Typically, broilers are chickens that are kept for meat production. Many farmers tend to rear broilers for commercial purposes. The broilers, however, attain a certain age before they get slaughtered. For instance, a broiler is ready for slaughter at 4 to 7 weeks. On the other hand, slow-growing breeds tend to attain the age of 14 weeks before they get slaughtered.
A day old broiler chick in Kenya costs between Ksh.100 and Ksh.105. The price is affordable; therefore, if you were thinking about venturing into broiler farming, then here is an opportunity for you. With as little as Ksh.100, you can begin your business and later expand it further.
It is always important to consider getting broiler chicken for sale near you. This, in turn, will reduce costs like transportation and will also save time.
You can get a 3-month-old chicken for sale at any chicken farm near you. In most cases, such chickens are sold to be consumed and not to be raised.
How to Start Rearing Broilers in Kenya | Requirements
Here are some of the 10 things required before starting broiler farming in Kenya:
1. Draft a Business Plan
Before beginning your broiler farming business, there is an essential need for you to have a business plan. The business plan will help you run your business systematically and with few or no errors. You can also calculate and estimate the profits that may arise after you are done selling your products. Therefore, it is essential that you have a business plan.
2. Raise Enough Capital
Having capital is not a problem. However, it would be best if you had enough capital. As you know, to begin or run any business, there is always a need for you to have the required capital. The capital will help you buy the necessary stuff required for your business to run. In addition, when you tend to have enough capital, you will run everything smoothly with no worries. Hence, consider raising enough capital before you begin venturing into that activity.
3. Choose a Location for Your Farm
Where you will set up your farm matters a lot; for instance, a farm near the market has an advantage compared to that located away from the market. This means that you will reduce the cost of transportation if the farm is near the market and will be high if the farm is far from the market. Hence, if you want to reduce the costs, it would be best to set your farm near the market.
4. Have Enough Land
Land is fundamental and plays a crucial role as one of the factors of production. Without land, there are chances that the farm will not exist. However, the choice of land matters depending on where one is focusing. For instance, for small-scale broiler farming, you will require a small piece of land and a large one for large-scale broiler farming. One of the advantages of having a large portion of land is that you can expand your premises further, thus maximizing your profits.
5. Choose a Breed to Rear
Selecting the best breed to rear is a crucial thing to consider. As a farmer, you have to take the initiative to choose a more profitable breed. You must also select a breed that can survive certain complex conditions and one that will grow faster. Remember, a fast-growing breed will result in continuous profits.
6. Construct a House for Your Birds
A good house that is spacious, well lit, well ventilated, and clean is important for rearing broilers. Broilers have to be in a very conducive environment to improve their productivity. A good house will also make the birds comfortable and free from stress and other harmful factors. Therefore, as a recommendation, it would be best if you built a good home for them to achieve better results.
7. Have Medical Procedures
The health of the birds is fundamental. A healthy bird will result in high market demand and better profits. But the question is, how do you make your birds healthy? As a broiler farmer, there is always a need for you to have a veterinary doctor. The vet will then help in administering the required medication to your birds. It would also be best to consider the vaccination and deworming programs for your broilers. In the end, your birds will be healthy and will reach the market’s desired size and weight.
8. Buy the Required Feeds
For faster growth ability, food is fundamental. Usually, living organisms depend on food for their survival. As a broiler farmer, you have to feed your broilers with the recommended feeds. The feeds will help a lot, and you will realize higher profits.
9. Buy Equipment
Equipment such as chicken feeders and drinkers is important. One of the benefits of having a chicken feeder is minimizing food wastage. This, in turn, allows the chicken to maximize their feeding entirely, resulting in fast growth ability. On the other hand, chicken drinkers help maintain a clean environment since there will be no water splashes.
10. Find a Market for Your End Products
The market is significant in the broiler farming business and other businesses. At the end of a certain period, you will need to have your products sold. Now, the question is, where will you sell them? In this case, you need to find a stable market where you can sell your products at reasonable prices. For the sake of meat, you can find chicken butcheries, markets, meat production companies, or hotels. After that, you will be sure to earn something at the end.
Cost of Rearing 100 Broilers in Kenya
The cost of rearing 100 broilers in Kenya ranges from Ksh. 42,000 to Ksh. 80,000 on average. The variations may be due to factors like the condition you want to raise them in and the type of broiler you wish to rear.
On the other hand, the cost of raising 50 broilers in Kenya can be as high as Ksh. 11,000 on average.
Broiler Chicken Prices in Kenya
Chicken prices per kg in Kenya retail at Ksh.510. Variations may, however, be noticed depending on the place of purchase.
A broiler chicken market in Kenya is available. As a chicken farmer, you will have an opportunity to sell your chicken at your desired price.
Broiler chicken for sale in Nairobi can be found at affordable prices.
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