Introduction to Poultry Production

Poultry contributes to improved human nutrition and food security by being a leading source of high-quality protein in form of eggs and meat. It acts as a key supplement to revenue from crops and other livestock enterprises, thus avoiding over-dependency on traditional commodities with inconsistent prices.

It has a high potential to generate foreign exchange earnings through the export of poultry products to neighbouring countries. Poultry is highly prized in many social-cultural functions such as dowry and festivities

The cost of rearing 100 kienyeji chicken in Kenya

The poultry industry is rapidly growing. The industry is characterized by widely diverse methods of production which include the following: village flocks, small-scale commercial flocks and large-scale commercial farms.

Constraints in poultry production include:

1. Production related constraints
   • inadequate access to improved breed
   • Access and affordability of feed
   • Disease control
2. Lack of knowledge and skills
3. Inadequate capital at all levels and marketing.

Systems of Management in Poultry Production

• Free range
• Semi-intensive
• Intensive

Housing

• Housing space should be 2 metres by 3 metres or be a traditional brooding basket. The traditional brooding basket can be used as a brooder basket for chicks, either inside or outside the house.
• House should be raised to protect birds from predators.
• Perches should be provided in the house for the chicken to roost at night.
• The house should be well-ventilated.
• Preferably have cemented floor for ease of cleaning and disinfecting
• Be rat-proof
• Using plenty of litter after cleaning the poultry house
• Keeping the right number of birds in poultry houses
• Separating chicks from old birds

I started small, now I rear 2,000 profitable kienyeji chicken

Management of chicks

• Before chicks arrive at home; make sure that;
  • A brooder is in place
  • Paraffin lamps/electric bulbs/charcoal stove is available
  • Litter for the floor is available
  • 1m² will accommodate 20 chicks up to 4 weeks old.
• Temperature control: 35C for day-old chicks, 24-27C for 1 week. Reduce heat as they grow especially at night.

Physical features of a good Kienyeji layer chicken

• Bright red comb and wattles
• Alert eyes
• The width between pelvic bones should measure at least 2 fingers
• The beak and claws should look bleached
• The cloaca should be moist

Advantages of choosing Kienyeji chickens for farming

• They are self-sustaining i.e. can raise their own replacement stock
• They are hardy birds that can survive hard conditions
• Management requirements are not critical as those of commercial exotic breeds
• They are immune to some diseases and parasites
• Their products fetch more money than those from exotic birds

Limitations in choosing Kienyeji chickens for farming

• They have a low growth rate
• They produce fewer small-sized eggs and comparatively little meat
• People keep them without commercial purposes
• They have been neglected by breeders/scientists despite their potential

How I make Sh. 48,000 monthly from selling kienyeji eggs

How to Improve the production of Kienyeji chickens

Control of parasites and diseases

• External parasites that affect Kienyeji chicken include poultry body louse, stick-tight fleas, poultry lice, ticks, feather mites and leg mites.
• Control can be done using commercial/synthetic or herbal insecticides.
• Herbal preparations are cheaper for Kienyeji chicken but a lot of research is still needed in this area to establish proper dosage.
• Internal parasites include worms and coccidia.
• Worms can be eliminated using a potent dewormer preferably given as a tablet because these chickens have low water consumption.
• Deworming should be done at least every month.
• Commercial coccidiostats can be used alternately with herbal preparation. These must be given to birds on the 8th, 9th, and 10th days of age. Repeat as directed by a veterinarian.
• In the early days, vitamin-mineral mixtures should be given to chicks to minimize losses.
• Vaccination of birds especially against New Castle Disease. Target the first vaccination at the beginning of the dry seasons, repeat after one month and every four months thereafter.

 Feeding Kienyeji Chickens

• Farmers can mix their own feeds using the abundant carbohydrate and protein feed available in their area.
• Feeding should be accompanied by green feeds and fruits such as pawpaw.
• Only palatable green feeds should be given to birds.

The following should be done in rearing Kienyeji chickens:

• Vaccination against Newcastle disease
• De-worming
• Remove mites and lice manually or better still using medicated powder
• Provide water as much as possible
• May supplement free range with other feeds e.g. maize bran and concentrates
• Avoid buying chicken in dry seasons because diseases, especially Newcastle, are more rampant in dry seasons
• Avoid buying birds when there is a disease outbreak
• Buy birds of almost the same age i.e. 2-3 months are more ideal. Avoid buying old birds
• Plan for synchronised mating and therefore synchronized reproduction and production to ease management.

Kienyeji, Kuroiler or Kenbro? How farmer picked the right chicken breed

Precautions to take during egg storage

• Do not store eggs in a kitchen where it is hot. Heat may partially incubate the egg and kill the embryos in them
• Do not store them on top of a cupboard because heat from the roof may incubate them.
• Keep eggs in a cool secure place.

Incubation by mother hens

• Usually, one hen starts incubating by staying overnight on the boiled egg
• Leave this hen on the boiled egg for 10 days while it is waiting for other birds
• After the 10 days, give all the birds that would have started incubating (within the 10 days) 17 selected but recently laid eggs
• Leave the birds that refuse to incubate alone
• If you want to eat or sell, eat/sell those which were laid first (old ones).
• Avoid giving these eggs to birds for incubation: tiny, round eggs, very dirty, cracked eggs, extremely pointed eggs, very big eggs, and very old eggs.
• When done this way, all birds will hatch on the same day. An egg takes 21 days, and 6 hrs to hatch.

 General Disease Control Practices

The following can only be used as guidelines for disease control, for proper disease diagnosis and treatment, consult the veterinarian.

• Don’t overcrowd brooders
• Adequate ventilation
• Feed must be of good quality
• Give clean water ad-lib
• Don’t mix young and older birds
• Clean poultry house
• Dispose of dead birds quickly and isolate sick ones
• Provide disinfectant at the entrance to the house

Antibiotics should never be used to replace good management and should be used on prescription by a veterinarian.

Signs of ill health

• Dullness
• Reduced feed intake
• Reduced water intake
• Low egg production
• Reduced growth rate
• Rough coat

Record keeping

Records to keep include:

• Production data such as the number of eggs produced, number of eggs hatched
• Quantity of feed eaten
• Health interventions e.g. treatment
• Deaths
• Sales and purchases