Kuku Chronicles: The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Kuku Business in Kenya

By Wangui Kahure

The year was 2023, not that long ago, when I became very interested in poultry farming. So, venye ilihappen ni my dad alileta some chicks home for his school project. You know, zile lazima ufanye ndio ugraduate.

The worst part is that I was in charge of them because he worked during the day. Mind you, I had never interacted with chicks or chickens before. If anything, I was extremely scared of them.

When I was given the role, in true Gen-Z spirit, I remember thinking, "This job isn’t giving." Little did I know, this was the first step to a fulfilling career, opening many doors to success.

For me, poultry farming began just like any other chore at home. But, nimefind fulfillment mob kwa hii hustle, na ndiyo imenifanya kuwa the successful farmer I am today. In this article, I'll take you through everything you need to know to start a poultry farming business, from brooding to marketing.

The Hype: Why is Poultry Farming Popular in Kenya?

There are three main reasons why the poultry business is popular. First, there's a high demand for eggs and chicken meat. These are staple foods in many households and a key ingredient in restaurant menus.

In fact, at the moment, the average volume per person in the eggs market is about 3.9%, which is expected to rise to 6.8% in 2025. Also, with countless dishes made using eggs and chicken, it's clear that the demand for these products isn't going away anytime soon.

Secondly, there are many ways to monetize your poultry business besides selling eggs and meat. At every stage of the business, you can make money. Here's how:

Brooded chicks: You can buy one-day-old chicks from reputable hatcheries, brood them, and sell them at 4 or 5 weeks old. Brooding provides a warm, enclosed environment for young chicks to grow and develop. Most farmers hesitate to brood young chicks due to the high mortality rate. They prefer buying them once they're 'out of danger,' typically between 4 and 8 weeks old.

Point-of-Lay Chickens (POL): These are hens about to start or have just started laying eggs, usually around 18-20 weeks old. POL chickens are popular among farmers because they provide a quick return on investment and a lower initial investment, especially in care and feed.

Poultry manure: You can sell your chickens' manure as a natural fertilizer for gardens and farms. It's rich in nutrients and can be a valuable byproduct of your poultry business.

Hatch and sell chicks: Once you've broken even and expanded your farm, you can invest in an incubator and hatch eggs to sell day-old chicks to other farmers.

Lastly, nitacheza devil's advocate hapa na kuwaambia wasee wengi hufikiria biashara ya kuku ni a “get-rich-quick scheme.” I mean, mtu akikushow, your only input is feeding and vaccinating the chickens, then utapata over Ksh. 100,000 in return, hautakua tempted?

However, most people who venture into it with this mindset don't last past the first month or so of the business. If you can take the business seriously—buy the right feeds, feed the birds adequately, provide clean water, and vaccinate them properly—poultry farming can be one of the easiest ways to make money.

Kuku 101: Know Your Birds and Biz Moves

When it comes to poultry farming, you can keep commercial layers, broilers, or Kienyeji. If you aim to supply eggs to the market, then commercial layers are your ting! Broilers are the plug if you've got a market for chicken meat, and Kienyeji, especially the improved ones, are good for both eggs and meat.

So, which one should you choose for your kuku biz?

The type of chickens you roll with will depend on your market. But ukweli ni, commercial layers, and Kienyeji are more popular than broilers. Picture this: umegrow broiler chickens mpaka zimefika maturity, alafu sasa uko like, "Sasa nita uza wapi?"

First, the market for broilers iko na competition mob, na wale big fish ndio wameshika market. Ku-navigate hiyo as a beginner ni tricky sana! Pia, kuna ma-restaurants na organizations hawachukui kuku locally. Look at KFC, for example. Wanachukua kuku zao kutoka nje, making the market even smaller.

Na pia, from the moment you take your broilers kutoka kwa barn, wanaendelea kukula pesa yako. It would help if you kept them in a freezer, but now, wanakula power. They can't also stay unsold for long since they're highly perishable.

Roll with broilers kama uko na sure target market; otherwise, inaweza kuwa ngumu kupenya.

The other options are layers and improved kienyeji. Both improved Kienyeji, and commercial layers have their pros and cons. Consider what your needs are, then decide which one fits your vibe.

Advantages of Improved Kienyeji

Easier to manage when it comes to disease management – hawana stress mingi.

You don't need to buy feeds constantly; you can vibe with leftovers.

They're cost-effective – cheaper to buy and maintain.

Kienyeji kuku are more adaptable to local conditions and can thrive almost anywhere.

Perfect if you want to cater to a niche market.

Disadvantages of Improved Kienyeji

Lower egg production; usually around 200-250 eggs per year – hazitoi kama layers.

Growth rate iko chini compared to layers, especially if you go for the wrong breed.

Advantages of Commercial Layers

High egg production – unapata like 280-320 eggs per year.

They mature faster, so you start making that money sooner.

The eggs are more uniform in size and quality – zile za kupeleka soko bila stress.

Disadvantages of Commercial Layers

The initial and maintenance costs are high.

Some breeds, like leghorns, are more prone to diseases.

They're less adaptable to local conditions than improved Kienyeji.

How Much Do You Need to Start?

Let's talk about the expenses before we get into how much cash you can make from your kuku biz. Remember, prices can change greatly depending on where you are, market conditions, and suppliers.

Costs Involved in Chicken Rearing

Chicks:

Layer chicks: Ksh 170 – Ksh 200 each

Broiler chicks: Ksh 80 – Ksh 150 each

Kienyeji chicks: Ksh 100 – Ksh 200 each

Improved Kienyeji chicks: Ksh 120 – Ksh 200 each

Housing: The cost here depends on size, materials, and whether you build it yourself or get someone to do it. You might be looking at low-key costs for a small-scale, free-range setup. A basic house for 100 layers or broilers could range from Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 30,000, including labor and equipment.

Feed: This is where your wallet feels the pinch the most. Prices vary based on the company and location.

Chick mash (0-8 weeks): About Ksh 3,000 – Ksh 3,500 per 50kg bag

Growers mash (8-20 weeks): About Ksh 2,500 – Ksh 3,000 per 50kg bag

Layers mash (20 weeks onwards): About Ksh 2,800 – Ksh 3,300 per 50kg bag

Medication and Vaccinations: Important for preventing diseases (e.g., Newcastle, Gumboro, Marek's). A basic vaccination program for 100 chicks might cost you Ksh 1,000 – Ksh 2,000. Deworming and other meds will add extra recurring costs.

Labor: Sometimes, you might not have the time to run the farm. So, you'll need to hire someone to help clean and feed the chickens. Depending on your location, casual labor costs about Ksh 300 – Ksh 500 per day.

Transportation: Of course, you'll have transport costs when getting your chicks, feeds, eggs, and whatnot. You'll need to decide whether to use your ride or hire a pickup.

Miscellaneous:

3 baby feeders @ Ksh 350 = Ksh 1,050

3 baby drinkers @ Ksh 350 = Ksh 1,050

6 adult drinkers @Ksh 450 = 2,700

6 round feeders @Ksh 450 = 2,700

Lighting bulbs @ Ksh 150 = Ksh 150

Heating equipment (for brooding)—an infrared bulb @ Ksh 750

500mls Norocleanse disinfectant @ Ksh 550

1 bag of wood shavings @ Ksh 300 = Ksh 300

Plywood (6 pieces) @ Ksh 550 = Ksh 3,300

Cleaning, disinfecting, and making of the brooder labor @ Ksh 1,500

2 bottle sprays @ Ksh 400 = Ksh 800

Example Calculation: Commercial Layer Farming

Let's imagine raising 100 commercial layers:

Chicks: Ksh 180 x 100 = Ksh 18,000 (current market price as of September 2024)

Housing (simple setup): Ksh 10,000

Feeds:

Chick Mash (Day 1-8 wks): 4 bags of 50kg chick mash at Ksh 3,000 per bag, totaling Ksh 12,000.

Growers Mash (9 wks-20 wks): 14 bags at Ksh 2,600 per bag, amounting to Ksh 36,400

Vaccination: Ksh 1,500

Miscellaneous: Ksh 14, 850

Estimated Initial Investment: Around Ksh 92, 750

But here's the thing: you don't need to drop the whole amount at once. You can cut down on some costs, like feeds, by buying smaller quantities and restocking as needed. For example, start with 10kgs of chick mash and spend Ksh 2,400 instead of Ksh 12,000. Once you're out, buy another 10kgs and keep rolling.

How Profitable is Chicken Farming? The Real Chicken Mulla!

Let's now get into what y'all have been waiting for! Again, the prices and costs vary from one location to another. However, here's an estimate of what you can expect.

Layer Farming

A well-managed layer can produce around 250-300 eggs annually—let's average that to 270. With eggs going for about Ksh 12 – Ksh 20 each (we'll use Ksh 13 for this example), one layer could earn you anywhere from Ksh 3,510 to Ksh 5,400 annually.

Now, if you're managing 100 hens and factor in a conservative 5%-10% mortality rate, your potential income would range from Ksh 315,900 to Ksh 560,000 per year.

Broiler Farming

For broilers, mature birds weigh between 1.5 – 2.5 kg and can sell for Ksh 500 – Ksh 800 per bird. With 100 birds and accounting for a 5%-10% mortality rate, you might end up selling 90-95 broilers. The potential income here ranges from Ksh 45,000 to Ksh 76,000 per batch.

Kienyeji Chickens

Mature birds sell for upwards of Ksh 1,000 depending on size, buyer demand, and location. Their eggs can also be a good income source, selling for Ksh 15 – Ksh 30 each. While you might get more per bird, Kienyeji chickens grow slower, and their egg-laying rates aren't as high as those of broilers and commercial layers.

To determine your actual profit, subtract all your expenses from your total income. Hakikisha umeweka records safi na updated for calculation purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to start a poultry business?

First, lazima udecide type ya kuku unataka kulea alafu ubook kwa hatchery legit. After that, set up a basic housing structure, get good feeds, ensure a steady water supply, and follow a proper vaccination program. Also, ensure umeweka biosecurity measures in place na essentials zote za brooding, kama light, heat source, plywood, na wood shavings ziko. Ukishaset kila kitu, disinfect nyumba 72 hours before chicks wafike.

Can I do poultry farming in the city?

Yah, you can definitely do poultry farming in the city. There are two ways to go about it:

Buy a piece of land, build a decent housing structure, and hire someone to care for your birds when you're not around.

Use the extra space at home (if you're not in an apartment) to keep your chickens.

Buying land is the best bet for easier monitoring. But if you're in the city, you can still keep them in the countryside and be a telephone boss.

How do I market my poultry biz?

This is where things get real.

Kwanza, make sure uko social media presence. Open Facebook na Instagram accounts za biz yako na ziwe active na fun, educational, na promotional content. Hii itasaidia wasee kukupata haraka, kufollow your journey, na ku build trust.

On social media, join Facebook groups za farmers alafu uanze ku-market products zako—believe me, kuna wasee wata-show interest. Influencer marketing pia ni move safi—link up na influencers wenye wako kwa poultry industry ama established farm companies zenye zinafanya ads.

Another way to market is door-to-door sales. This means hitting up relevant places and spreading the word about your biz. Kama unadeal na broilers, visit restaurants na wambie vile uko na fresh and ready chicken meat. Kama ni layers, tafuta bakeries, shops, na supermarkets uanze kuwauzia mayai.

Conclusion: Should Fellow Meshers Start Poultry Businesses?

Anyone, regardless of their knowledge of the industry, can start and successfully run a poultry business. Attend networking events and seminars to learn more about the industry and visit experienced farmers in your niche to get real-life experience.

Watch YouTube videos and utaona veterans wakishow everything you need to know. Personally, YouTube ilikuwa my learning ground. Finally, don't forget to have fun while at it, love your chickens, and if possible, give them names! Make funny TikTok videos with them, and educate people on your processes.