sex festivals and season. The highest prices are offered during the Ethiopian Easter and New year festivals. Chickens are managed at a very minimum input. Within the households the chickens are owned by the wives and by children to a lesser extent. In about 75% of the households, the feeding, egg collection, and the sales activity is carried by women. The major constraints identified were disease, damaging vegetables (space shortage) and financial problems.