A common question we are often asked by many Kenyans is how to get started in poultry farming. Some people simply have the “vision” of generating wealth through poultry farming in Kenya but they are clueless on the steps that they need to undertake in order to make this a success. If you have the desire but lack the details, here is a simple step by step guide on how you can move from the idea to the execution stage of poultry farming.
Planning stage
This is the most important stage when it comes to poultry farming in Kenya. If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail! You need to evaluate your current financial situation as well as resources available and determine if they will be adequate for poultry farming. As we have stated in previous blogs, you do not need a fortune to venture into poultry farming in Kenya. You can begin with as little as Ksh.5000 and then scale up from there. Here are some of the questions that you should ask yourself when planning to venture into poultry farming:-
- How ambitious are you? Whenever someone calls me and asks about how to start keeping poultry, this is the first question which I always ask them. Are you planning to keep 20, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, 700, 1000 or more chickens? Give yourself an annual target for the first year before you go to the next details.
- Do you have the money? For committed farmers, money is not always an issue. Only the will. You do not need Ksh.180,000 to start poultry farming. Based on your first annual target, you can budget accordingly. For example, if your budget is Ksh.10,000, you can start with 50 chicks and then improvise on the space where you will keep them and also spend a little on feeders, drinkers and chick mash.
- Do you have land or space to keep your poultry? You can rear your chickens on air. You will need land in a safe area where you can put up your structures for rearing your chickens. If you will be rearing the improved kienyeji chickens, then you might need even more land since you must leave some space that will serve as a chicken run where the chickens can graze and get exposed to sunshine which is key for quality meat and egg production.
- What breeds are you planning to keep: If you are planning to keep poultry, you must also decide on your preferred breed of birds that you will keep. If you will be keeping kienyeji birds in the improved chicken management system, you can opt for the KARI improved kienyeji chickens, the Rainbow Rooster chickens, Kenbro chickens or even Kuroiler although this is not generally easy to find. One day Chicks typically cost Ksh.100 each.
- Do you have access to ready and reliable labor? Most of the prospective poultry farming investors calling us are generally working class people who want to put something back home to supplement their income as their focus on their professional pursuits. If that is the case, you will need to look for a reliable farmhand that can take good care of the chickens.
- Do you have a vet nearby? Chickens are generally affected with various diseases and conditions ranging from the viral infections to nutrition-based diseases. You need a good vet who you can call up to ensure that your hens are being fed adequately and immunized for the common diseases.
- Where is Your Market? If you are rearing your kienyeji, you must also make plans for where you will market your produce including eggs and the hens themselves. You can sell these in restaurants, hotels or even local markets. You can also check out our Kienyeji Chicken Marketing Network in case you need assistance marketing your kienyeji chickens.
This is all there is to it when it comes to poultry farming in Kenya. It is not rocket science. You just need to take the initiative and plunge in right away. There are a lot of things that you will also learn along the way as you make the mistakes. You can buy our Kienyeji Farming Manuals in order to get the right information on your fingertips for success in Kienyeji farming.