I found my forte in ornamental birds

Kimani Kamau at his ornamental birds farm at Ng'ondu farm in Egerton. August 13, 2019. [Harun Wathari, Standard]

From a distance, we hear the sounds of birds as we approach Mr Kimani Kamau’s home in Nakuru.

At the gate, we are let into the compound by a flock of pigeons of different breeds and colours. At one corner is a pool of water where ducks cluck.

Kamau rears ornamental birds. “The feeling and satisfaction I get on my farm is beyond explanation. The farm acts as therapy since I get solace in seeing the birds fly across the compound as they make different sounds,” says Kamau.

Kamau, a medical officer stationed at Murang’a County Hospital, was inspired into ornamental birds keeping in 2016 after visiting a friend who had an established farm in Malindi.

At the farm, he says, he saw birds that were selling at between Sh5,000 and Sh6,000 which was way higher than he could make from selling a single chicken. 

By then, he was rearing kienyeji chicken and could only sell a matured one at Sh1,000. The birds, he learnt, were also low feeders which wasn’t the case with his chicken back at home.

Kamau secured 50 eggs of white-crested polish at Sh250 each that he placed in an incubator to hatch. Out of the 50, only 20 hatched.

However, the farmer was not discouraged. He visited various experts whom he engaged on best practices. He also read literature on ornamental birds online that made him understand more about how to care for the birds.

“Lack of knowledge resulted in poor hatching of the birds as it was a matter of trial and error. I forged ahead and so far so good,” he added. He later introduced white silk variety which is mostly reared as pets.

The farm has different birds including white crested polish, serema, rose comb, white silk, Egyptian goose, raken fielder, appenzeller-turkeys and pigeons. He has more than 200 birds reared in cages. Each variety is placed in separate cages to avoid cross-breeding.

The birds lay eggs that are placed in incubators and after hatching, they are moved to a brooder.

“I use incubators for hatching because most of the birds are poor brooders. This enhances the hatching process,” said Kamau

The chicks are fed on chick mash for three weeks and later introduced to growers’ mash until the laying stage.

Kamau explains that at the fourth month, the birds are introduced to green matter, for example, lucern and kales which is substituted with commercial feeds.

The ornamental birds are low feeders as compared to other poultry. Each feeds on an average of 250 grammes of feed every day. He spends about Sh15,000 on feeds from local agro vets. However, at times, he makes his own.

“Feeding of birds is vital. The feeds should be rich in iron, protein and vitamin. It is through feeding that the birds grow fast and healthy,” he says.

To keep diseases at bay, he vaccinates them regularly. Common diseases are foul typhoid, Newcastle and gumboro.

The birds are also dewormed after every four months.

He also ensures maximum hygiene in the cages to keep flees and mites at bay. 

According to the farmer, the advantage of ornamental birds as compared to other poultry types is that they require less space, are low feeders and are economically viable. However, the birds are prone to predators more so the pigeons. He has to keep a close eye on them during scavenging.

The biggest market for these types of birds is in Mombasa, Tanzania and Uganda. Prices for ornamental pigeons, he says are higher, with a pair selling at about Sh40,000. Kamau plans to venture more into ornamental birds breeding in the future.

[email protected]