The constant demand for eggs has made poultry farming, especially keeping layers, an attractive venture for many Kenyan farmers.

The total cost of keeping 500 layers in Kenya for one year is KES 876,750.00.

Even so, you need to understand the costs involved from day one until the laying period ends if you are to succeed in planning and budgeting.

This article gives a cost breakdown of rearing 500 layers in Kenya using practical up-to-date figures.

Initial Setup Costs

Housing:

The birds should be housed well to protect them from predators and harsh weather conditions.

A well-ventilated and secure chicken house is necessary for 500 layers.

Construction Costs:

Building a suitable poultry house can cost KES 200,000 to KES 300,000 depending on the materials used and labour costs; this includes expenses such as iron sheets, wire mesh, timber, nails and labour.

Equipment:

These include feeders, drinkers, perches, nest boxes and lighting.

• Feeders and drinkers – KES 20,000
• Perches and nest boxes – KES 15,000
• Lighting (bulbs, wiring & installation) – KES 10,000

Day-Old Chicks: Cost of purchasing 500 day-old layer chicks.

• Cost per click: Kshs.100
• Total for 500 chicks: Kshs.50,000

Running costs

Feed: Layers require different feeds as they grow.

Starter Feed (0-8 weeks): Approximately 1.0 kg per bird.

• Total feed required: 1.0 x 500 = 500 kg
• Cost per kilo: KES 60
• Total cost: KES 30,000

Grower Feed (8-18 weeks): Approximately 4.5 kg each chick.

• Total feed required: 4.5 x 500 = 2,250 kg
• Cost per kilo/kg: KES 55
• Total cost: KES 123,750

Layer Feed (18 weeks onwards):

Layer Feed (18 weeks onwards): Approximately 120 grams per bird per day.

• Total feed per day: 120 g x 500 chicks = 60 kg
• Monthly feed requirement: 60 kg x 30 days = 1,800 kg
• Cost per kg: KES 60
• Monthly cost: KES 108,000

Monthly cost/amount; this means that it will take about thirty days to consume up to sixty kilograms.

Farmers can cut costs of feeds by formulating own feeds. Contact our extension officers on how to make high quality layers feed +254 102 107 063.

Read:How to make your chickens stop eating eggs

Vaccination and Medication: It is essential to keep layers healthy by following an immunization schedule that includes Marek’s disease, Newcastle disease, Gumboro, Fowl Pox and fowl typhoid.

The total vaccination and medication cost for five hundred layers is KES 30,000.

Labor: In case someone is looking after the poultry for you then you have to think of labor costs too.

If one worker earns a salary of fiften thousand shillings (15,000), multiply the monthly salary by twelve months to get the annual labour expenses of KES 180,000.

Utilities and Miscellaneous Expenses: These include water bills, and electricity bills among other unforeseen expenditures.

Monthly utilities: KES 5,000

Annual utilities: KES 60,000

Miscellaneous expenses: KES 20,000

TOTAL COSTS BREAKDOWN

Initial Setup Costs:

Housing and equipment: KES 245,000

Day-old chicks: KES 50,000

Running Costs for One Year:

Starter feed: KES 30,000

Grower feed: KES 123,750

Annual layer feed: KES 108,000

Vaccination and medication: KES 30,000

Labor: KES180,000

Utilities and miscellaneous (Ksh): KES80,000

Summary of Total Costs:

The initial setup with birds required amount is KES 295,000.00.

Running costs within one year are KES 551,750.00.

The total cost of keeping 500 layers in Kenya for one year is KES 846,750.00.

Conclusion:

To keep five hundred layers in Kenya has high initial as well as running costs, however if managed properly the sale proceeds from egg would be quite lucrative.

For example; each egg will be sold at an average price of ten Kenyan shillings while the laying rate will be approximated at eighty per cent thus monthly potential revenues from these eggs are estimated at one hundred twenty thousand shillings given that there are five hundred layers which lays four hundred eggs per day.

Thus through proper planning and good management practices including ensuring good health of the birds can ensure that the venture is profitable and sustainable.

A proper understanding of detailed costs coupled with good management can lead to successful and profitable layer farming by poultry farmers in Kenya.

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