Characteristics of indigenous chicken in Iraq

Abstract

SummaryThe Iraqi indigenous chickens (I.I.C.) are well adapted to a wide range of ambient temperature (-5°C to 50°C). They are found throughout the country and are raised for meat and eggs. The birds are active and independent foragers.The IPA Agricultural Research Centre played a role in the purification and multiplication of five different genetic lines according to feather colour. These lines are the progeny of segregating populations of the foundation stock which was a specimen collected from all over the country. The plumage colour of the I.I.C. lines varied from white to black. Most of the birds have white skin colour; comb type is single; egg-shell colour varied between white, tinted to brown; age at sexual maturity ranged between 162 to 166 days; body weight at sexual maturity was found to be similar for the differentlines (1.4 kg) indicating that I.I.C are small-sized birds and variations among lines of the I.I.C were significant for egg production, egg weight and feed efficiency.