Poultry Farming in Kenya: Types of Chicken, Scale, Types of Poultry Farming, Cost, and How to Start

Welcome to the world of poultry farming in Kenya! In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the various facets of poultry farming, from the types of chickens you can raise to the different scales of operations, methods of poultry farming, associated costs, and, most importantly, how to kickstart your poultry venture. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned farmer looking to enhance your operations, we've got you covered. Let's dive right in!

Types of Chicken in Kenya

Chicken Diversity: In Kenya, chickens are at the forefront of poultry farming. However, other types of poultry include ducks, turkeys, geese, guinea fowl, and quail. Chickens, the most popular choice, are primarily raised for either egg production, known as layers, or meat, referred to as broilers.

The Poultry Landscape in Kenya: The poultry industry in Kenya comprises various chicken types. Indigenous chickens account for 75%, while layers and broilers comprise 24%. The remaining 2% includes other poultry types. This diversity reflects the adaptability of poultry farming to various market demands and climatic conditions.

The scale of Poultry Farming

Tailoring to Capacity: Kenyan poultry farmers operate at different scales, and the choice depends on factors such as investment capacity and knowledge in poultry farming. Here's a glimpse of the scales:

• Small-scale: This involves raising to 1,000 birds. Many Kenyan farmers begin on this scale due to limited resources but expand as they gain experience and invest more.
• Medium-scale: Typically ranges from 1,001 to 10,000 birds, providing room for moderate growth.
• Large-scale: Exceeds 10,000 birds, representing a significant commercial operation.

Understanding these scales lets you make informed decisions about your resources and ambitions.

Types of Poultry Farming in Kenya

Organic Poultry Farming: This approach allows poultry birds to roam freely during the day, foraging for food and water. It aligns with sustainable and natural farming practices, promoting a simplified food chain as poultry consume insects and pests. Organic poultry farming is an affordable and environmentally friendly option.

Inorganic Poultry Farming: Inorganic poultry farming involves confining birds in cages for controlled growth. It's well-suited for commercial poultry ventures and demands organized production, procurement, accounting, sales, and marketing management systems. Inorganic farming ensures optimal conditions for rapid growth and disease control.

Both organic and inorganic poultry farming serve economic purposes and cater to consumer preferences, making significant contributions to Kenya's food supply.

Poultry Farming Methods in Kenya

Free-Range System: In this traditional method, chickens roam freely on the farm, obtaining food and water as they please. It's suitable for farmers seeking both meat and egg production.

Deep Litter System: A modern approach where chickens are kept indoors in spacious structures. It allows birds to move freely while providing food and water. This method ensures efficient management and control.

Battery System: Each chicken is kept in a cage with readily available food and water. This approach maximizes space utilization and feed efficiency.

Use of Folds: Fold-based poultry farming involves keeping chickens in structures known as "folds." Feeding and water troughs are placed outside, and birds feed on wire mesh. This method suits specific farming environments.

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Challenges in Poultry Farming

While poultry farming in Kenya offers great potential, it has challenges. Outbreaks of diseases like avian influenza can devastate poultry populations, leading to significant financial losses for farmers. Inadequate transportation infrastructure in poultry farming areas can affect pricing and market access. High poultry feed and medicines costs further add to the challenges farmers face.

Starting Your Poultry Farm in Kenya

If you're considering venturing into poultry farming in Kenya, here are some essential steps to success:

1. Create a Business Plan: Begin with a well-thought-out business plan to guide your poultry farming venture and avoid financial pitfalls.
2. Choose the Right Location: Identify a suitable location for your farm and assess market demand for poultry products in your chosen area.
3. Select Quality Breeds: Purchase poultry breeds from reputable breeders to ensure the productivity and health of your flock.
4. Invest in Proper Housing: Build adequate and hygienic poultry housing to protect your birds from environmental factors and predators.
5. Manage Feeding and Vaccination: Ensure your birds receive proper nutrition and timely vaccinations to maintain their health and productivity.
6. Maintain Hygiene: Regularly clean and disinfect your poultry housing to prevent disease outbreaks.
7. Marketing Strategies: Develop effective marketing strategies to promote your poultry products and reach potential customers.
8. Consider Climate: Adapt your poultry housing to the climate conditions in your region to ensure the well-being of your birds.

Cost of Starting a Poultry Farm

The initial cost of starting a poultry farm in Kenya can vary depending on factors like farm size and the type of birds you intend to raise. An investment ranging from Ksh 3,000 to Ksh 25,000 is typically required for small to medium-scale poultry farms. Larger poultry farms may require an investment exceeding Ksh 25,000.

What are the common diseases in poultry farming in Kenya, and how can they be prevented?

Common poultry diseases in Kenya include Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease (Gumboro), fowl typhoid, fowl cholera, and coccidiosis. These diseases can cause significant mortality and economic losses for poultry farmers. It is important to note that this article is not intended to be a substitute for veterinary advice. If you suspect your poultry are sick, please consult a qualified veterinarian immediately.  Some of these diseases include:

Newcastle disease

Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting all poultry types. It is caused by a paramyxovirus that can be transmitted through direct contact with infected birds, their feces, or respiratory secretions. Newcastle disease can also be transmitted indirectly with contaminated feed, water, or equipment.

Symptoms of Newcastle disease include:

• Respiratory distress, such as gasping for breath, sneezing, and coughing
• Diarrhea
• Neurological signs, such as tremors, paralysis, and torticollis (wry neck)
• Decreased egg production
• Sudden death

Newcastle disease has no cure, but it can be prevented through vaccination. All poultry should be vaccinated against Newcastle disease at least once a year.

Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro)

Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects young chickens. It is caused by a birnavirus that can be transmitted through direct contact with infected birds, their feces, or their feathers. Gumboro can also be transmitted indirectly with contaminated feed, water, or equipment.

Symptoms of Gumboro include:

• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Ruffled feathers
• Watery eyes
• Lameness
• Sudden death

There is no cure for Gumboro, but it can be prevented through vaccination. All chickens should be vaccinated against Gumboro at least twice, once at 14 and again at 28 days old.

Fowl typhoid

Fowl typhoid is a bacterial disease that can affect all types of poultry. It is caused by the Salmonella Gallinarum bacteria, which can be transmitted through direct or indirect contact with infected birds, their feces, or their carcasses. Fowl typhoid can also be transmitted through contaminated feed, water, or equipment.

Symptoms of fowl typhoid include:

• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Ruffled feathers
• Difficulty breathing
• Lameness
• Sudden death

Fowl typhoid can be treated with antibiotics, but it is best to prevent the disease in the first place. This can be done by practicing good biosecurity measures, such as disinfecting equipment and housing regularly, and by vaccinating all poultry against fowl typhoid.

Fowl cholera

Fowl cholera is a bacterial disease that can affect all types of poultry. It is caused by the Pasteurella multocida bacteria, which can be found in soil, water, and the feces of infected birds. Fowl cholera can be transmitted directly or indirectly with infected birds, feces, or carcasses.

Symptoms of fowl cholera include:

• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Ruffled feathers
• Difficulty breathing
• Swollen head and neck
• Sudden death

Fowl cholera can be treated with antibiotics, but it is best to prevent the disease in the first place. This can be done by practicing good biosecurity measures and vaccinating poultry against fowl cholera.

Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that can affect all types of poultry. It is caused by a protozoan parasite called Eimeria. Coccidiosis is transmitted through contact with the feces of infected birds. Symptoms of coccidiosis include:

• Bloody diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Depression
• Ruffled feathers
• Decreased appetite
• Sudden death

Coccidiosis can be treated with anticoccidial drugs, but it is best to prevent the disease in the first place. This can be done by practicing good biosecurity measures, such as keeping the poultry house clean and dry and providing the birds with clean feed and water.

Prevention of Poultry Diseases

The best way to prevent poultry diseases is to practice good biosecurity measures. This includes:

• Keeping your poultry house and equipment clean and dry. Clean and disinfect the poultry house and all equipment regularly.
• Providing your poultry with clean feed and water. Make sure that the feed and water are fresh and free of contaminants.
• Vaccinating your poultry against common diseases. Consult with a veterinarian to determine which vaccines are appropriate for your poultry.
• Controlling pests and rodents. Pests and rodents can carry diseases that can infect poultry.
• Restricting visitors to your poultry. Visitors can accidentally bring diseases into your poultry flock.

Treatment of Poultry Diseases

If you suspect that your poultry are sick, it is important to consult a veterinarian immediately. The veterinarian can diagnose the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

How can I ensure the health and hygiene of my poultry flock?

As a poultry farmer, one of your top priorities should be ensuring the health and hygiene of your flock. A healthy flock is more productive and less likely to suffer from diseases. This can save you money in the long run and help you produce high-quality poultry products for your customers. You can do many things to keep your poultry flock healthy and hygienic. Let us look at several ways that can help you.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity is a set of practices that help to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases into your poultry flock. It is important to implement a comprehensive biosecurity program on your farm, regardless of its size. Some key biosecurity practices include:

• Isolating your flock from other poultry and livestock. This means keeping your birds in a fenced-in area and preventing them from coming into contact with other animals.
• Quarantining new birds for at least 30 days before introducing them to your flock. This will help prevent the spread of any diseases the new birds may carry.
• Keeping your farm clean and sanitary. This includes regularly cleaning and disinfecting your poultry house equipment and feeding and watering troughs.
• Practicing good personal hygiene. This means washing your hands thoroughly before and after handling your birds.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition is essential for keeping your poultry flock healthy. Poultry need a balanced diet containing all the nutrients they need to grow and develop properly. The best way to ensure that your poultry gets the nutrients they need is to feed them a commercial poultry feed. These feeds are formulated to meet poultry's specific nutritional needs at different life stages. It is also important to always provide your poultry with fresh water. Water is essential for all life processes, especially for poultry, which produce a lot of waste.

Disease Prevention

Vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent diseases in your poultry flock. Vaccines expose your birds to weakened or killed disease-causing organisms, which helps their immune systems develop resistance to the diseases.There are vaccines available for many common poultry diseases, such as Newcastle disease, Marek's disease, and infectious bursal disease. Talking to your veterinarian about which vaccines are right for your flock is important.

In addition to vaccination, there are other things you can do to prevent diseases in your poultry flock, such as:

• Keeping your farm clean and sanitary. This will help to reduce the number of disease-causing organisms in the environment.
• Providing your birds with a balanced diet. A healthy diet helps to boost your birds' immune systems and make them less susceptible to diseases.
• Monitoring your birds for signs of illness. If you notice any sick birds, isolate them from the rest of the flock and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Daily Care

In addition to the practices mentioned above, you can do a few simple things every day to help keep your poultry flock healthy and hygienic. These include:

• Checking your birds' food and water. Make sure that they have fresh food and water available at all times.
• Cleaning your poultry houses and equipment. Remove any manure or debris daily.
• Inspecting your birds for signs of illness. Look for any signs of respiratory problems, diarrhea, or other abnormalities.

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Final Thoughts

Poultry farming in Kenya offers numerous opportunities for those willing to take the plunge. Whether you're interested in raising layers for eggs or broilers for meat, understanding the types of chickens, different scales of operations, and various poultry farming methods is crucial. Moreover, addressing challenges and following essential steps can set you on the path to success in this rewarding venture.