On-Farm Phenotypic Characterization of Indigenous Chicken

Despite the important roles of local chickens, rearing them can be considered as a side line agricultural activity. However, the indigenous chicken populations have been neglected by conservation and development programs. Instead high input demanding exotic commercial chicken breeds are introduced and supported by the government to increase poultry productivity.The most dominant chicken types reared in Ethiopia are local ecotypes, which show a large variation in body conformation, plumage color, comb type and productivity.