Abstract:
A study was conducted to determine the productivity and management of indigenous chickens of Kumi district in Eastern Uganda.
Eighty households were randomly selected to respond to a standard questionnaire.
The average flock size per household was three cocks, six hens and four chicks. Sexual maturity is attained at 5.5 and 6.5 months
among male and female chickens respectively, with age at first egg ranging between 5.5-7 months. Egg hatchability varied widely
between farmers with an overall mean of 90%. Clutch sizes ranged between 4-19 eggs per clutch, with a mean of 13 eggs.
Chickens were acquired through purchase (65.6%), gifts (26.3%), or in exchange for labour. Scavenging was the major feeding
system, seasonally supplemented with cereal grain. The majority of the farmers (87.5%) provided birds with drinking water.