After the Covid-19 outbreak devastated the nation, Dennis Kinara, a college student in Mtongwe, Kwale County, turned to rearing ornamental birds to make ends meet.
The 21-year-old raises distinctive fowl, some of which have Chinese origins. After visiting his friend’s house in search of a pet, Kinara became aware of the chance to make money from the venture.
Among the nine decorative breeds that Kinara raises, Silkie, Braham, and Polish bantam chickens stand out.
Kinara explained: “I bought my first mature chicken breed at Ksh10,000 and after two months, I got a profit of Ksh2,000 from selling its eggs.”
The most well-liked breed worldwide is the Chinese-bred Silkie Bantam, which Kinara adores. The Silkie Bantam has five toes and feathers that resemble those of a rabbit.
“It has blue ear lobes and lays blue eggs. I usually sell one egg between Ksh250-300. A chick costs Ksh1500. These birds are reared as pets at home,” he stated in an interview with Citizen TV.
Silkie Bantams have exceptionally lovely personalities and feather-like feathers. According to numerous tales, they have black skin and bones, are excellent moms and brooders, and have even been known to adopt newborn ducks.
According to some, chickens can be eaten, just like geese, parrots, budgerigars, ducks, pigeons, and other ornamental birds.
A mature Silkie bantam chicken and cock sell for Ksh7,000 and Ksh9,500, respectively, at Kamira Birds Farm in Nakuru County, while a chick costs Ksh1,400.
“Their demand is high while the supply is low, so they fetch good prices in the market,” 21-year-old Nakuru-based farmer Brian Kamira stated.
Kamira charges Ksh 30,000 for a single parrot and Ksh 40,000 for a pair. All decorative birds have a high potential for increasing their output of meat and eggs, which will increase farmers’ incomes. Additionally, farmers employ their waste as manure to increase the fertility of the land.
Farmers should prioritize the health of the breeds, the age of the eggs, and the age of the breeders while breeding decorative birds, he continued.
“Storage of eggs should be done with maximum care. In the incubator, the temperatures should take into account the requirements of a specific species,” Kamira said.
Adding:
“Eggs with a maximum of ten days after being laid are preferred. Before you put the eggs in the incubator, look out for those that have defects like cracks and dispose of them. Disinfect the good ones and the machines to ensure the chicks do not contract infections.”
