Succeeding in an agribusiness in Kenya, such as poultry farming, is the dream of many farmers. Poultry farming requires comprehensive knowledge concerning birds and their maintenance to produce quality products in high quantities. I will show you tips on how to succeed in poultry farming in Kenya; stay tuned and read till the end.
12 Guidelines on How to Succeed in Poultry Farming
The following are the 12 guidelines that will help you succeed in poultry farming in Kenya:
1. Draft a Poultry Business Plan
A business plan acts as a framework in the poultry business. A business plan prevents financial impairment. It entails objective details such as:
- Sources of finance.
- The intended market.
- Allocation of resources
2. Ideal Location
Identify a suitable location where you will set up your poultry farm. A strategic location helps create a demand niche for your products. Besides, it would be best to be closer to your intended market to save on transportation costs.
3. Purchase of Good Breeds
The type of breed determines your success in this poultry business. The right kind of breed matures faster, producing quality products. Hybrids have stronger immunity, which serves as a defense mechanism against infection.
4. Purchase of Quality Feed
Once you have a poultry farm, ensure a consistent purchase of quality feed from a recognized agro-vet. Quality feed is nutritious, and it will help birds grow at a faster rate, producing high-quality products. Remember, quality products earn high revenue.
5. Maintain Proper Hygiene
Cleanliness is the key to succeeding in this business. Accumulated dirt creates an environment for breeding parasites. Regular cleaning of the poultry houses helps in preventing diseases. Diseases cause deterioration of good health or even death, a significant loss.
6. Vaccination Plan
Be enlightened about the vaccination plan as it is vital in maintaining the good health of the birds. Conduct timely vaccinations to prevent outbreak diseases from attacking your poultry.
7. Proper Housing
Ensure the structures of your poultry are free from floods, predators, parasites, and extreme temperatures. Proper housing safeguards your poultry from external things that may cause harm.
8. Separation of the Birds
It would be best to group your birds based on their age group and body size. Grouping helps in administering the correct type of feed in the right quantity. Separation prevents overcrowding of birds in one place, as this may lead to suffocation.
9. Targeted Market
You should have a specific target market where you will sell your products. Demand is significant as a lack of demand causes losses.
10. Accounting
You should be able to account for your finances after every sale. Record keeping is essential for future reference. Besides, allocate your resources based on the developed plan. Remember, financial management is vital to succeeding in poultry farming.
11. Advertise Your Products
Advertising helps in creating awareness for the whole country. Due to advertisements, you will manage to have many customers at your door. This increases your income per month.
1. Be Passionate
Passion is essential in this business. Passion helps you properly maintain your birds. Also, remember to be determined to achieve more.
Successful Kienyeji Poultry Farmers in Kenya
Success is mainly achieved through hard work, determination, and passion. Successful stories are always a source of motivation for beginners. Here are five successful stories based on poultry farming in Kenya:
- Colleta Musyimi
She is a lady from Machakos County who is now a millionaire in Kenya. Colleta Musyimi is a mother of three kids. She quit her job to rear poultry in her home. Her insider secret is determination and passion. She says investing more in your business will help you grow to heights you can never imagine.
- Nicholas Omondi
Omondi is a young poultry farmer who owns Victoria Eco Farm, situated along Dunga Road in Kisumu. He started small with ten improved kienyeji chickens for domestic farming. Nicholas attended USAID training, where he decided to venture into commercial business. He ventured into poultry farming with Ksh. 18,000 in 2010. He purchased an incubator for Ksh. 15,000 and bought kuroiler birds and rainbow roosters with the remaining amount.
He invested more in his business and started rearing international breeds. He is now the largest supplier in the Kisumu and Western regions based on local hotels, weddings, birthdays, funerals, and outside caterers.
- Mary Mathuli
She stays in Makueni, where she practices poultry farming. Her poultry farming journey began in 2016 with the local kienyeji chicken. She visited various poultry farms in Makueni, which steered her passion for rearing poultry in Kenya. Mary decided to get a loan from Universal Sacco, which she used to buy chicks at Ksh. 100 per chick. She became a successful poultry farmer, where she ended up attracting investors from various regions.
- Alphaxard Gitau
Gitau was brought up in Kahawa West and later joined the University of Nairobi. His dream was to become a pediatrician. His interest in agribusiness grew when he saw a colleague earning lots of cash from his 40 cattle. He applied for a loan from Kenya Commercial Bank. He decided to venture into poultry farming while schooling. He became successful in his farming due to passion and hard work.
- Geoffrey Kagoa
Kagome was a cigarette hawker when he bought his first chicken from his mother. He had a role model in Nelson Muguku, who was a poultry farmer. He reared chickens and used his returns to pay school fees at Nyeri High School. He raised various birds and thus practiced diversification—training many poultry beginners on how to succeed in poultry farming.
Conclusion
Succeeding in poultry farming is easy when you are well educated about birds, hard work, passion, and determination. Successful farmers help motivate others, paving the way for their successes too. Ensure you follow the right tips to attain financial freedom through poultry farming.
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