The survival of native chickens during the first 6 weeks of growth is less than 50%. Hence, this study proposes the introduction of prophylactic antibiotics for poultry diseases prevention and treatment. However, the ban on antibiotics has prompted the search for plant-based biomedicines. Therefore, this trial aimed to determine the effect of phytogenic compounds (PC) of five herbs as water additives on the survival and growth responses of native chickens. A total of 204 Bisaya chickens (unsexed) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments replicated three times with 17 chickens in each replicate. Chickens were fed ad libitum and received water with 1.5 g antibiotics/1000ml water (control), 20 ml PC/1000ml water (T2), 40 ml PC/1000ml water (T3), and 60 ml PC/1000ml water (T4) for 35 days. No significant differences were observed on feed intake for chickens in antibiotics and PC treatments, however, the 60-PC group consumed slightly higher feed intake, compared to chickens under antibiotics and the other level of PC supplementation. Chickens in 60-PC ate 4-12% more feed than the others at the end of the trial period. Cumulative water used per kg feed did not differ among the experimental groups. The control and the PC supplemented chickens shared homogenous body weight and weight gains patterns, averaging 403.79 to 415.20g and 85.49 to 86.85g, respectively. Supplementation of 40-PC and 60-PC in drinking water for native chickens reduced the mortality rate and comparable feed conversion ratio with antibiotics. The 60-PC as a phytogenic water additive could enhance the growth performance, increase the survival rate, reduce mortality, and improve feed conversion ratio correlative to antibiotics.

Toxins and substances with anti-nutritional potential have impeded the successful integration of root and tuber crops into animal diets. However, the ultimate indices of the physiological state of a farm animal are the growth performance and blood profiles. Hence, single and mixed formulations of Dioscorea hispida and Cyrtosperma merkusii root meals were used to assess chicken performance and hematological reactions. Two hundred and forty Bisaya chickens were fed with maize and root meals. Each set of treatments had 60 chickens, with three replicates of 20. The diets were: T1 (100% corn-based), T2 (50% D. hispida diet), T3 (50% C. merkusii diet), and T4 (25% D. hispida+25% C. merkusii diet). Feed intake, body weight, and mean weight gain (MWG) were collected biweekly, and carcass evaluation was done on harvesting. Hematological indices and serum profiles were tested. The T1 and T4 diets produced the most significant body weight and MWG, followed by T2 and T3. An improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) for T1 and T4 were significantly different from T2 and T3. The T4 specific growth rate (SGR) was similar to T1 and T2 but greater than T3. The T1 diet gave the most significant slaughter weight and dress weight, carcass components, and edible offal, followed by T4. The T4 diet raised PCV, RBC, Hb, cholesterol, and triglycerides more than T2, and T3, but no significant difference was found between T4 and T1. All solo root meal substitutes (T2 and T3) negatively impacted chicken performance; however, the 25% D. hispida+25% C. merkusii mix (T4) enhanced growth performance, most carcass features, and the blood profiles of slow-growing chickens when compared to a corn-based diet (T1).