How I Built My Sh.800,000 Chicken Farm After Losing My Job

When I was retrenched from my TV job at K24 in 2013, I thought my world had come crashing down. I had spent years building a career in media, and suddenly, I was jobless. But what seemed like an end turned out to be a new beginning.

Two years later, I became the proud founder and CEO of Wendy Farms Limited, a thriving agribusiness that today brings in over Sh.800,000 from KARI Improved Kienyeji chickens and farmer training programs.

Caleb Karuga in his farm

It wasn’t an easy journey—but it’s one I wouldn’t trade for anything.

The Humble Beginnings

Like many beginners, I made plenty of mistakes. My first attempt at farming was with pigs—because everyone said pigs were profitable. I jumped in without doing any proper research. Within months, I had lost everything.

Not one to give up, I decided to try poultry farming. I started small—with just two hens and one cock. When the hens began laying eggs, I decided to expand by buying more hens from nearby farms. That, too, was a mistake.

Some of the birds were not vaccinated, and within a month and a half, I lost about 200 chickens. It was a painful but valuable lesson: never buy birds whose vaccination history you don’t know.

Learning the Hard Way

Determined to succeed, I bought 500 day-old chicks from the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI). Unfortunately, theft became my next challenge.

While I was away, some of my employees sold my chickens behind my back—sometimes for half the price I had paid. Others claimed the birds had “died” of disease. It was frustrating, but instead of giving up, I decided to learn and improve my management practices.

My next batch was 1,500 chicks. I was saving money by using cheaper feeds—but that backfired too. The egg production was poor, and profits were minimal.

Then came my breakthrough moment.

Discovering the Goldmine

Through experience and research, I realized that the real money in indigenous poultry farming is in day-old chicks, not in eggs.

It was a lightbulb moment. I had been sitting on a goldmine all along. From that day, I shifted my business model to focus on producing and selling day-old Kienyeji chicks, and the results spoke for themselves.

Building the Poultry Empire

Today, Wendy Farms has operations in Kikuyu, Nyeri, and Nanyuki. I chose Kienyeji chickens because they are disease-resistant, cheaper to feed, and have a strong market demand.

Here’s how the numbers look:

• Day-old Kienyeji chick: Sh. 100

• Kienyeji egg: Sh. 15–20

• Full-grown Kienyeji chicken: Sh. 800

• Cocks during festive seasons: Sh. 1,200 and above

Compared to broilers or ex-layers (which sell for Sh. 270–300), the Kienyeji chicken is far more profitable.

On a good month, I earn around Sh.600,000 or more, and I also conduct training sessions at Sh.1,000 per person, teaching aspiring farmers how to start and manage their own poultry ventures.

Lessons from My Journey

Over the years, I’ve learned that farming is not glamorous. It’s not something you do because it looks good in the papers or on social media. It’s hard work—driven by passion, patience, and persistence.

Many people jump into agribusiness without proper research or interest. They take loans, buy animals, and hope for quick profits. But farming doesn’t work that way.

As I always say:

“Don’t make farming sexy—it’s not. Do it because you love it.”

Failures are part of the journey. When something goes wrong, I don’t take it personally. The business may have failed, but I haven’t. I take it as a lesson, adjust, and keep going.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, losing my job was the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to discover a new path—one that’s more fulfilling and impactful.

Today, my farms continue to grow, supplying Kienyeji chicks and eggs across Kenya. The demand far exceeds supply, and I thank God every day for the blessings and lessons along the way.

To anyone thinking of getting into poultry farming, remember this:

• Start small.

• Do your research.

• Be ready to fail and learn.

• And most importantly—have passion.

That’s how I built my Sh.800,000 chicken farm—and how you can build yours too.