Poultry Business Plan - Famunera

1 Poultry Business Plan August 5, 2015 Poultry Business PLAN Subiri Obwogo 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.

2 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 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 million Kenyans live below the poverty line, mostly women.

3 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 ( ). 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 August 5, 2015 Poultry Business PLAN Subiri Obwogo 2. Ensure you have proper housing for your chicken: a.

4 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 foot /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.

5 7 For 200 birds, the cost of putting up the coop should be much lower. Poultry Business Plan August 5, 2015 Poultry Business PLAN Subiri Obwogo 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 purposes NAD Day 10 Gumboro (1st dose) Drinking water CH 80 strain Intermediate Ksh 500 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 areas) Fowl pox Wing stab Ksh 800 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 of lay).

6 Eye drop or drinking water Repeat every 3- months Ksh 500 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: UNGA co.). Remarks Day old- 8 weeks Chick mash Ksh 2550 Above 4 weeks, consumption about 50kg bag per week for 200 birds. 8 weeks 19 weeks Growers mash Ksh 2150 Above 4 weeks, consumption about 100kg bag per week for 200 birds. 19 weeks onwards Layers mash Ksh 2300 Above 4 weeks, consumption about 100kg bag per 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.

7 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 ( kg) and di-calcium phosphate ( ). Poultry Business Plan August 5, 2015 Poultry Business PLAN Subiri Obwogo Item Remarks Cost Ksh for 200 birds 2 brooder boxes @ 200 NAD if chicks > 4 wks Ksh 400 4 drinkers @ Ksh 300 These drinkers are for the small chicks Ksh 1200 4 drinkers @ Ksh 450 Change the drinkers as chicks grow Ksh 1800 4 feeders @ Ksh 100 These are for small chicks Ksh 400 4 feeders at Ksh 800 Change feeders as chicks grow Ksh 3200 Saw Dust @Ksh 100 a bag Change fortnightly Ksh 200/ month Chick stat 500g This is given in water for first 1 week (1tsp in 2 L- see below).

8 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 Manager The work of the manager is to administer all vaccinations and supervise the worker to ensure cleanliness and hygiene standards are maintained and other duties undertaken (food and water). One manager can provide oversight to several households at no extra remuneration. This applies for a mature Poultry Business . Ksh 10,000 salary per month One Worker Responsible for day-to-day care (replacing feeds and water and observes cleanliness and hygiene).

9 The workload is minimal and should average not more than 2-hours a day. The worker can undertake other duties unrelated to the Poultry for the rest of the day. Ksh 7-10,000 per month 6. Answers to common questions. Question Answer How many eggs do I expect? 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. When do I purchase birds for laying eggs? 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. What factors affect growth rate of birds? 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.

10 Poultry Business Plan August 5, 2015 Poultry Business PLAN Subiri Obwogo 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. What is recommended spacing? 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.