Poultry Business Plan August 5, 2015

1. Introduction
Indigenous chicken in Kenya make about 76 per cent (22 million) of the total poultry
population, produce 55 and 47 per cent of the total meat and eggs respectively, and
are kept by 90% of the rural communities in small flocks of about 30 birds mainly
under free range system1. Eggs and chicken meat are a good source of macro- and
micronutrients and help alleviate malnutrition2. It is also a source of income for rural
households especially women3 and provide youth employment4.

Although rearing indigenous poultry does not involve a lot of work, their productivity
is normally low due to genotype, poor feed conversion efficiency and low adoption of
modern practices such as routine vaccination, adequate nutrition, de-worming and
proper housing1. Traditionally, poor selection and in-breeding resulted in birds with
poor growth rates, hereditary defects, and a high mortality rates in the flock.

The introduction of Indigenous Kari Kienyeji chicken5, a pure indigenous breed

whose genetic make-up is a factor of individual selection of parents based on merit
and breeding to ensure off springs perform better than the previous generation, has the
potential to revolutionise rural poultry farming6.

This business plan covers the following topics:

a. Housing plan and cost.
b. Vaccination schedule and cost.
c. Drinkers and feeders and cost.
d. Care for chicks below 4 weeks.
e. Management plan.
f. Answers to common questions.

1
A.M. Kingori et al, Indigenous Chicken Production in Kenya: A review. International Journal of Poultry Science 9 (4): 309-316, 2010.
2
In Kenya, it is estimated that 1 in 4 children under five suffer from stunting (chronic undernutrition).
3
According to World Bank, 45 per cent of the 44.4 million Kenyans live below the poverty line, mostly women. According to World Bank data
released in 2015, agriculture directly contributes 26 per cent to Kenya’s GDP and 25 per cent indirectly, totaling 51 per cent; and 61 per cent of
Kenya’s work force derives employment from agriculture.
4
Youth unemployment in Kenya is estimated at 40 per cent. With a population growth rate of 2 per cent, it means that 42 per cent of the
population is under 14 years, and 60 per cent is below 24 years. Youth unemployment is a cause for alarm.
5
Smallholder Indigenous Chicken Programme with promising results (www.incip.org).
6
According to the 2011 Kenya Population Data sheet, over 70 per cent of the Kenyan population lives in rural areas and about 67 per cent of
rural farmers do not believe their land is adequate to take care of their needs and those of their children.

POULTRY BUSINESS PLAN ©Subiri Obwogo

Poultry Business Plan August 5, 2015

2. Ensure you have proper housing for your chicken:

a. There are different types of chicken coops. The ideal house should provide the birds with
a comfortable environment and protect them from the extremities of the prevailing
climate (rain, wind, sunshine) and predators. The house should provide adequate space
for the flock to be kept in the house.
b. The ideal stocking density is two square foot per bird (2 foot²/bird). The walls are made
from wire mesh covered with a net (wood, brick wall are alternatives). The coop below
measures 20ft long, 20 ft wide and 8 ft and is adequate to house 500 chicken for each
level. It has 2 levels. The first level is raised 1 foot above the ground. The floor is made
of wood.
c. The costing plan in this proposal is based on the coop shown in the diagram below and
represents actual costs incurred to put up this structure [I will share the actual cost
breakdown once complete but it should range between Ksh 1000,000- 120,000]7.

7
For 200 birds, the cost of putting up the coop should be much lower.

POULTRY BUSINESS PLAN ©Subiri Obwogo

Poultry Business Plan August 5, 2015

3. Vaccination schedule for KARI Improved Indigenous Chicken.

The following is the recommended vaccination8 schedule for Kari Improved indigenous
chicken.

AGE VACCINE MODE OF ADMINISTRATION REMARKS Cost for 200 birds in

Ksh
Day old Mareks Subcutaneous Mainly for commercial NAD
purposes
Day 10 Gumboro (1st dose) Drinking water CH 80 strain Ksh 500
Intermediate
Day 18 Gumboro (2nd dose) Drinking water Intermediate Plus. Ksh 500
3 weeks NCD (1ST dose) Eye drop or drinking water Ksh 500
3 weeks (in hot spot Wing stab Ksh 800
areas) Fowl pox
6 weeks (other
areas)
8 weeks NCD (2nd dose) Eye drop or drinking water Ksh 500
Fowl Typhoid Intramuscular injection
18 weeks NCD (3rd dose at point Eye drop or drinking water Repeat every 3- months Ksh 500
of lay).
19 weeks De-worming Drinking water. Repeat every 3-months Ksh 100
Every 2 weeks Foot disinfectant/ In 10 liters of water Change fortnightly Ksh 1000/l

4. Feeds.
Feeds are the biggest contributor to the cost of raising chicken. This cost is based on commercial
feeds9.
Age Feed type Cost (50-kg bag: Remarks
UNGA co.).
Day old- 8 Chick mash Ksh 2550 Above 4 weeks, consumption about 50kg bag per
weeks week for 200 birds.
8 weeks – 19 Growers Ksh 2150 Above 4 weeks, consumption about 100kg bag per
weeks mash week for 200 birds.
19 weeks Layers mash Ksh 2300 Above 4 weeks, consumption about 100kg bag per
onwards week for 200 birds.

4. Drinkers and feeders for 200 chicks.

Using the right drinkers and feeders reduces work load since these only require to replenish
food and water once a day. Ensure cleanliness and hygiene by changing water and feeds once
a day. Do not enter the coop with footwear worn from outside. Dip the feet or shoes in a
disinfectant before entering the coop. Warmth is important for the first 4 weeks. A brooder
box measuring 1m by 1m by 1 m is adequate for 100 chicks. Add a light bulb of about 100
watts to run 24-hours, at least for 2-weeks.

8
Vaccines are sold in doses of 100s and the cost is lower if one purchases more doses in a bottle. This means that in a community setting, if
farmers plan well, the cost of vaccinating chicken in the entire village is much lower.
9
A simple home-made ration for kienyeji chickens contains: whole maize or maize germ (45 kg), wheat bran (20kg), sunflower cake (20kg),
omena (5kg), limestone (7.5 kg) and di-calcium phosphate (2.5kg).

POULTRY BUSINESS PLAN ©Subiri Obwogo

Poultry Business Plan August 5, 2015

Item Remarks Cost Ksh for 200 birds

2 brooder boxes @ 200
4 drinkers @ Ksh 300
4 drinkers @ Ksh 450
4 feeders @ Ksh 100
4 feeders at Ksh 800
Saw Dust @Ksh 100 a bag
Chick stat 500g
NAD if chicks > 4 wks Ksh 400
These drinkers are for the small chicks Ksh 1200
Change the drinkers as chicks grow Ksh 1800
These are for small chicks Ksh 400
Change feeders as chicks grow Ksh 3200
Change fortnightly Ksh 200/ month
This is given in water for first 1 week (1tsp in 2 L- see below). Ksh 450

4. Care information for chicks less than 4-weeks.

a. Mix 1 tsp of glucose and 1 tsp chick formula in warm water (give for first one week).
b. Add liquid paraffin in water (during the first one week).
c. Wash drinkers every morning with soap and water and change water daily.

5. Management Plan
A good management plan requires a worker to undertake the day-to-day duties and a
supervisor to provide general oversight.
Item Duties Remarks Cost in Ksh

One The work of the manager is to administer all vaccinations One manager can provide oversight to several Ksh 10,000
Manager and supervise the worker to ensure cleanliness and households at no extra remuneration. This applies salary per
hygiene standards are maintained and other duties for a mature poultry business. month
undertaken (food and water).
One Responsible for day-to-day care (replacing feeds and The workload is minimal and should average not Ksh 7-
Worker water and observes cleanliness and hygiene). more than 2-hours a day. The worker can 10,000 per
undertake other duties unrelated to the poultry for month
the rest of the day.

6. Answers to common questions.

Question
How many eggs do I expect?
When do I purchase birds for laying eggs?
What factors affect growth rate of birds?
Answer
 A good hen lays four to five eggs per week and about 200 eggs per year.
 Ref: Daily Nation, November 8, 2014, Seeds of Gold, P. 22.
 Birds intended for laying eggs are best purchased as female pullets aged
between 14 and 16 weeks.
 Ref: Daily Nation, November 8, 2014, Seeds of Gold, P. 22.
 Growth rate in animals is influenced by genetics and environment. Genetic
make- up is a factor of individual selection of parents based on merit and
breeding.
 Genetics, in turn, affects rate of growth through the rate at which feeds
consumed are converted to muscles and other body organs.

POULTRY BUSINESS PLAN ©Subiri Obwogo

Poultry Business Plan
What is recommended spacing?
Is there a difference between cross-breed chickens
and Improved Indigenous Chicken? Is the Kari
Improved Kienyeji Chicken (IKC) a pure breed of
indigenous chicken?
POULTRY BUSINESS PLAN
August 5, 2015
 With proper feeds, which imply diet of high quality, coupled with good
management practices such as routine deworming, vaccination and proper
housing, the animal should express its genetic potential in growth rate.
 Poor selection and breeding may result in inbreeding, which is mainly
exhibited by poor growth rates, emergence of hereditary defects, and increase
in mortality rates in a flock.
 In addition, overuse of certain feed additives such as vitamins and minerals
may affect the birds negatively leading to low growth rates.
 Ref: Daily Nation, November 8, 2014, Seeds of Gold, P. 22.
 Spacing in a poultry house depends on the production system in use as well as
the type and age of birds kept.
 In layers, recommended spacing is 4-6 birds/ m2 and 6-7 birds /m2 deep litter
and half deep litter systems, respectively.
 Allow 25 broilers/m2 (4-7 weeks of age), 4-5 growers/ m2 and 25 chicks/m2.
 Ref: Daily Nation, November 8, 2014, Seeds of Gold, P. 22.
 IKC are a pure indigenous chicken to be managed as a pure-breed with ability
to reproduce itself and maintain the same level or even higher production.
 IKC birds have undergone intensive selective breeding by primary breeders
(universities and research institutions) to ensure optimum performance and no
further improvement can be achieved.
 Parents are selected based on genetic merit to ensure the off springs perform
better than the previous generation. This process involves collecting huge
amount of data on every single bird and its extended family that is then
analysed and is a very costly undertaking.
 For example, at Egerton University, genetic improvement of indigenous
chicken has been on-going since 2007 within the Smallholder Indigenous
Chicken Programme with promising results (www.incip.org).
 ‘Cross-breed chickens’, on the other hand, are products of exotic birds and
indigenous chicken. This approach has the disadvantage of unpredictable
performance of the cross-breed, is discouraged and does not qualify to be
called ‘improved indigenous chicken”
 Ref: Daily Nation, March 14, 2015, Seeds of Gold, P. 30.
©Subiri Obwogo