Effects of Breed on hatchability and immune characteristics of indigenous chickens

This study, was conducted at Hemn Private Hatchery in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, examined 600 eggs (average weight 52.75±0.13 g) from 50-week-old indigenous chickens under sterile conditions. Findings revealed that Kurdish local chickens had a higher egg weight (55.60 g) compared to Iraqi black line (49.83 g). On the 18th day of incubation, average egg weights were 48.20 g for Kurdish chickens and 42.13 g for Iraqi black line, while by day 21, the weights dropped to 35.12 g and 31.93 g, respectively. Egg loss was 7.70% in Kurdish chickens and 7.40% in Iraqi black line. During the season, egg weight decreased by 17.90% in Kurdish chickens and 20.48% in improved chickens. Hatchability rates of total eggs were 67.27% for Kurdish chickens and 69.69% for Iraqi black line, while hatchability of fertile eggs was 75.05% and 76.71%, respectively. Embryo mortality was 33.33% in Iraqi black line and 30.40% in Kurdish breed. Additionally, Improved chickens showed greater resistance to Newcastle and Gumboro diseases than local Kurdish chickens.