Abstract:
The survey was conducted in the top eight barangays of Rizal, Kalinga primarily to determine the personal and socio-economic profile of the respondents; flock management of native chicken in terms of production and market; aspect of native chicken production such as management environment; the problems encountered by the respondents in native chicken production; and generate information of the geographical distribution of the native chicken from February 25 to April 24, 2016.
The data were gathered through interview. Frequency distribution, percentage, and mean rating were used for statistical analysis.
A total of 384 respondents from the eight barangays of Rizal, Kalinga were selected with (60.42%) male and (39.29%) females with the middle age between 41-50 years old and a family size of 5-8 (52.86%). The respondents were engaged in raising native chicken with almost 19-26 (31.51%) years. Most of them were high school level (54.69%) and were laborers (36.985).
Native chickens were raised by the respondents as their source of income, food and for socio-cultural use. They also prefer raising native chicken because of the low input requirement, resistant to diseases and parasites, thrive well to locally available resources, require little attention on production aspects, prolific, and command higher price in the market.
All of the respondents allowed the hen to incubate the eggs and brood the chicks naturally. It can be concluded that native chickens are good brooders and that natural incubation is more economical.
They usually kept 1-5 hens, 1-4 pullets, 1-5 cocks, and 10-14 chicks with a clutch size of 11-15 (51.563%) and a creamy white egg shell color. A nest made of bamboo basket were used for laying their eggs.
Almost all of the raisers used traditional feedstuff which includes kitchen refuse, unmarketable/rotten fruits and vegetables, farm by-products, rice bran and root crops. They are usually allowed to move freely to receive supplementary feeds in the day and confined at night under the tree or farm houses in simple sheds.
Problems encountered by the raisers were diseases, parasites, and predators. The common diseases that were encountered are colds, avian pest, chicken pox, and other diseases. Rat, cat, dog and lice were some of the parasites and diseases encountered by the raisers.
Lack of veterinary facilities, extension facilities and marketing from the government were the main problems encountered by the raisers in the area.
The study recommended that seminars and trainings may be conducted to strengthen the knowledge of the native chicken raisers. Thus, proper management and sanitation must observed by the raisers.
