Evaluation of morphological traits and production performance of Feather-legged chickens conserved in Tuyen Quang province
This study represents an initial step in evaluating the appearance characteristics, growth performance, and reproductive productivity of the Feather-legged chicken conserved in Meo Vac District, Ha Giang Province (now Tuyen Quang Province) during 2023–2024. The results showed that Feather-legged chickens exhibited distinctive morphological traits. One-day-old chicks had pale yellow to yellow-brown down with black spots on the head; the skin, beak, and shanks were yellow. At 20 weeks of age, males displayed a single comb and brown plumage, with golden-yellow neck and saddle feathers extending to the tail. Tail feathers were long and blue-black, while thigh feathers were strongly developed. Females had a slender body with apricot-yellow plumage and a single comb. Males possessed thicker and denser leg feathers than females, and the lower feather groups extended to cover the feet. The survival rate at 20 weeks of age was high. The average body weight at 8 weeks was 1,005.90 g for males and 874.19 g for females. At 20 weeks, males and females reached 1,937.74 g and 1,651.22 g, respectively. The age at first laying was 151 days, and the peak laying period occurred at 270 days of age. The average egg production over a 52-week laying period was 68.84 eggs per hen, corresponding to a laying rate of 18.19%. The fertilized egg rate reached 89.17%, and the hatchability rate was 71.37%. Thus, the feather-legged chicken has high fertility and hatchability rates, indicating relatively good reproductive performance and suitability for conservation and further development.
