Indigenous Chicken Production

• Many modern poultry breeds produced nowadays derived from the 84 wild chicken breeds originated and grown in the natural forests of India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

• In old times, wild chickens were raised for fighting cocks and later, chickens with beautiful feathers were selected and raised as pets and ornamental chickens.

• Chickens were raised on a small scale for meat and egg production for people's consumption in later times.

• Then, poultry farming has been developed as a commercial business, and it has flourished all over the world.

• Later, from the local chicken breeds, genetically improved chicken breeds are produced by advanced breeding technologies and are raised through advanced raising methods.

• However, in rural areas, local chickens are still being raised for small-scale or commercial purposes.

• Nowadays, the consumption of indigenous chicken meat and eggs is increasing, and consumers are demanding more nutritious and healthy foods.

• Therefore, if the indigenous poultry farming can be properly done and maintained with advanced raising techniques, the production capacity can be increased and obtain more market opportunities.

Figure 1 Naked Neck Indigenous Chicken (Source: learnpoultry.com)