kenthefarmer
Lister
I once believed that poultry farming was the way to financial freedom. I started with 1,000 broilers, later scaling to 4,000. At first, the profits were encouraging. But as time went by, the reality of small-scale poultry farming in Kenya hit me hard. Here’s my story. 
The Broiler Journey:
When I started with broilers, I had high hopes. The first few batches did well. The market demand was there, and I thought scaling up to 4,000 birds would increase my profits. But then the challenges began.
Feed Costs:
Feeds were my biggest headache. The cost of broiler feeds kept rising, and since feeds make up 60-70% of the production costs, my margins shrank quickly. Every time I went to buy feeds, it felt like gambling with my profits.
Diseases:
Diseases hit hard, especially as I increased the number of birds. Vaccinations and treatments drained my finances. Even worse, when outbreaks occurred, losses were massive, and recovering was tough.
Market Challenges:
The market didn’t make things easier. Broilers are ready in 5-6 weeks, but the market prices were unpredictable. I often found myself selling at a loss just to avoid keeping them longer and incurring more feeding costs.
Switch to Kienyeji Improved:
After these challenges, I thought kienyeji improved chickens would be a better alternative. The idea of lower feed consumption and higher market demand for kienyeji eggs and meat was attractive. So I shifted.
Bigger Losses:
Unfortunately, the same issues followed me. Feed costs were still high, and kienyeji take longer to mature. Diseases were still a menace, and the demand for kienyeji products wasn’t as stable as I expected. I ended up making even bigger losses than I did with broilers.
Lessons Learned:
From my experience, small-scale poultry farming is no longer profitable for most people in Kenya. Rising feed costs, diseases, and competition from cheaper imports make it almost impossible to sustain.
Reflection:
Would I do poultry farming again? Probably not on a small scale. Maybe large-scale with better economies of scale or as part of a diversified farm. But for now, I’ve learned to focus on other ventures that are more sustainable.
Incase you have " muscles" for now to do 8000 chicks plus ,I have the structure and am willing to lease it out. Location kirinyaga county.
Here is the structure
Have you faced similar challenges in poultry farming, or do you know someone who has? Share your experience. Let’s help each other learn from these struggles.
The Broiler Journey:
When I started with broilers, I had high hopes. The first few batches did well. The market demand was there, and I thought scaling up to 4,000 birds would increase my profits. But then the challenges began.
Feed Costs:
Feeds were my biggest headache. The cost of broiler feeds kept rising, and since feeds make up 60-70% of the production costs, my margins shrank quickly. Every time I went to buy feeds, it felt like gambling with my profits.
Diseases:
Diseases hit hard, especially as I increased the number of birds. Vaccinations and treatments drained my finances. Even worse, when outbreaks occurred, losses were massive, and recovering was tough.
Market Challenges:
The market didn’t make things easier. Broilers are ready in 5-6 weeks, but the market prices were unpredictable. I often found myself selling at a loss just to avoid keeping them longer and incurring more feeding costs.
Switch to Kienyeji Improved:
After these challenges, I thought kienyeji improved chickens would be a better alternative. The idea of lower feed consumption and higher market demand for kienyeji eggs and meat was attractive. So I shifted.
Bigger Losses:
Unfortunately, the same issues followed me. Feed costs were still high, and kienyeji take longer to mature. Diseases were still a menace, and the demand for kienyeji products wasn’t as stable as I expected. I ended up making even bigger losses than I did with broilers.
Lessons Learned:
From my experience, small-scale poultry farming is no longer profitable for most people in Kenya. Rising feed costs, diseases, and competition from cheaper imports make it almost impossible to sustain.
Reflection:
Would I do poultry farming again? Probably not on a small scale. Maybe large-scale with better economies of scale or as part of a diversified farm. But for now, I’ve learned to focus on other ventures that are more sustainable.
Incase you have " muscles" for now to do 8000 chicks plus ,I have the structure and am willing to lease it out. Location kirinyaga county.
Here is the structure
Have you faced similar challenges in poultry farming, or do you know someone who has? Share your experience. Let’s help each other learn from these struggles.
