This study was conducted to determine the relationship between body weight and body linear parameters of the French broiler guinea fowl (FBGF) raised in the humid tropics of Nigeria, and to establish an equation for predicting body weight of the FBGF using body linear parameters. A total of 86 FBGFs were used for the study. The birds were managed intensively for 38 weeks before measurements were taken on the birds. Body weight was taken using a sensitive digital weighing scale. Body biometrics-shank length, thigh length, keel length, chest circumference, body length and wing length were measured using a flexible measuring tape. Data were subjected to statistical package for analysis. The correlations between body weight and body linear measurements were determined using Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient (r). Data were also subjected to simple and multiple regression analysis. Correlations between body weight and body linear measurements were positive and significant (P<0.01). The values for coefficient of determination (R 2) ranged from 0.2% to 19.5% with shank length showing the highest R 2 value. This implies that shank length could be the best predictor of body weight of the French broiler guinea fowl. The predictive equations showed that there was a significant (P<0.01) relationship between body weight and body linear measurements. R 2 values observed in this study shows that the predictive equations could be used to predict body weight accurately using the simple regression model.

This study was carried out to evaluate fertility, embryonic mortality, hatchability and early survival rate the French broiler guinea fowl (FBGF) raised under the Nigerian humid tropics. About 116 hatching eggs of the FBGF were sourced from Songhai Agricultural Research Center in Funtua, Katsina State, Nigeria. The eggs were incubated using an automated incubator. Fertility, Embryonic mortalities, Hatchability and keet survival rate were investigated. The result indicated that fertility was 94.5%, early embryonic mortality, late embryonic mortality and hatchability were 12.2%, 8.6% and 91.4% respectively. Average keet hatch weight was 22 g and keet survival at brooding was 72.1%.