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¹ Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
² Department of Animal Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
³ Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
⁴ Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria - Forty-four (44) birds (about 50 weeks old) male and female inbred naked necked and frizzle feathered chickens were crossed to generate F1 crossbred chicken that were used to evaluate the performance and heterosis effects. Data taken on 180 chicks (97 NN and 83 FF) day-old chick weight (BWT0), body weight (BWT), daily average feed intake (AFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), brooding and rearing mortalities, linear body measurements (LBM): body length, wing length, keel length, shank length and breast width were used to estimate heterosis and performance of F1 progenies. Results of the experiment showed positive heterosis with significant differences among the F1 progenies over their parents in body weight, average feed intake and feed conversion ratio. The reciprocal cross (i.e. frizzle feather rooster x naked neck hen) showed a significant improvement in their performances genetically, explaining that better results are achieved through crossbreeding of these indigenous breeds. With reference to their body linear parameters, the reciprocal cross of naked neck and frizzle feathered chickens developed higher body length, whereas the main crosses performed better in their wing length, keel length, shank length and body width respectively, mainly after 8 weeks suggesting that earlier performance was attributable to maternal influences. Keywords : Frizzle feather, Growth performance, Heterosis, Naked neck, Reciprocal cross