Received: 29-11-2018 / Accepted: 06-03-2019
The study was conducted to evaluate the conformationalcharacteristics and production performance of Hon Chu chicken, a major local chicken of Lao PDR. The assessment surveys were conducted in some households in the 3 neighboring villages of Luang Prabang. The experiments to evaluate conformation, performances of reproduction and production were conducted at Northern Luang Prabang Agriculture and Forestry College, Lao PDR. Results showed that Hon Chu chickens had small stature and variable body color patterns. Under free range conditions at households, the male and female body weight at 20 weeks of age was 780 and 670 g, respectively. The first laying age was over 7 months of age and egg production was 62 eggs/layer/year. Underconfinement conditions and mixed feeding, at 24 weeks of age, cock and hen weight was 2,171 and 1,858 g, respectively. At 30 weeks of age, the meat proportion was 71%, the ratio of the thigh meat was higher than the breast. The first laying age was 23rdweek with egg yield of 25 eggs in 13 laying weeks but small eggs (44 g), and thick eggshell.
