ABSTRACT

A total of414 keets raised in the humid tropical environment were used to study the performance of guinea fowls in five experiments. The experiments were 1; the effect of different colours of light Green, Blue, White, Red, Yellow, and Black; 2) Stocking density of 8 birds/ m 2, 10 birds/ completely randomized design (CRD) for Experiments 1 and 2; 3 Measurements were Live weight, weight gain, Feed intake, water intake and mortality in Experiments 1, 2 and 3; hen day and hen housed production, weight at first egg and egg quality (external and internal) characteristics in Experiment 4. Result of experiments showed that 1; Green light colour was more favourable in the area of survivability with the lowest mortality (1.45%), though in terms offinal weight, Blue light gave the highest value. Stocking density of showed that this density has the optimum feeder space for optimum performance. For daily weight gain they also ranked highest with low or no mortality. The main effects of both energy and protein were significant (P<0.05). Final weight and highest mean values of 1113.32 g and 1096.11 g/ b were obtained from 10. 87 MJ/ kg ME and 15% CP respectively in final weight, MJ/ kg ME andl6% withl 1.29 MJ/ kg ME and 17% were statistically the same but differed from other interaction means. Then significant highest means for hen day and number of eggs at 56 days were obtained from 10.46 MJ/ kg ME x 15% CP and 17% interaction (14.88 and 62.00). In \ > all the internal egg quality traits, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in their interaction xiv I production and egg quality characteristics. The experimental design was feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, live weight and in other parameters. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences among the dietary combination on weight at first egg. 11.29 x 3 factorial in CRD for experiments 3 and 4. 10 birds/ m 2 gave the highest significance (P<0.05) value in final weight as (775.60) which m 2 and 12 bird/ m 2; 3) Energy and Protein requirement of helmeted guinea fowls; 4) Egg and main effects. This reason may be seen as one of the good egg quality as it is known that a good quality egg will not have its HU below 40%. The mortality ofthe birds in all the treatments Black light. 10 birds/ m 2 stocking density recorded significantly (P<0.05) highest values for all the parameters including mortality which was (0.00%). The blue and green light colours, 10 keets under intensive management ofguinea fowl in the humid tropical environment. I xv I were however, low, ranging from 1.45 % for Green light to 11.59 % for blue light, White.