Asian Journal of Poultry Science1819-3609xxxx-xxxxAcademic Journals Inc.10.3923/ajpsaj.2010.164.172AjayiF.O. 4201044This review work aims at determining the potential usefulness of the Nigerian indigenous ecotype chickens and the effect of the major genes of frizzling and naked neck for poultry production in the tropical humid climate. Classification by ecological zones does not consider the effect of the major genes hence the heavy and light chickens or the Fulani and Yoruba ecotype chickens respectively. Heritability estimates of body weight of 0.43 and 0.30 for heavy ecotype chicken at 8 and 20 weeks, respectively is an indication that the heavy chicken ecotype may possess dual potential to be selected as meat type or egg-type bird because 8 weeks and 20 weeks of age are broiler and layer ages, respectively. The frizzling and naked neck genes conferred better feed conversion, growth rate, feed efficiency and dressing percentage than the normal feathered chicken. The feather structure and feather distribution genes are well adaptive to the harsh tropical environment; survive on low energy feed, highly resistant to diseases and superior to their exotic counterparts. Crossbreeding with the exotic breeds improved body weight greatly at 12 weeks of age. Limited reports are available on the molecular characterization of Nigerian indigenous chickens, it is necessary to determine genetic distance between or within indigenous naked neck, frizzled and normal feathered chicken populations for future breeding plans. Thus, this present review provides genetic and performance information on naked neck, frizzled and normal feathered chickens which may be useful for breed improvement and development for future generation.]]>Adebambo, O.A.,19921992pp: 137139Adebambo, O.A.,20052005pp: 18Adebambo, A.O., J.M. Mwacharo and O. Hannote,20092009pp: 8491Adedeji, T.A., O.A. Adebambo and M.O. Ozoje,20042004pp: 126129Adetayo, A.S. and S.E. Babafunso,20012001Agaviezor, B.O., O.A. Adebambo, M.O. Ozoje, O.O. Oduguwa and S.O. Peters,20042004pp: 107109Ajayi, F.O., B.O. Agaviezor and S. Torukuru,20082008pp: 8183Ajayi, F.O. and B.O. Agaviezor,20092009pp: 7578Akinokun, O.,19901990pp: 243247FAO,1984Fayeye, T.R., K.L. Ayorinde, V. Ojo and O.M. Adesina,20062006Fayeye, T.R., A.B. Adesiyan and A.A. Olugbami,20052005Fulton, J.E.,200864171176Gueye, E.F.,1998547386Gueye, E.F.,2003191214Gunn, H.H.,20082008Hill, D.H. and A.N.A. Modebe,19611961Horst, P.,19881988pp: 156160Horst, P.,19895393101Horst, P.,1991336379Ibe, S.N.,19921992pp: 693696Ibe, S.N.,1993202531Ibe, S.N.,19981998pp: 464465Ikeobi, C.O.N., M.O. Ozoje, O.A. Adebambo, J.A. Adenowo and O.A. Osinowo,199693339Islam, M.A.,20002000Islam, M.A. and M. Nishibori,200965125138Mathur, P.K. and P. Horst,19901990pp: 131134Momoh, O.M., N.G. Ehiobu and C.C. Nwosu,20072007pp: 278281Momoh, O.M. and C.C. Nwosu,20082008Ndofor, H.M., N.P. Uberu and C.C. Nwosu,20062006pp: 225227Nwosu, C.C.,19791979pp: 187210Nwosu, C.C., F.C. Obioha, G. Fred, T. C. Belonwu, G.I. Onuora and S.S.I. Omeje,198073838Nwosu, C.C., F.C. Obiora, S.S. Omeje, F.A. Gowen, C.T. Bellonwu and G.E. Onuora,1984201726Olawunmi, O.O., A.E. Salako and A.A. Afuwape,200826975980Olori, V.E.,19921992Olori, V.E.,20095173180Oluyemi, J.A. and V.A. Oyenuga,19741974pp: 321328Oluyemi, J.A., G.O. Longe and T. Sunga,19824105110Peters, S.O., E.A. Omidiji, C.O.N. Ikeobi, M.O. Ozoje and O.A. Adebambo,20042004pp: 262264Pimm, S.L. and J.H. Lawton,199827920682069RIM (Resources Inventory and Management Ltd),1992pp: 287pp: 287Romanov, M.N., S. Wezyk, K. Cywa-Benko and N.I. Sakhatsky,19967129Sonaiya, E.B., R.D.S. Branckaert and E.F. Gueye,19991999Singh, B., D. Choudhuri, P. Chandra, S. Malik and B.P. Singh,19961996pp: 361364Tadelle, D., T. Million, Y. Alemu and K.J. Peters,20032003Toro, M.A., J. Fernandiz and A. Caballero,20062006pp: 1017Yunis, R. and A. Cahaner,19997813741382Horst, P.,19971997