KARI Improved Kienyeji Chicken The introduction of Improved Kienyeji Chicken farming in Kenya by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institu...
The introduction of Improved Kienyeji Chicken farming in Kenya by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in the year 2011 has given a new face to Poultry Farming in Kenya. Kienyeji chicken farming in Kenya has been quite a widespread type of poultry farming that is mainly found over the rural and semi rural areas.
However, in the recent past, it has found its way among some urban areas although is yet to be absorbed fully as a part of mainstream sources of income in the urban areas. The name KIENYEJI is a local Swahili whose English equivalent is ‘Free range’.
There are various methods on how Kienyeji chicken rearing in kenya is practiced:
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Free Range
In free range conditions, the birds are not confined and can look for food over an extended open area. Makeshift shelters may be provided in order to protect the birds from severe whether conditions. The birds may wander around usually in liter collection areas trees and nests in the bush.
The flock contains may contain birds of different breeds and varying ages and it usually hard to control inbreeding.
In this case the stocking density should not exceed 1000 birds in one hectare for its good to note that hundred birds will require 0.4 hectares of land.
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Requirements
1. Large, fenced and well drained land with trees for shade.
2. Land partitioned to allow rotation (runs) to reduce parasite build up.
3. House for shelter and laying nests
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Advantages
- Reduced cannibalism and egg eating for there is no overcrowding
- Less feeds used as birds scavenge outside
- Manure evenly spread to the runs
- Requires low capital outlay
Kienyeji Chicken Farming in Kenya – Disadvantages
- A lot of land is required which may not be available
- Area may become contaminated with diseases and parasites
- Birds exposed to predators or thieves
- Difficulty to have close supervision on individual birds
- Possibility of eggs getting lost in the runs
- Dirty eggs
- Breeding program not easy to follow
Kienyeji Poultry Farming in Kenya – Backyard Extensive System
Poultry are housed only at night but allowed free range during the day to wander around the fields.
In most cases, they are given a small amount of grain in the morning when moving them out and evening to supplement the food collected in their scavenging.
Commonly found in urban and pri-urban and in rural situations.
In some cases, in the run system, the birds are confined in an enclosed area outside during the day and housed at night.
Feed and water are available in the house to avoid wastage by rain, wind and by wild animals.
