Survey was aiming to characterize indigenous chicken production in eastern and south eastern zone of Tigray region. Two peasant associations were selected from each district and 178 households were interviewed. The flock sizes was 6.22 chicks, 3.37 pullets, 2.58 cockerels, 3.88 hens and 1.61 cocks per household and 98.9% and 99.4% of farmers supplement feed and water to chickens respectively. About 79% of farmers had private chicken house while 16.5% slept in the perches. There was higher (p<0.05) inter clutch length (4.05 weeks), number of incubation (3.11) and number of eggs set/hen (13.61) in H/wajerat than Hawzen and D/temben districts. However, there was longer (p<0.05) interval between brooding (4.99 months) in Hawzen than 3.81 and 3.26 months in D/temben and H/wajerat districts. Similarly, there was longer period (p<0.05) of age at first lay in Hawzen (6.14 months) than 5.7 and 5.5 months in D/temben and H/wajerat districts. Newcastle disease was the major chicken killer confirmed by 73.9% of the farmers and 75% of them approved its occurrence during dry season. In the areas, major chicken constraints were feed shortage, predator and lack of capital while the major predators were eagle, wild cat and honey burger. Breeding hens selection was based on body size, egg production and growth rate whereas, for breeding cocks body size, plumage color and growth rate were given priority. Similarly, farmers need body size, growth rate and egg production traits to be improved. Therefore, it is important to collect and conserve indigenous chickens for further research and development in the region

Keywords: Disease, egg production, reproductive, survey, trait