The Kienyeji: The Nature Network Group Poultry Project Committee Shares Chicken -rearing Knowledge to Inform Skills (Part 4)

The Kienyeji: The Nature Network Group Poultry Project Committee Shares Chicken -rearing Knowledge to Inform Skills (Part 4)

 

This is the last of the series about Poultry Project at the Nature Network Group Resource Center. We have shared about character of Kienyeji; the kind of feeds used; space and shelter quality; maturity; and sale of products.

The name for indigenous chicken that we breed are called Kienyeji. Kienyeji can feed on many types of fodder and feeds. But some farmers feed the chickens on maize, some soya, fish meal and supplement their feed with some layers' mash to boost laying performance or size in meat-producers. Other kinds of feeds are: Chick Starter. The chick starter is a kind of grain feed that has the highest amount of protein, Grower Feed, Layer Feed, Flock Raiser, Broiler Feed, Game Bird Feed, Fermented Feed, Cracked Corn. Feeds are classified into three main types: (1) roughages, (2) concentrates, and (3) mixed feeds. Roughages include pasture forages, hays, silages, and byproduct feeds that contain a high percentage of fiber.

The Kienyeji live to about 5 years and their care should be taken for granted. As the birds grow they demand proper nutrition. A commercially prepared chick starter - or "crumble" - is the best way to provide a complete nutrition during the first six weeks, with feed consumptionat approximately 1 kg for each egg-producing chick and 4 kg for each meat-producing chick. The Four Types of Chicken Feed are:

Whole grain feed is composed of cracked grains and other unprocessed ingredients.

Mash is an unprocessed form of feed composed of ground-up grains and other ingredients.

Pellets are small, rounded, compressed mass of a substance commonly fed to chicken.

Crumbles are pellets that have been broken up and are used as starter meals for younger chicken.

 

 Kienyeji need space to grow better. About 300-500 Kienyeji birds below 18 days require 200 square cm or a quarter of a foot and 1.5 cm of feeder space. When the birds are between 19 days to 42 days, they require 500 square cm or half a foot and 3 cm feeder space.

The Kienyeji are ready for meat at about 4-6 months and are sold at between Kshs. 550.00 to kshs 600.00 for hens and Kshs.1,000.oo to 3,000.oo for cocks.

The Kienyeji does well in a house with the following basic requirements:

Space and ventilation are important. Spacing and ventilation in a poultry house enables the supply of fresh air that is essential to sustain life. Ventilation air removes excess heat, moisture, dust and odours from the building and, at the same time, dilutes airborne disease organisms.

Light enables the birds to see and enjoy the sense of presence. It enables the birds to see where to go or what to feed on.

Protection from weather and predators enables the birds to grow without any stress which can affect size, egg-laying or meat-production.

 

The Kienyeji hens grow faster and are usually ready for market after approximately 3 months. The mature Kienyeji chicken takes 25 to 26 hours to lay an egg. As they grow, the chicks will consume 60 grams per day. Each Kg goes for kshs. 50.oo-70.oo. The more mature ones on average, consume 90 grams per day. When fed well, the Kienyeji cocks attain a live weight of approximately 3kg at 5 months. The hens attain a live weight of about 2.oo kg to 3.oo kg and lay between 220-280 eggs per year.

 

We hope you have enjoyed the Poultry Project Series by the Nature Network Group Resource Center. We hope you were able to pick up information on preparation, planning, character of Kienyeji, the kind of feeds used, space and shelter quality, maturity and sale of products.