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Chicken Farming (V
suave
#1 Posted : Monday, July 07, 2008 8:19:00 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 6/20/2008
Posts: 2
Hello SK's

I want to rear chickens and I am torn between broilers and layers. I am very green in this field and I am looking for information. If anyone is experienced in this field,or has done it before,kindly share the information. I am particularly interested in the maturity period,drugs and feed cost projections.

Penny Wise,Pound Foolish.
nyangao
#2 Posted : Tuesday, July 08, 2008 6:24:00 AM
Rank: Member

Joined: 6/26/2008
Posts: 190
well mkulima kama mimi.

for chicken rearing,both require a lot of capital. lets start with broilers. i thinkyou buyone at 45 bob (if price hasntchanged) and u continuosly feed it for 7,8weeks maximum. take 100 chicks,feed on 1 (average) sack of feed per week and it costs i think around 1500/= (varies dependingon which food - chicknen mash,-) what you need is ready market for the chicken by the 7th week but they should not exceed 8 weeks otherwise they will be incurring unecessary expenses.

For layers,you have to be patient fora least 5-6 months before they start laying eggs. im told an egg gives a net margin of about 1/=. the kuku lays 2 eggs in 3 days (being persimistic) .i thick this is a better venture than the broilers,but for quick money,the broilers are better. another challenge will be getting marketfor the meat for the broliers,the biz is flooded and competition is high,so its possible to sell your stuff at lower rates there by reducingyour mark up. for the layers once they are old and redudant,you can even sell the kuku lower than the price ofbroliers since you will have recouped your money in the eggs and alsoyourprofits.

Labour wise,you have to be fully committed . you cannot afford to make a blunder . the kukus are so sensitive to infections and can wipe out your kukus in hours leaving you with nothing.




hey
swotie
#3 Posted : Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:09:00 AM
Rank: Member

Joined: 5/6/2008
Posts: 1
chicken farming is very challenging . i would advise that for both you consider a number like 100 for experience then increase the number. housing is very important so make sure you can enter when standing. for broilers a chick costs 49-52/=. the first one month they each need 1kg of broiler starter at 1500/= . the next month 1 kg off broiler finisher . make sure you have a market before keeping or have a freezer to slaughter and keep while seeking a market.

for layers you need 2kg for each chick for the first two months of chick mash -1800/= per bag. then 9kg for the next three months to laying for each and then 45 kg layer mash for one year after they start to lay then dispose. you also need to invest in feeders and waterers. then some money on drugs,vaccines,woodshavings,lighting during first month.



jg
bird_man
#4 Posted : Tuesday, July 08, 2008 1:41:00 PM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 11/2/2006
Posts: 1,206
Location: Nairobi
Hi there.Actually thats good advice from swotie and nyangau. I have around 650 layers back in nyeri,its a lovely business but alot of care is needed,luckily mine is managed by my father while im in campus.Layer day old chics are around 52bob(Kenchic)....u need a good house for them with waterers and feeders plus chicken bulbs that stay 24/7 on for almost a month.(They have higher wattage!). My latest batch was of 300 chicks that kula around a gunia every 5days....thats around sh.1800.Also drugs are needed for vacinnation against common diseases like newcastle among others,but once in a while.

They start laying at about 5-6 months if fed properly and by the 8th month if fed well kabisa they will have a laying percentage of 90% everyday.It will give you a good return especially if near a big town like Nairobi.

I would advice you first rare around 150 and see how it goes. The food costs increase at a crazy rate,transport costs for eggs maybe,housing......you need quite some money. Above all,management is key!They are very sensitive to changes in diet and environment.If not carefully watched over you might find them eating each other,crowding and suffocating each other at night.......also make sure no one steals your eggs or chicken....take care of diseases coz they can clear a stock within hours.

All the best!

The course of the world is changed by those who dare dream!
Formally employed people often live their employers' dream & forget about their own.
kiuki
#5 Posted : Tuesday, July 08, 2008 4:44:00 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 11/6/2007
Posts: 19
...good advice on broiler and layers,anyone with exprnce on kenbro or is it kenbrew. i hear its another alternative easy to raise and manage but bila facts.

penye wazee hapaharibiki neno
LOKI
#6 Posted : Tuesday, July 08, 2008 5:37:00 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 4/24/2008
Posts: 6
Well Kiuki

if you are referring to the brand kenbrid,the have the same strengths and weaknesses as the rest in the market.

hakuna shortcut hapo.

Wisdom is the summation of man's timidity
suave
#7 Posted : Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:47:00 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 6/20/2008
Posts: 2
Hi,
Good to know that you are actually doing this practically and have some experience. Please get int ouch with me at suave_2u@yahoo.com and we can talk some more.

Penny Wise,Pound Foolish.
kiuki
#8 Posted : Wednesday, July 09, 2008 2:40:00 AM
Rank: Member

Joined: 11/6/2007
Posts: 19
@Loki

i see and thanks,but is it near free-range type? ama its a dfrnt thing all together


penye wazee hapaharibiki neno
LOKI
#9 Posted : Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:49:00 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 4/24/2008
Posts: 6
They are all imported stock suitable for intensive rearing.
One can also free range all the different ones in the market i.e kenchin,sigma,muguku kenbrid etc in order to be more organic but at the expense of output since they are more geared for intensive rearing.
You'll however need to adequately cover them via vaccination.

Wisdom is the summation of man's timidity
sos
#10 Posted : Wednesday, July 09, 2008 2:44:00 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 9/13/2007
Posts: 6
What about kuku ya kienyeji. Nowadays most customer /hotels prefer this type of chicken.Is it a profitable business rearing them.

sos
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