A study of Body Weight of the Kurdish Ornamental Chicken Breed in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

• Yousif M.S. Al-Barzinji1* Lanja A. Ismael1* Kawa K. Hamad2 Hozan A. Kareem2 Prof. Assist. Prof. Breeder Breeder

  Author

The present study aimed to study the growth and weights of seven different colors of Kurdish ornamental chickens raised by 27 breeders in Erbil Governorate during 2024-2025. The findings from the statistical analysis indicated that there were significant variations among the different colors and that the highest live body weight was for the blue birds, amounting to 3.17 kg/bird, while the lowest weight was for the brown birds, amounting to 2.30 kg/bird. The age of the birds also showed a significant effect on the average live weight of the birds. Male birds 2.93 kg/bird significantly outperformed female birds 2.65 kg/bird in the average live weight. The interaction of sex and bird color had a significant effect on the live body weight of Kurdish ornamental chickens, as the highest weight 3.28 kg/bird was recorded for blue-colored male chickens, followed by white/black-colored male birds, then white-colored males, while the lowest weight 1.80 kg/bird was recorded for gray-colored male birds. The BLUP values for body weight were ranged from -1.5019 to 1.4481 kg/bird. The extensive variety of BLUP values for body weight suggests that there is considerable genetic variation among the ornamental birds. We conclude from the results of the current study that there is a wide variation in the weight trait among the seven colors of Kurdish ornamental chickens it means the selection is the best tools for breeder to improving this type of birds. This in turn provides a good basis for conducting selection operations and improving the weight trait, which represents one of the important traits for chicken breeds in general, and ornamental chicken breeds in particular.