How To Set Up Your Own Poultry Farming Business In Kenya

For ‘young’ people, starting your very own business and becoming self employed is the most suitable alternative to the ever growing hard to get 9 to 5 jobs. Starting a business is always the best alternative to the ever elusive jobs.

A survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) revealed that seven (7) million Kenyans are unemployed. An additional figure of over 1.4 million are actively looking for employment. With those figures, it is easy to see why more and more people are looking for alternatives.

Because we know very many business ventures require huge amounts of capital to get started, this new How To series will only show you how to start and execute several small business that require capital from as little as 5,000 Kenyan Shillings. Thus giving you the keys to the kingdom of starting a profitable business with little or no capital.

If you are also just looking for a side hustle to maybe supplement your 9 to 5 or full time job, this is for you.

All that you need to thrive in these businesses besides capital, is good customer service of course, great managerial skills, a suitable business location, and a clear cut vision.

Today’s article will show you how to set up your very own Poulty Farming business in Kenya. While this is not exactly a 5,000 Kenyan Shillings capital business, I am sure you would agree that this is also a very viable option.

Poultry farming is one of the oldest economic practices carried out in Kenya. Poultry farming is the rearing of birds, either for domestic purposes or commercial purposes and is one of the earliest entrepreneurial practices adopted in Kenya. The nation, is fast becoming one of the select few countries at the far front of both small scale and large scale poultry farming.

Poultry farming is an entrepreneurial venture that can be done basically anywhere, making it even more appealing to willing entrepreneurs. It not only involves eggs and meat but also the feathers of the poultry birds. These feathers, can be used in the making of artifacts which would potentially generate more income for you the poultry farmer, as tourists are known to like such artifacts.

How To Start A Poultry Farming Business In Kenya

How much do you need to start a Poultry Farming business? What paperwork, and or equipment are you required to have in Kenya? If you are considering this option, here is everything you will need to kickstart your Poultry Farming business in Kenya.

1. Decide On The Type Of Poultry Farming You Would Be Taking Up. Poultry Farming has various kinds or types. Would you want to rear Turkeys, Geese, Ducks or Chicken? While Chicken Poultry Farming, is the most commonly practiced form of Poultry Farming in Kenya, even that has levels. Under Chicken Poultry Farming, there is Layer Poultry Farming which is basically Chicken reared for the sole purpose of laying eggs, and Broiler Poultry Farming which is Chicken that is reared for their meat. So decide the particular type of Poultry Farming you would be going into, before starting and also ensure that you choose the correct breed that would be suitable for the type that you decide.
2. Have A Business Plan. Create a concise and effective business plan for your Poultry Farming business.
3. Small Scale Or Large Scale Poultry Farming? Before starting your Poultry Farming. How big will your poultry be? Do you want to start small and then expand? Do you want to keep it small or do you want to start on a large scale? These are also questions you need to figure out answers to, before starting your poultry farming business.
4. Figure Out Your Market. It is very important that you figure out your market before starting your Poultry Farming business.
5. Plan Out Your Marketing. Next after figuring out your market, should be planning out your marketing. Learn how to get the attention of your target market. Would discounts work? Or referrals or both? How about posters, sponsored adverts on social media and fliers. Find out what is most effective for you; what will help you build loyalty from and with your customers, and use that or a combination of all of them.
6. Talk To Others Who Have Done This Before You. No man is an island. Talk to entrepreneurs who have gone into or are still in the Poultry Farming business. Take time out to analyze other poultry farmers and what they have done, their methods, strengths, as well as areas that need improvement. Doing this will make sure that you be better equipped to satisfy your customers.
7. The Location Of Your Poultry Farm. As with most other businesses, a good location is one of the major factors that determine whether or not your Poultry Farming business will succeed. Your Poultry should be at a location where land is readily available. It will be an added bonus, if the land is also affordable and in close proximity to a market that is read for your Poultry products. In addition, avoiding overcrowding your chickens. Doing that could negatively affect their productivity.
8. Secure The Necessary Equipment. Equipment like heating gadgets that will aid you in ensuring that the chicks stay warm, cages, crates, egg trays, drinkers, feeders, incubators, coops, a waste disposal system, nests, perches, and a lighting system that is effective.
9. Decide Your Pricing. When doing this, please put into consideration, your labor, logistics, expenses, as well as other factors.
10. Transportation For The Eggs And Chicks. It is advisable to transport the chicks for your Poultry Farming business, six hours after they are hatched. Doing this, will give them adequate time to adapt to their new surroundings i.e your Poultry Farm. It will also increase their chances of survival. Transporting them weeks later, would be detrimental. Also you will need to figure out transportation for delivery purposes to your customers.
11. Check The Weather Conditions In And Around Your Poultry Farm. Due to the fact that a number of breeds of poultry birds are very sensitive to different climatic and weather conditions, it is very important that you make sure that your poultry birds can handle and are suitable for the weather conditions at your Poultry Farm.
12. Make A Poultry farming house. It is paramount that you set up the necessary Poultry farming structures in your Poultry Farm. One of those structures, is a Poultry Farm house. Make sure that the shape of the coop is rectangular and that it has plenty of spacing for your Poultry birds. Also make sure that the roof is fully covered, as this will protect the poultry birds from direct sunlight, rain and other harsh conditions. The floor of the coop should be cemented as this will help make clean ups a lot easier. The walls of the poultry farm house should be made from woodcuts and also meshed with more than enough wire mesh, to ensure that animals or predators which could harm your Poultry birds, will not be able to gain access into the poultry house.
13. Make Sure Your Poultry Birds Are Always In Good Health. The number one be thing that should be catered for at all times, is the health of your Poultry Birds. Make sure that frequent visits by a Veterinarian doctor, are arranged and followed through. Doing this will reduce the chances of your Poultry birds falling ill or contracting diseases.
14. Employ More hands. You really cannot carry out all the daily activities of a Poultry Farming business efficiently, on your own. This is why you will need to get more hands on deck. The particular number of individuals you employ however, will depend on the size of your Poultry Farm. Please make sure that you bring a farm manager on board as well to help you oversee and supervise.
15. Make Sure Your Books Are In Order. Please make sure that your accounting books and record keeping books are in order and up to date. They should include the quantity of feeds used daily, the totally number of poultry birds on your farm, number of eggs laid, amongst other things. Doing this, will help you efficiently monitor the growth of your Poultry Farm and also help you identify the areas that need more work or are incurring or leading to losses.

And that is it! All you need to know about starting your very own Poultry Farming business. Depending on the demand for your poultry products, you can make an average of 3,000 Kenyan Shillings per day. Cool right?

Is the Poultry Farming business suitable for you? That question, is left for you to think on and answer. This writer’s goal is to open your eyes to the various entrepreneurial opportunities that abound in the country.

Also while the prospects are very promising please have a realistic approach as well. As with any business, there is a chance that you might incur losses. Especially at the beginning, so please keep your overheads low.

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