A Review on the Effects of Broodiness Characteristics on Egg Productivity, Hatchability, and Chick Quality of Indigenous Chicken in Ethiopia

Broodiness is an action or behavioral tendency to sit on a clutch of eggs to incubate and hatch them, with non-expression of other behaviors such as feeding and drinking and, it is due to the secretion of the hormone prolactin by the anterior lobe of the hypothesis. It is breed-dependent, some breeds have the highest long last incidence, some may have less and the others may not. Breeds such as Cochin, Cornish, Sickie, Quail, Pheasants, Turkeys, and Geese have a high tendency to broodiness but in some breeds such as the White Leghorn, broodiness is extremely rare. The Ethiopian indigenous chickens are none descriptive breeds closely related to the Jungle fowl and vary in color, comb type, body conformation, and weight and different broodiness behavior. The poultry breeding programs that is used to improve the productivity of indigenous chickens should target economical traits and consider the current and future production circumstances. Even though the broodiness characteristics of indigenous chicken is considered as antagonistic to egg production, it plays a pivotal role in rural and smallholder poultry production for subsistence poultry keeping and product utilization due to effective and successful maternity characteristics of hen for sustained and growth of chicks.