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.

 

Know Your Record-keeping For Effective Kienyenji Bird-rearing: The Nature Network Group Poultry Project Committee Shares Chicken -rearing Knowledge to Inform Skills (Part III)

Know Your Record-keeping For Effective Kienyenji Bird-rearing: The Nature Network Group Poultry Project Committee Shares Chicken -rearing Knowledge to Inform Skills (Part 3)

A chicken farmer has set out time to engage in an agro-based activity that requires commitment, consistency, routine and dedication.  However, that farmer can be more effective if they embrace record keeping for the chicken farming. Whatever methods one uses in record keeping, whether a computer or hand one should ensure that the records are well maintained and categorized correctly. This enables the farmer to identify problems right after it happens.

Before one sets their mind on rearing chicken of the type known as Kienyeji, please read about these tips given freely and from experience. In this series, we are talking about record-keeping. Record keeping is crucial in chicken farming.

Record-keeping enables chicken farmers to connect sourcing of materials, the types of materials, identify persons to work with, draw schedules that catalyze commitment, proper housing, disease control, vaccination, brooding and establish a culture of record keeping. It is a very vital part of your chicken farming venture. 

So, what are those records?

Success Story records:

Success stories of poultry farming in Kenya can be looked up online, through word-of-mouth, visiting poultry farmers and borrowing books on poultry from the library.

A feasible plan record:

A feasible plan is a form of record in place showing how a farmer will roll out the process smoothly by starting with procuring materials (building, food and birds), identified builder, housing, source of water and source of feeds, a veterinarian, vaccinations, ability to respond to emergencies and livestock officers for extension services and most importantly, the farmer should plan from the outset on marketing.

Production records:

Production records enable one to assess progress and outcomes of one’s efforts (productivity). For example, in Kienyeji, the visual or weighed daily or weekly weight gain indicates productivity. Weights can be used to compare the records to the standard chart. One can then make changes in the feeding plan. Many farmers usually weigh their chicken right before slaughter. However, the best way is to weigh weekly to identify any negative deviations. One will be in a position to minimize losses because one can make changes as soon as one notices a deficiency. Production records include dates, eggs produced, opening balance, and birds or eggs sold as well as the closing balance of the eggs. Ensure to include daily day to day sales of your eggs. Never forget to maintain a record of the number and sale price of breakable saleable eggs as well as those of the pullet eggs.

 

Management records:

Management records usually include data that is related to executable, activities or management issues. They include number, date, innoculations, purchases, contracts, expenses, type of vaccination or medication administered, type and amount of feed given, death or loss of chicken, date of chick placement as well as working shifts. The records should include management practices such as introducing growers’ meals, beak trimming, de-worming dates, culled birds, disease incidence and the steps taken. Management records help one when assessing the levels of production of one’s chicken. These records enable one to go back in time and know where things are moving on or off track.

Financial records:

Financial records contain all the financial transactions in a chicken farming venture. It is crucial to enter records of incomes and expenditures such as those of feeds and purchase of day-old chicks. It is important to keep any financial records of any items sold or bought including supplies, contracts such as builder, carpenter, veterinary costs, and equipment.

A chicken farmer sets out time to engage in an agro-based activity which can be effective when records are regularly originated and maintained.

 

The 5 Reasons Why We are Going For The Kienyeji Chicken Breed: The Nature Network Group Resource Center Poultry Project Committee Shares Chicken Rearing Tips (Part II)

The hardiness of Kienyeji chicken - Kienyeji chicken are known to be hardy.  They have better resistance to disease than hybrid chicken. When it comes to feeding, they can forage on their own feed.  Some breeds are known to have the ability to survive on agricultural waste alone. For better results one can mix well-formulated feed ration throughout to achieve maximum productivity. 

Organic trend- There is an increased demand for Kienyeji eggs and Kienyeji meat. People are now more health-conscious, so there is increased demand for Kienyeji eggs and meat. They are perceived to be healthier.

Capitalization, Educational and Recreational- Chicken rearing has knowledge and transformative values. The adaptability of the Kienyeji chicken makes it possible for many people to take up chicken rearing. It has spawned niches such that people can capitalize on rearing free-range chicken, antibiotic-free chickens, improved Kienyeji chicken, hybrid and egg-laying or meat production specialties.

Follow us via the social media platforms for updates.

 

The Nature Network Group Resource Center Poultry Project Committee Sets Up A Chicken Rearing Activity (Part 1)

There are 5 things to do in order for one to successfully benefit from a Poultry Project.

1. Commitment 

2. Knowledge

3. Market-base

4. Rear for ”fun-busy"

5. Organic farming skills

Well, we are excited to be doing this again. Find time and visit our Poultry Project

We are grateful to all those who support our work at the Nature Network Group Resource Center.

Today is day one for starting up the Poultry Project by a Committee specifically chosen for starting and finishing up this project.

In the pictures, you are witnessing the preparations.

Follow us via the social media platforms for updates.

We Are Proud To Continue Being The Keepers Of The Flame: Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Is Necessary

Thursday is Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day at the Advocacy Network Africa (AdNetA)

We have always  looked for ways to engage more people in quality life goal seeking practices.

We are here for you.

Be there for us too.

The Nature Network Group Has Drawn A Four Month Plan To Re-Affirm Commitment To Contribute To A More Peaceful World

This is an effort by refugees to continue contributing to the local host communities. We are going to encourage other CBOs to take up the action plans. This is in line with building back our legacy to be developmental partners in the communities we stay in. We shall use video messaging to raise awareness around pertinent development issues that we have outlined. This is a Sneak peek too, into Our September, October, November and December short video prompters:

September:

1.     Mental Health related activities

Narrative: “Mental Health in an Unequal World. Mental Health for All. Greater Investment – Greater Access. Everyone, Everywhere.”

 

2.     Ongoing Anti-TB, Anti-COVID-19, Anti-Malaria and Anti-HIV Advocacy activities

Narrative: “AIDS is not over. But it can be. End inequalities. End AIDS.”

October:

1.     Elimination of Poverty themes

Narrative: “Address poverty, its causes, and consequences. Poverty is not only a lack of financial resources, but it also means a lack of opportunities.”

 

2.     Draw attention to the girl children growth and development

Narrative: “Education is a  right for a girl child because education, health and nutrition make a better human.”

3.     Draw attention to risk reduction initiatives

Narrative: “A risk reduction plan means that we need to do prevention and mitigation; we have to have a disaster preparedness plan; we have to ensure disaster response; and we must address disaster rehabilitation and recovery.”

4.     Ongoing Anti-TB, Anti-COVID-19, Anti-Malaria and Anti-HIV Advocacy

Narrative: “HIV/TB/Malaria/COVID-19 prevention and treatment call for the elimination of stigma and discrimination.”

November:

1.     Elimination of violence against women

Narrative: “This world can be peaceful: Prevent and denounce all forms of violence.”

2.     Draw attention to child growth and development

Narrative: “Children grow well when they are allowed to fulfill their fullest potential through social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language opportunities. Facilitate children’s development.”

3.     Draw attention to diabetes care and prevention

Narrative: “Seek regular check and engage in regular physical activity. Diabetes can be prevented and managed.”

4.     Ongoing Anti-TB, Anti-COVID-19, Anti-Malaria and Anti-HIV Advocacy

Narrative: “With COVID-19’s impact, there is risk AIDS becomes a resurgent pandemic. While COVID-19 has dominated the world’s attention, AIDS remains a global health emergency. We have the tools to reverse this trend.”

December:

1.     World AIDS Day

Narrative: “The World AIDS Day is the perfect time for us to raise the much-needed awareness about HIV.”

2.     Universal Health Coverage Strategy

Narrative: “Health for all: protect everyone. Build safer and robust health systems. People have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.”

3.     Human rights activism

Narrative: “When we talk of human rights, we mean the economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights because these make life more meaningful.”

     4. Ongoing Anti-TB, Anti-COVID-19, Anti-Malaria and Anti-HIV Advocacy

Narrative: “A never-ending HIV pandemic is not our fate. We have the tools to end AIDS/TB/Malaria as public health threats by 2030.”

#StopTBPartnership

#StopMalaria

#StopAIDS

#UNAIDS

 

The Nature Network Group Shows You 7 Ways You Can Amplify Anti-TB Prevention Themes

Monday theme:

Get the COVID-19 vaccine. Remember to find ways to be part of the eradication of  Tuberculosis too. #StopTBPartnership, #StopTB #StopCOVID19.

Tuesday theme:  

Systems can make us free from TB, COVID-19, Malaria and HIV. Be part of the momentum. #StopTBPartnership.

Wednesday theme: 

Public engagement in eradicating TB, HIV, Malaria will create collective awareness. Meanwhile, COVID-19 must not win. So, wear the mask, avoid crowds, wash your hands and Social-distance please. #StopTBPartnership.

Thursday theme: 

Have you talked lately about Latent, Childhood and Active TB screening, testing and provision of medicines with a healthcare provider? #StopTBPartnership.

Friday Theme:

We insist that to TB/HIV/Malaria by 2030 is possible through collective prevention and care. #StopTBPartnership.

Saturday theme: 

Do something. Your commitment is necessary to end TB and COVID-19. As well, health systems must be strengthened with the community beneficiaries in mind. #StopTBPartnership, #StopTBKenya

Sunday theme:  

TB/HIV/Malaria must not win. Empower people living with TB to fight COVID-19, HIV and Malaria. Together we thrive. #StopTBPartnership