Phenotypic diversity and morphometric differentiation of indigenous chickens in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Morphological variation among indigenous chickens reflects both adaptive divergence and underlying genetic structure; however, such information remains limited for KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This study evaluated phenotypic differentiation among indigenous chicken populations sampled from seven communal areas: Cedara, Jozini, Ladysmith, Empangeni, Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg, and Port Shepstone. A total of 350 adult birds were characterised using six qualitative traits and eight quantitative morphometric measurements. Canonical discriminant analysis was employed to assess population differentiation. Substantial variation was observed in plumage, skin, shank, and comb characteristics, with golden-laced plumage and yellow skin predominating across most locations. Quantitative traits differed significantly among populations (p < 0.001), with body weight (Wilks' Λ = 0.813; F = 13.082) contributing most strongly to population discrimination. Mahalanobis distance analysis revealed pronounced separation between Jozini and Empangeni populations (D² = 53.23; p < 0.001), while Newcastle and Port Shepstone exhibited minimal divergence (D² = 3.58; p < 0.001). Hierarchical cluster analysis identified two primary population groupings, with Jozini forming a distinct outlier. The apparent classification accuracy based on the original grouped cases was 51.1%, suggesting considerable overlap in morphometric characteristics among populations. These findings demonstrate appreciable phenotypic diversity among indigenous chickens in KwaZulu-Natal, likely shaped by environmental adaptation and management practices. The observed variation represents a valuable genetic resource for community-based breeding and conservation programmes aimed at improving productivity while maintaining adaptive resilience.