Some hens cluck as they run around the
compound and others browse the ground for food.
compound and others browse the ground for food.
The cocks, on the other hand, crow intermittently
just to assure the rest of the brood that
everything is under control.
just to assure the rest of the brood that
everything is under control.
This is Richard Rono’s home in Kapchekoro village,
Bomet County, where the farmer keeps chicken.
However, unlike many farmers who keep the birds
for eggs or meat, Rono mainly hatches chicks for
sale.
Bomet County, where the farmer keeps chicken.
However, unlike many farmers who keep the birds
for eggs or meat, Rono mainly hatches chicks for
sale.
“I started with exotic chicken and I was keeping
them for eggs but after realising that the market
was saturated, I went for Kienyeji birds and started
hatching chicks because there is less competition,”
says Rono, who constructed a semi-permanent
house worth Sh150,000 for his chicken.
them for eggs but after realising that the market
was saturated, I went for Kienyeji birds and started
hatching chicks because there is less competition,”
says Rono, who constructed a semi-permanent
house worth Sh150,000 for his chicken.
At any time, the farmer keeps an average of 100
hens and 15 cocks in a recommended ratio of one
cock for every seven hens. He hatches up to 450
chicks per month.
hens and 15 cocks in a recommended ratio of one
cock for every seven hens. He hatches up to 450
chicks per month.
The hens supply him with eggs for the incubators
and he sells the surplus at Sh20 each.
and he sells the surplus at Sh20 each.
The farmer has two incubators. A manual one with a capacity of 360 eggs that he bought five years ago at Sh50,000 and an automatic one with a capacity of 480 eggs that he acquired three years ago at Sh140,000.
“It takes me 10 days to get enough eggs for the
two incubators. When the eggs are hatching, I sell
the surplus which earn me about Sh20,000 per
month after deducting the cost of feeds.”
two incubators. When the eggs are hatching, I sell
the surplus which earn me about Sh20,000 per
month after deducting the cost of feeds.”
The eggs hatch after 21 days. “I, thereafter,
transfer the chicks from the incubator to a pen
equipped with a charcoal brooder. They will stay
there for a month,” explains Rono, who spends up
to Sh3,000 per month on charcoal.
transfer the chicks from the incubator to a pen
equipped with a charcoal brooder. They will stay
there for a month,” explains Rono, who spends up
to Sh3,000 per month on charcoal.
“The chicks need to be kept warm, that is why I
use the charcoal burner. It burns throughout the night and sometimes during the day.”
use the charcoal burner. It burns throughout the night and sometimes during the day.”
VACCINES ARE CRUCIAL
He offers the chicks commercial feeds, starting
with chick mash, which goes for between Sh2,500 and Sh3,000 for a 50kg bag. Clean water and vaccines are also crucial for the chicks’ survival.
“If one misses to vaccinate the chicks against
Gumboro and Newcastle Disease, then their
chances of survival would be minimal.
Gumboro and Newcastle Disease, then their
chances of survival would be minimal.
I also vaccinate them against Fowl Typhoid as advised by agricultural extension officer,” says Rono, who also hatches eggs for other farmers at Sh1 per day for each. He makes up to Sh10,000 per month from this venture.
He sells the chicks to farmers from Bomet, Keroka
and Kericho after about a month from Sh120 to
Sh180.
“I do not sell the very young chicks to beginners
because they may not manage them well. I usually
advise them to pick those chicks that are over a
month.”
If the chicks are not bought in the first month,
Rono usually transfers them to another pen.
“I keep the birds in different pens according to
their ages. One should not mix them to prevent
spread of diseases and bullying.
It is wrong to mix
chicks, for instance, with older birds,” offers Rono,
who supplements commercial feeds with wheat,sorghum, fresh grass and vegetables.
At two months, the birds go for Sh250 and at
three Sh350. He allows the hens to forage in his
compound each day after feeding on layers mash.
Bomet Central Livestock Production Officer Evans Kiplagat says farmers keeping Kienyeji chicken
spend less on disease control because they are
resistant to many poultry infections.
spend less on disease control because they are
resistant to many poultry infections.
“Their adaptability to varied living conditions makes
them suitable breeds for every farmer. The
indigenous breeds do not entirely depend on
commercial feeds and they can do well under
free-range thus cutting the cost of production,”
says Kiplagat, adding that they are preferred by
many consumers because their meat is tastier.
them suitable breeds for every farmer. The
indigenous breeds do not entirely depend on
commercial feeds and they can do well under
free-range thus cutting the cost of production,”
says Kiplagat, adding that they are preferred by
many consumers because their meat is tastier.
He advises farmers to maximum their returns from
poultry by diversifying.
“That egg a farmer sells at Sh15 or Sh20 can
hatch in 21 days and he sells the chicks at Sh150.
This is better than just selling eggs.”
hatch in 21 days and he sells the chicks at Sh150.
This is better than just selling eggs.”
Source: Nation Media
Did you find this useful?please leave a comment below.
Like our Facebook page: Greenfarm organics
Follow us on Twitter: @nicokirui1
No comments:
Post a Comment