How profitable can poultry farming in Kenya be? The best way to find out is by visiting a farmer who has hacked how to do profitable poultry farming. Well, the first thing that catches your eye when you arrive at Leamose Poultry Farm is a flock of multi-coloured indigenous chicken darting joyously from side to side inside a wire mesh fenced compound. That’s when one wants to try poultry farming.
The farm at Kabiruini village near the Nyeri showground and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology belongs to Leah Muthoni who crossbreeds indigenous chicken with exotic ones to improve productivity.
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Leah likes the crossbreed chickens because they are resistant to diseases and mature faster than the local Kienyeji chicken.
We found Leah this week in a green apron cleaning the water traps inside one of the chicken cages while feeding them with maize germ.
She directs one of her farm workers to lead us in.
“Cleanliness is what has ensured my chickens do not contract diseases easily,” she tell us.
Leah is keeping over 200 indigenous mature chickens after she sold more than 500 others over the last holidays.
She supplies the eggs and sells the mature birds to hotels and various supermarkets in Nyeri town. She also sells chicks to other farmers who come from as far away as Laikipia, Meru, and Kirinyaga.
The farmer went into poultry farming in 2013, with six Kienyeji chickens. “My husband, a former police officer, then went to the bank and got me a loan of Sh400,000 with which I bought a hatchery, brooders, a water tank and water traps. I also installed electricity and constructed cages.”
She then enrolled in a poultry farming training which was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture.
It is here that she was introduced to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation improved kienyeji chicken, now just referred to Kari Kienyeji after the institution’s former name.
“The chickens are highly resistant to diseases and have high productivity levels in terms of egg and meat quality,” she says.
She went on and bought a number of indigenous breeds, the local Kienyeji chickens, the Kari Naivasha, the Kenbro, Kuroiler and the Dorep indigenous chickens putting them all in separate cages.
In another separate cage, Leah started cross-breeding the local Kienyeji chicken with the cocks from the Kuroiler, Dorep and Kenbro chicken breed which are known to gain weight faster than the local Kienyeji.
These improved chickens can gain weight of up to 4.5kg when mature.
Soon after the hen starts laying, the eggs are kept inside a locally made hatchery for 21 days and then the new cross-bred bird is hatched.
The chicks are then transferred to a different cage where they are fed with chick mash for seven weeks.
She then transfers them from the chicks cage to a cage where they can move freely until they are four to six months when they are ready for sale.
They can also be sold as three-week old chicks. They go for Sh150 each. The remaining chicks are then reared until three months before she allows them to mix with other chickens.
Leah says she is able to hatch over 200 chicks every month from the different breeds.
She notes just like the Improved Kari Naivasha indigenous chickens, her cross-bred indigenous chickens have very few health problems after being vaccinated and their eggs are larger than the local Kienyeji chickens.
“The fact that I am rearing indigenous chickens has made my business to thrive in a region where many prefer them to exotic ones.”
She vaccinates the chicken after every two to three months against, especially, Newcastle disease. The chicks are injected for the first time two weeks after hatching.
According to Wairimu Kariuki, the chairperson of the Kenya Poultry Farmers Association, improved indigenous chickens are cheap and easy to rear.
“The cross-bred chickens have all the characteristics of indigenous chickens but with an added advantage of laying more eggs and maturing faster than the local indigenous ones.”
She says after the Kari improved indigenous chicken, farmers have been trying different ways of cross-breeding local chickens with exotic ones.
Wairimu said cross-breeding local Kienyeji chicken with the Dorep results in bigger birds which fetch a lot of money when sold.
She, however, warns that farmers who are cross-breeding their chickens should always ensure that the locally cross-bred ones are kept in separate cages from the original breeds to ensure they don’t extinguish the original traits.
On successful poultry farming in Kenya, she says poultry farmers should vaccinate the chicken after every 10 weeks to keep away diseases like Newcastle which is a big threat to poultry farmers.
Wairimu also says farmers should ensure that the chicken cages are cleaned regularly and provide enough water for them to grow healthy.
To keep them healthy, Leah feeds the birds with kitchen waste, sunflowers, cereals, fish meal, green grass and maize germ.
She keeps her chickens in a large fully fenced compound where they can scavenge and get insects.
The chickens are sold in terms of kilos with each going for Sh450. She is able to raise a net of between Sh80,000 to Sh120,000 monthly from selling the crossbred chickens, the original breed chicks, and eggs.
The eggs from the Kenbro, the Dorep indigenous chickens, and the cross-bred indigenous chickens are always in high demand with one selling at between Sh30 to Sh35. The eggs from the local Kienyeji go for between Sh20 to Sh25.
This feature on poultry farming in Kenya was first published in the journal Seeds of Gold.
I am 21 year old boy need to start a pultry farm business of kienyeji chickens. what do i need to have
Hi Martin Ndungu send a request to [email protected] you will get a booklet for poultry farming for Ksh 100 Only. Its well elaborated for you.
Want to be a poultry farmer,would like to keep improved kienyeji,where can I get them and@ how much per chick,lives in kitengela
@ Lucy wairimu contact me I stay in Kitengela. I have kuroiler chicks and rainbow rooster. [email protected]
hi isaac am also in kitengela and i’am interested in doing poultry farming. do you offer training to new farners?
hallo isaac, i stay in kinanie, mutungoni road, and would like to visit. i keep chicken and would love to add stock and get advice from you. call me on 0721 991663 or 0787 991663 felix shihemi isanya.
IF you need chicks of any age conduct me at NO. 0798967480 THE price is negotiatable
Am tabitha i hv 17 kienyeji.how can i interbreed ma chickens.n where can get the interbreed chicken
Am Charles, wher can i get poultry farming booklet? From Kamulu
Hi does the business requier a large space ? I.e can 40*60 plot be enough to rear more chickens
Dun from Meru…in need of eggs for sale.who can supply in large quantities?Serious
Hi dun.I work in farm where by we produce more than 600 trays a day.for more information inbox to this no.0708911023
where are you located at?and how much per tray?i need like 100trays per week.
I am Bernard ..From nyeri i want to start poultry farming .What do i need
Hi am Joshua,how can i get abooklet for poultry farming
i am jacob njue and i would like to start poultry production basically kienyenji where can i get them.from embu
Get as many chicks as you can from me. conduct me at NO.0798967480
Hi am Joseph I would like some chicken am from central
Get them from me conduct NO 0798967480
Kindly give me contacts for leah muthoni the poultry farmer from nyeri near kabiruini showground. Also, how do i buy a copy of your poultry farming booklet?
Wahome
Hi Jacob and Joseph, you may contact Godfrey on 0722702499 for Kari Improved Kienyenji chicks.
Hi I, m Rianto from Laikipia, how much does it cost me to start with 200 Kienyeji chicken?. I have enough space eg 3 acres of free space for the chicken project.
I’m giks from nakuru
Kindly assist me with how to acquire poultry farm in booklets n connecting to a farmer within for start up knowledge
am Ali from mombasa plz guide me on how to start poultry farming
Hie am Kevin from Nairobi plz I need a small layer chick how can I get them plz if u have my Nbr is 0795817660
Am joseph from nyeri i resident around Dedan kimathi university..
Kindly help me with leah contacts i may want to acquire some kienyenji cbickens from her please
0727568130
I have kienyeji chicken where can I get a ready market?
How many can I get in a week at what price?
Please text me on 0722832317
what is the cost of raring 100chicken….n where can I get ready market for eggs n meat
What type of feeds is needed for kienyeji and kizungu chicken?
Kazungu 0720611911
hello farmers am nyakundi keeping improved kienyeji pls contact me for more information contact me at 0728486627
hi where can get good kienyeji chickens for eggs around nyahururu for start up.
Am mercy from kitale town, transnzoia county.
I work in breedtech ltd which deals with improved kienyenji chicken, guinea fowls, cockerels, turkey and poultry feeds.
we sale chicks of different stages: day old chick, fertilized eggs,
for more information contact manager 0722709667 or 0715171233
Hey am John Gichia I have the structure of keeping poultry, capacity of 4000 bird in Thika am looking the interested farm who want to rent. My phone No ;0763715934,0725015934
HI.
I am selling mature improved Kienyenji chicken.
If interested, kindly contact me on 0723489433.
Am in Muranga
How many chicken can I get in a week at what price?
I am looking to get at least 50 chicken per week. I need to know the selling price?
Hi. Am Molly.from Homabay Ciunty. I would like to start up poultry farm insurance. Where can I get broilers and at how much?
AM DENIS afarmer i sell chicks at any stage.conduct me at NO.0798967480
Hello am Mary from kiambu,I have interest in poultry keeping .anyone to give mi advise on how to start.please thank u
Am elizabeth from mweiga need leahs contacts so that i can get chicks from her ,want to start poultry farming
I am Joseph from Matasia Ngong. I would want to start poultry farming. I would want to go for training in a poultry farm for improved kienyenji before I start. Anybody willing to assist can get in touch with me through Cell no 0722316723 or kardlink@gmail
Hi am Ruth…how do I get financial help…have started poultry farming but I need to expand
please guide where i can get kari improved kienyeji chicken in Laikipia. I also need further training on poultry farming
Hi am Kevin from eldoret I need to buy some chicks my number is 0710179141
Hi am James from Embu and have got a lot of passion in agriculture and poultry in particular someone please advise me on kienyeji chicken farming on where to start please
Hi am James and I have a lot of passion in agriculture and poultry in particular someone please advise me on kienyeji keeping .Embu
I have kienyeji chicken for sale,where can I get market.0720466262
Hi I need to rear either of the following breed,Black Silver Laced Wyandotte,Black Chicken Golden silver laced blue chicken or Blue laced red Wyandotte.Where can I find them in Kenya?
Hi my name is Rose from nyeri am intrested in poultry farming and i would like to learn it from someone with experience is there a way i can contact leah ?if possible
Am a long time poultry farmer both kienyeji and broiler. I need to explore the industry well by visiting established farms and learn new challenges. 0723 235265
Charles from kisii. I need a one time supply of 500 improved kienyeji 3 or 4 months old. This is required by 23/09/2019. If available lets negotiate 0717515742. Negotiations will include transportation to kisii.
NB: Im not a frequent buyer but this is for the period stated above only
MY name is Kamau from Ruiru. I do sell month old Kuroiler, Rainbow and improve Kienyenji @200.00
Whatsaap or text 0707972530
Janefar from Nakuru and also interested in rearing kienyeji chicken pls advise
I ,m Rehema Senga from SouthTanzania, I would like to join indigenous poultry network, to obtain market, a have 2,000 indigenous chicken I looking for the market, link me with markets. Whats App +255 754 596 439