James Kamau is a poultry farmer in Kiambu County who deals with the breeding of broiler chickens.

His journey into poultry farming started some years ago, inspired by his passion for agriculture. In a post on Farmers Trend, Kamau revealed he started small with a capital of Sh50,000.

The funds were partially used in the construction of a chicken coup, while the rest were used in the purchase of chicks, feeds, and management.

“I constructed a simple but functional chicken coop that could house 200 broilers, using locally available materials to keep costs low. Once the coop was ready, I purchased 200 broiler chicks at Sh100 each, which cost me Sh20,000,” he recalled.

“Understanding that feed quality would be crucial to my success, I allocated Sh20,000 to buy a high-quality starter and grower feed, along with essential vaccines and supplements. The remaining Sh10,000 was set aside for miscellaneous expenses like electricity, labor, and any unforeseen costs,’’ Kamau added.

Avocado Millionaires: New generation of smallholder farmers reaping big from exports

The farmer however admitted that he faced numerous challenges when starting including a high chick mortality rate and lack of market, thanks to guidance from agricultural extension officers which streamlined his operations.

“Due to improper brooding techniques, some chicks succumbed to cold stress and dehydration. I also struggled with inconsistent feed quality, which slowed the growth rate of my broilers, increasing my expenses,” he noted.

“Another challenge was finding a reliable market. I had assumed that selling my broilers would be easy, but I quickly learned that without a proper market strategy, I could end up making losses.”

Despite the struggles, the farmer managed to make a profit of Sh25,000 in his first sales. He noted that he lost 50 chicks remaining with 150 chicks which were ready for sale after six weeks.

He sold each at Sh500, earning a total of 75,000. With expenses totaling Sh50,000, Kamau made a Sh25,000 profit in the first sale.

“The fact that I had made a profit, even with the losses, motivated me to push forward. I reinvested the money back into the business and expanded my operations to accommodate 500 broilers in the next cycle. This allowed me to buy feed in bulk, reducing costs and improving my profit margins,” he added.

He kept expanding his operation with time and invested in quality management practices including high-quality heaters and bedding materials to maintain the right temperatures for chicks. This significantly reduced early mortality rates.

He also identified reliable feed suppliers who provided high-quality feed at competitive prices. He adopted bulk feed purchases which helped him cut costs.

Other strategies that turned his business more profitable include implementing a strict vaccination and health monitoring program and building strong relationships with hotels, restaurants, and butcheries.

Today, he raises 5,000 broilers per cycle, generating a net profit of over Sh1 million. He sells his chickens locally to major supermarkets and high-end hotels.

Kamau’s farm has employed six staff members who manage daily operations. He advised aspiring farmers to:

• Start Small: Learn the basics before scaling up to reduce financial risks.
• Invest in Quality Inputs: The quality of chicks, feed, and vaccines directly affects profitability.
• Follow Best Farming Practices: Proper brooding, feeding, and disease control are crucial to success.
• Develop a Reliable Market Network: Having customers ready before your birds are mature ensures steady sales and prevents losses.
• Reinvest Your Profits: Growing your business sustainably is the key to long-term success.