The two main reasons for the low rate of egg laying and hatching are, mother hen’s intention for brooding eggs and prolong chicken rearing-period.
- Indigenous chickens usually take 15 days for laying eggs, 21 days of brooding and 75 days of raising young chicks, which result in low-rate egg production and low rate of hatching chicks.
- Egg production and hatching rates will increase when these periods can be properly managed by the owner.
- The price of indigenous chicken eggs is higher than layer eggs. Hence, in order to produce more eggs, hens’ brooding period could be prohibited, so that a hen can lay an average of 200 eggs per year.
- For meat production purposes, mother hens should allow only one month of chicken rearing period and take care of the young chickens separately, so that hens will breed again earlier.
