Why is Poultry Farming Popular in Kenya?
There are three main reasons why poultry farming is popular:

1. High demand for eggs and chicken meat: Many households and restaurants use eggs and chicken in their dishes, so there is always a need for them.
2. Multiple ways to earn money: Besides selling eggs and meat, you can also make money by raising chicks and selling them when they are older, selling point-of-lay chickens (chickens that are about to start laying eggs), selling poultry manure as fertilizer, and hatching and selling chicks.
3. It’s not a “get-rich-quick” scheme: Some people believe poultry farming is easy and brings quick profits, but that’s not true. You need to take it seriously, provide the right food, water, and vaccines for your chickens. If you do that, it can be a profitable business.

Choosing Your Poultry Business
There are different types of chickens you can raise:

• Commercial Layers (for egg production)
• Broilers (for meat)
• Kienyeji (traditional chickens, good for both eggs and meat)

What you choose depends on your market, but many people prefer commercial layers and kienyeji chickens over broilers because broiler farming is very competitive and requires specific market connections.

Costs Involved in Starting Poultry Farming
To start a poultry business, here are some costs to consider:

• Chicks:
• Layer chicks: Ksh 170 – Ksh 200 each
• Broiler chicks: Ksh 80 – Ksh 150 each
• Kienyeji chicks: Ksh 100 – Ksh 200 each
• Housing: Building a basic chicken house for 100 chickens can cost between Ksh 10,000 – Ksh 30,000.
• Feed: This is the biggest expense. For example:
• Chick mash (for chicks up to 8 weeks): Ksh 3,000 – Ksh 3,500 per 50kg bag
• Growers mash (for 8-20 weeks): Ksh 2,500 – Ksh 3,000 per 50kg bag
• Layers mash (for laying hens): Ksh 2,800 – Ksh 3,300 per 50kg bag
• Vaccination and Medication: Costs between Ksh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000 for 100 chicks.
• Labor: If you need help taking care of the chickens, labor costs between Ksh 300 – Ksh 500 per day.

Example: Starting with 100 Commercial Layers
If you decide to raise 100 commercial layers, your initial investment might look like this:

• Chicks: Ksh 18,000
• Housing: Ksh 10,000
• Feeds: Ksh 12,000 (for chick mash) and Ksh 36,400 (for growers mash)
• Vaccination: Ksh 1,500
• Miscellaneous: Ksh 14,850

Total estimated cost: Ksh 92,750

You don’t have to spend all the money at once. You can buy small amounts of feed and restock as needed.

How Profitable is Poultry Farming?

• Layer Farming: One well-managed layer can produce around 270 eggs per year. If eggs sell for Ksh 13 each, you could earn about Ksh 3,510 to Ksh 5,400 per hen. With 100 hens, your annual income could be between Ksh 315,900 and Ksh 560,000.
• Broiler Farming: Broilers can sell for Ksh 500 – Ksh 800 each. With 100 birds and a small loss rate, you could earn between Ksh 45,000 and Ksh 76,000 per batch.
• Kienyeji Farming: Kienyeji chickens can sell for Ksh 1,000 each, and their eggs for Ksh 15 – Ksh 30. While they grow slower, they are a good source of income.

Conclusion
Anyone can start a poultry farming business, even if you don’t have experience. You can learn by attending seminars, watching YouTube tutorials, or visiting experienced farmers. Start small, and grow as you gain more knowledge and experience. Make sure to enjoy the process and take good care of your chickens!