Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya
KARI Improved Kienyeji Chicken
The introduction of Improved Kienyeji Chicken farming in Kenya|African country|African nation}|African country|African nation} by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute within the year 2011 has given a replacement face to Poultry Farming in Kenya.
Kienyeji chicken farming in Kenya has been quite a widespread type of poultry farming that is mainly found over the rural and semi-rural areas. However, within the recent past, it has found its way among some urban areas although is yet to be absorbed fully as a part of mainstream sources of income in the urban areas.
The name KIENYEJI is a native Swahili whose English equivalent is ‘Free range’. There are various methods on how Kienyeji chicken rearing in Kenya is practiced:
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Selection of the Breeding Stock
When selecting breeding stock, one should:-
- Select a hen that is broody, does not abandon her eggs during hatching and looks after her chicks well.
- Select a healthy, strong cock
Kienyeji Breeds
There are 5 common improved Kienyeji breeds in Kenya. These are
Kari Improved Kienyeji
Developed by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization by breeding Local village chicken that had the best qualities.
Rainbow Rooster Improved Kienyeji
Developed by IndBro in India, as a part of a government-funded program to improve the livelihood of rural low-income earners. Rainbow rooster is imported to Kenya by KukuChic Limited, who hatch the eggs and sell chicks across the country
Kuroiler
Kuroiler is imported to Kenya via Uganda, where there is a hatchery for F1 at Entebbe, Uganda. Kuroiler was first developed in India. Most of the Kuroiler sold in Kenya will either be F2 or F3 and will not be as productive as the F1 Kuroilers.
Kenbro
Kenbro is sold by Kenchic Limited and is meant to be the replacement of the Kienyeji chicken.
Sasso – Sasso chicken, named after the company that developed them in France is meant to be a free-range broiler, that can also be kept under the intensive system.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Housing
- Housing space should be 2 metres by 3 metres or be a traditional brooding basket. The traditional brooding basket can be used as a brooder basket for chicks, either inside or outside the house.
- House should be raised to protect birds from predators.
- Perches should be provided in the house for the chicken to roost on at night.
- The house should be well ventilated.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Free Range
In unenclosed conditions, the birds aren’t confined and might rummage around for food over an extended open space. Makeshift shelters may be provided in order to protect the birds from severe weather conditions. The birds could wander around sometimes in liter collection areas trees and nests within the bush. The flock contains may contain birds of different breeds and varying ages and it usually hard to control inbreeding.
In this case, the stocking density should not exceed 1000 birds in one hectare for its good to note that a hundred birds will require 0.4 hectares of land.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Feeding and Watering
- Provide a balanced diet. For instance, a small handful of maize, a teaspoonful of local fishmeal and some fresh greens, in addition to scavenged feeds like insects, will provide a good diet for one chicken in a day.
- Provide clean water at all times.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Eggs Collection
- Provide a safe, dry, dark place for the hens to lay.
- Collect eggs daily, write the date on the egg in pencil and store with the broad end facing upwards: this helps to ensure the embryo develops properly
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Hatching
- Use only eggs that were laid in the last 14 days.
- Hatch eggs using the mother hen, another broody hen, a (surrogate) duck or an incubator.
- For hens and ducks, make sure the number of eggs chosen for hatching corresponds to the bird’s body size as all eggs are supposed to fit under the bird.
- For synchronized hatching (all chicks hatch at the same time), delay the first hen that becomes broody by giving it just one egg to sit on while you wait for other hens to lay their clutches and become broody.
- For successive hatching, the hen or the surrogate duck sits on eggs for two consecutive clutches, chicks are removed when they hatch and replaced with new eggs.
- After hatching, dispose of egg shells, clean the nest and transfer chicks to a brooder.
- Turn the eggs regularly, especially when using an incubator.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Brooding
- Brood chicks using a mother hen, foster hen, a lantern, kerosene brooder, charcoal stove or charcoal placed in a metal container.
- If a foster hen is used, condition it for a day by giving it new chicks.
- Where a lantern brooder or other heat source is used, place it in a cardboard box with ventilation holes or inside the liuli placed upon a sisal sack or wood shavings.
- Take care that chicks cannot get burned – cover charcoal stove or container, ensuring that there is no risk of fire.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Rearing Chicks
- Provide clean water at all times in shallow, clean troughs.
- Provide soft feeds like flour from cereals or tubers.
- Allow chicks to roam freely when they reach 3 or 4 weeks of age.
- Vaccinate chicks against Newcastle disease at 4 days of age.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Farming methods for Kienyeji Chicken
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Advantages
- Meat and eggs are tastier and preferred by most consumers to those obtained from commercial breeds.
- The initial investment is less than that needed to keep commercial breeds.
- More tolerant of harsh conditions, including diseases, than commercial breeds.
- Can be fed on cheap, locally available feeds.
- When allowed to range freely, they need little feeding or other care.
- Women and youth often control the income from chickens.
- Local markets are readily available for both eggs and chickens.
- Droppings are rich in nutrients: can be used for compost making, pond fertilizing and as feed for livestock.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Disadvantages
- A lot of lands is required which may not be available
- The area may become contaminated with diseases and parasites
- Birds exposed to predators or thieves
- Difficulty to have close supervision on individual birds
- Possibility of eggs getting lost in the runs
- Dirty eggs
- Breeding program not easy to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya (FAQs)
How long does improved Kienyeji chicken take to mature?
kienyeji chicken chickens grow faster and are usually ready for market after approximately 3 months. How long does it take for Kienyeji chicken to mature? The entire development and egg laying process takes 25 to 26 hours per egg.
What is improved Kienyeji chicken?
The term ‘improved Kienyeji’ generally refers to an indigenous chicken breed obtained from natural cross-breeding between two superior breeds of Kienyeji chickens or a Kienyeji chicken and an exotic breed.
How many eggs does a Kienyeji chicken lay?
The hens on the other hand lay between 220-280 eggs per year.
Is chicken rearing kienyeji chicken profitable in Kenya?
Poultry farming in Kenya is becoming one of the most profitable businesses in Kenya due to demand of chicken by big hotels and restaurants. … The broiler chicken – this type of chicken is reared for meat production in Kenya. These chickens grow faster and are usually ready for market after approximately 3 months.
Whats is Origin of the improved Kienyeji Chicken
Most Kienyeji chicken have been overbred, leading to lower productivity. This is both to lower productivity both in the number of eggs and average weight gain.