Hatching And Brooding Of Guinea Fowl (<i>Numida meleagris galeata pellas</i>) Egg Using Local Hen

Abstract

A total of 164 candled fertile guinea fowl eggs were selected from the College farm and were randomly assigned to two treatment group consisting seven local hens and six guinea fowl hens. Effects of these replacement on hatchability, embryonic mortality, mean incubation time and weaned/keet mortality were investigated. The result shows that there were significantly (P<0.05) higher hachability and survivability of keet (86.30% and 84.1%) in local hen and lower in guinea fowl hen (65% and 14%) respectively. Keet mortality for local and guinea fowl hen were 16% and 45%. The mean incubation time for local and guinea fowl hens were 24 ± 2 and 27 ± 4 days respectively. Raising of guinea fowl by foster mother particularly local hens is therefore recommended because it does not require large initial capital outlay, it is cheap and promotes high hatchability and survivability of keets. Also, the broodiness of local hen is greater than guinea fowl and must be preserved, at least until African farmers can afford incubator.

KEY WORDS: hatching, brooding, mortality, weaning, hen

Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.3(1&2) 2004: 75-77