| Resumo: |
Three hundred eggs were obtained from settlements around New Bussa, Niger state during the month of August 2006 and transported to Ekiti state by road. 93.33 % of the three hundred (300) eggs collected were selected for hatching. The eggs were hatched at the aviary unitof Ekiti state Agricultural Development Project, Ikole Ekiti, Nigeria. At hatching the keets were separated on the basis of their plumage colours as shown by the distinct difference in the colour of the downy feathers of the keets into three genotypes, pearl, ash and black. The keets of each genotype were randomly allocated to brooder rooms where they were floor brooded using kerosene stove. The keets were fed with diet containing 24% CP, 3000 kcal/kg ME and water ad libitum for the first 8 weeks at the brooder house and fed diets containing 18 % CP, 2850 kcal/kg ME and water ad libitum for the last phase of the experiment. Measurements were taken every fourteen (14) days on body weight and body linear measurements on shank length, drumstick length, keel length, body girth, body length and wing length. The results showed that the birds demonstrated low body weights and small body size in all the parameters examined.
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