
Poultry feeding
Starting a poultry farm begins with identifying the type of chickens your market demands and assessing the finances at your disposal.
You can choose from Kienyenji (local) chickens, layers, or broilers. If you are looking for quick returns on your investment, broilers are the best option.
Depending on environmental conditions and management, broilers are raised for meat and can mature within 4 to 6 weeks.
Layers are raised for eggs and typically begin laying around 5 to 6 months of age. Kienyenji chickens can be free-range and are raised for both meat and eggs, although they may take longer to start laying compared to layers, and they also have brooding capabilities.
Building a Coop
As a beginner, it is advisable to start with 50 to 100 birds. This smaller flock will help you learn and gain experience while minimizing mortality risks, and the initial costs will be lower.
Construct a simple coop using available raw materials. A cost-effective solution could be converting an empty room or a side of an outdoor kitchen, which may cost less than Ksh 5,000.
As your experience and business grow, you can construct a larger structure. Be sure to disinfect the coop with Norocleanse before introducing any chicks.
When starting with layers and Kienyenji, you can purchase chickens that are already 4 to 5 months old. However, for broilers, you should start with day-old chicks.
On the first day, keep the day-old chicks in a brooder. Feed them chick starter multivitamins, Alyseril antibiotics, and liquid paraffin 30 minutes before introducing regular feeds.
The brooder should be warm, well-ventilated, and equipped with nighttime lighting, which enhances 24-hour feeding and promotes faster growth.
During the first 3 weeks, feed broilers starter crumbs and provide normal starter feeds for layers and Kienyenji. When purchasing older Kienyenji or layer chickens, ensure you buy healthy birds.
Do not mix them with existing chickens on the farm; instead, quarantine them for at least 7 days and administer antibiotics and multivitamins, such as Alyseril, to address any diseases that may be in their incubation stage.
Read Also: Causes, signs and How to Prevent Coccidiosis in chickens
To prevent diseases, it is crucial to vaccinate your birds as follows: Newcastle disease vaccine at 7 days, Gumboro vaccine at 14 days, fowl pox vaccination at 6 weeks, and fowl typhoid vaccination at 8 weeks.
Quality of feed is paramount; never compromise on this. Poor quality feed can slow growth rates, stunt development, and in extreme cases, cause death.
You may also choose to produce your own high-quality feed. Always provide clean water, and ensure the coop remains warm and is not exposed to direct sunlight.

To succeed in poultry farming, remain vigilant against diseases, especially coccidiosis and Newcastle disease. Coccidiosis is a protozoal infection that leads to diarrhoea, weight loss, and decreased production in poultry.
Newcastle disease symptoms may include loss of appetite, coughing, gasping, nasal discharge, watery eyes, bright green diarrhoea, and neurological signs such as paralysis and convulsions.
You can supplement feeds with vegetables or weeds like kale and young blackjack leaves, especially for Kienyenji and layer chickens.
With these simple guidelines, it becomes easier to start small and expand your poultry business successfully.