Evaluation of Physical Egg Quality Characteristics of Free Range Indigenous Malawian Normal Feathered and Frizzled Chicken

Indigenous chickens (IC) are mainly raised by resource poor rural households in developing countries [1]. Although they are of low genetic potential compared to the commercial breeds, IC play a vital role in livelihoods of farmers and contribute significantly to food security and income [1]. IC dominates in most smallholder farms in Malawi and they are deemed less productive but appear to be adapted to local harsh free-ranging rearing environment [2]. Indigenous chickens contribute significantly to food security for poor households in most African countries [3]. Despite these important attributes, productivity of indigenous chicken in Malawi is generally low with hens producing an average of three clutches of twelve eggs per year [4]. In order to improve egg production there is need to look on the physical characteristics of eggs such as egg weight, egg shell, egg strength, and albumen and yolk quality.