The economics of Kienyeji chicken

It is important to know the market requirements; the investment costs, running costs and the expected revenue for the different products before starting any production activity.

These include whole birds for meat, eggs, parts: gizzards, drumsticks, chicken wings, chicken breasts, manure among others.

Record keeping

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Do you keep accurate records on your chicken farm?

Keeping records simply refers to collecting relevant information that can help you make good decisions and keep track of activities, production, and important events on the farm.

Keep records that are simple, systematic, complete and true.

Records are kept for income generating commodities help to see what the investment is, and what it costs to produce it.

They also help to evaluate whether an investment is more than expenditure and check if it enables and improves the products in the future.

They provide you with information concerning the profitability of your farm, tax purposes and for the purpose of getting loans or credit.

Production records to keep:

• Flock size
• Mortality (clinical signs and / suggested cause of death)
• Flock structure
• Expected general laying ability/ percentage lay (number of eggs per clutch)
• Number of clutches per year
• Number of chicks hatched
• Number of chicks reared
• Age of chicks/ chicken
• Vaccination and other treatments applied (when and with what)

Birds for sale

The following categories are sold within the Kienyeji chicken farm setting

• Day-old chicks
• Cockerels at the age of 5 months
• Breeding growers, cocks or hens
• Spent hens

Eggs for sale

Table eggs – for consumption

Fertile eggs – pack eggs in boxes, eggs trays, or other suitable containers to avoid breakage

Cost Benefit Analysis

Before starting any poultry production enterprise, calculate if it is economically feasible, thereby making the right decisions regarding the production system and the necessary interventions.

Revenue or income

Revenue or income is all the money earned in relation to the poultry enterprise such as:

• Income from the sale of live birds such as growers, cockerels or spent hens
• Income from the sale of eggs
• Value of eggs or poultry eaten or given away

It is important to also value the standing stock such as the production flock that is the foundation for future income.

Poultry manure, empty gunny bags also represent value when used on the farm or sold for other activities.

Expenditure costs

These are costs involved in relation to the poultry enterprise

• Material for night baskets shelters or poultry houses
• Starting up flock such as growers, hens or cocks
• Fertile eggs for incubation
• Supplementary feed, vitamins of minerals
• Vaccines and other medicines
• Labour
• Technical advice

Record keeping is a must include the ingredient in a recipe for making a financially successful livestock enterprise. Think of your farm as a business.

-This article has been adapted from the KALRO App on Indigenous Kienyeji Chicken.

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