Abstract

A demonstration trial was conducted on four selected chicken eco-types found in three districts (Guagusa Shekudad, Mecha and Farta) of Western Amhara, Ethiopia. The trial was done on 80 village chicken owner households using a total of 344 local hens. It was done for two successive years (2011 and 2012). The major objective of the study was to evaluate the egg production performance of local hens with strategic feed supplementation. Correspondingly a formal survey was conducted on 320 local hens being reared in similar villages to identify their egg production potential under the existing farmers’ management condition. The supplementary diet was prepared using maize, noug cake and salt. Each hen was given 60 grams of supplementary feed daily. The average number of local hens used in supplementary feeding trial per each household was 4.3 hens. The average egg production of local hens under existing farmers’ management condition was found to be 51.6 eggs/hen/year. The average number of eggs laid per supplemented hens per day was 0.29 eggs. The total egg production of supplemented hens was 50.88 eggs/hen/six months period. The economic analysis result indicated that village chicken producers could get additional cash income of $ 9.6 Ethiopian Birr and $16.9 Ethiopian Birr, through selling of extra produced eggs at local markets and urban markets, respectively. The result of the study indicated that 97.5% of participants were happy with the feed supplementation regime. Poor palatability of noug cake due to improper mixing was the major constraint raised by participants. The result of the study revealed that supplementing local scavenging hens with additional feed could improve egg production and reduce mortality. The promising results of the current study also showed feed supplementation and training should be included in local chicken improvement package preparation programs with other interventions like health and housing.

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