Genetic improvement of farm animals encompasses both mating and selection for desired traits and indigenous chicken genetic resources are no exception. In Kenya, previous attempts to genetically improve indigenous chicken involved cross-breeding scheme by utilizing cockerels and pullets of exotic breeds with the local indigenous chicken. This scheme was complimented with farmer training on good management practices and vaccination for disease control. The scheme was partially successful with improved performance in the crossbreds that declined with subsequent generations. Failure of the programme to meet stakeholder's expectation led to its’ termination. The current attempt through the Smallholder Indigenous Chicken Improvement Programme has initiated an holistic and comprehensive approach to analysing the entire indigenous chicken actors and avert the causes of previous failures. The programme has genetically and phenotypically characterized the chicken; established reference/base population collected from different ecotypes/counties, established the breeding goals and designed breeding programmes that best suit the Kenyan stakeholders. The on-station research has reported variation on production traits, determined heritability estimate on growth. Current and ongoing research is focused on molecular characterization, selection for improved immune response, carcass quality, eggs production, growth and adaptation traits. The research is also concerned with conservation of these genetic resources.

The objective of this study was to characterize the native chickens reared in three agro-ecological zones of Southeastern Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Data on visual appraisal and linear body measurements were obtained from a total of 600 matured local chickens of both sexes drawn from 240 households. The results indicated that the average flock size, age at first egg of hens and eggs produced per clutch were 11.9 heads, 6.2 months and 15.4 eggs, respectively. The majority of the male chicken possessed snake head shape (60.7 percent) and most of them had rose combs (57.9 percent), red feather plumage (46.1 percent), yellow shanks (86.3 percent), red earlobes (84.2 percent) and yellow skin (56.8 percent). Majority of the hens possessed single combs (43.5 percent), red earlobes (77.3 percent), yellow shanks (44.4 percent), yellowish brown feather (27.4 percent) followed by red (24.2 percent) and black (21.2 percent). The cocks were generally heavier (1.39 kg) than the hens (1.22 kg). The average values for breast angle (degrees), body length, body width, shank length, shank circumference, keel bone length, wing span, comb length and beak length of the cocks were 45.9, 24.1, 24.9, 7.43, 3.86, 9.63, 7.99, 4.86 and 1.91 cm, respectively. The corresponding values for the hens were 40.2, 22.7, 23.8, 7.43, 3.46, 8.95, 7.40, 2.47 and 1.71. The values for wing span, comb length, beak length, body weight, breast angle and keel bone length differed (P < 0.05) across the agro-ecologies. The best predictor for assessing the body weight of hens was breast angle and body length, whereas in the cocks it was best estimated using breast angle and shank circumference values. The present study suggests that indigenous chickens in the study area possess useful economic traits that could be improved through systematic breeding for enhanced productivity under scavenging production systems.

A structured questionnaire was administered to 40 households in each of the three localities (Bahri, Dilling and Abu-neama). Morphological characteristics of 900 chickens were physically examined. Data analysis showed that the average flock size per household was 16.7 and that it varied significantly among localities. The flock structure study showed that 46.1 percent were chicks and growers, 34.6 percent hens and 19.35 percent cocks. Regarding the ecotypes, the flock was composed of 75.7, 8.8 and 15.5 percent large Beladi (LB), bare neck (BN) and Betwil (BT) dwarf, respectively. The Sudanese indigenous chicken are characterized by wide phenotypic variation. The plumage colour frequencies were mixed colour (37.8 percent), light brown (16.5 percent), black (13.1 percent), grey (3.5 percent) and white (6.2 percent). Feathering did not show a well-defined pattern; however, the few birds whose feathering pattern could be identified were crown feather (7.0 percent), partridge (3.5 percent), barred (3.5 percent), laced (3.1 percent) and frizzled (0.01 percent). The average adult body weight was 1 650.5 ± 125 g in males and 1 187 ± 70 g in females. Hens reached sexual maturity at 6.5 months and layed 13.2 eggs/clutch in 3–3.5 clutches per year. The average egg weight was 40.8 ± 1.6 g and the hatchability rate under natural incubation was 71.8 percent. The BN ecotype had significantly (P < 0.01) poorer maternal care (57.7 percent hatchability) compared with the other types (LB and BT).

The objective of the study was to determine the phenotypic variation among four Bhutan indigenous chickens (BIC) namely Seim (SM), Phulom (PL), Yuebjha Narp (YN) and Khuilay (KL). A total of 120 chickens (KL, 30; YN, 30; PL, 30; SM, 30) were included for the present study. Based on descriptive statistic analysis, the results illustrate that there are three types of comb and single type predominant. The Bhutanese chickens do not have feather on the shank and the head type is plain. The common colours of earlobe in four indigenous birds are white and red. White skin and shank colour rank high among BIC groups; however, in SM the yellowish skin colour is observed high. The predominant feather colour of four indigenous chickens is pure black in YN (48.28 percent), white in KL (30.00 percent), reddish brown in SM (33.33 percent) and PL (23.33 percent). In addition, breast, back and neck feather followed the similar pattern of colour. Among BIC populations, KL and YN strains present the greatest and lowest plumage colour diversity, respectively. For example, eight different colours of breast feather are surveyed in KL and PL birds. Therefore, considering the variation in feather colourings, KL and PL seems to have more diversity in morphology but, it requires further studies. On the other hand, YN appears to have less diversity requiring for appropriate development of conservation strategies in Bhutan. Moreover, the large variations present the possibility of making improvement among BIC.