I started the brood with just three layers. Step by step, my stock grew to 50, 100, 200 and now over 2,000 kienyeji birds, and that is without counting those already sold and slaughtered, Elisha Wekoya a poultry farmer in Bungoma begins to share his Journey with Kienyeji (traditional breed) Chicken.
Initially Wekoya could hatch chicks through natural incubation and managed to get 117 chicks out of 177 eggs and improved with time, getting more and more chicks which he took care of to maturity.
He sells a tray of eggs containing 30 pieces at Kshs. 650 almost double the price of exotic eggs which are mostly sourced from Uganda.
During December holidays, Wekoye pockets about Kshs. 350, 000 from sale of birds and eggs. He sells a mature cock at Kshs. 1,500 while a hen at Kshs. 900 depending on size and weight.
“Like all festive seasons, demand for kienyeji hit the roof. People call me from allover asking whether I had some birds to sell, I t normally take advantage of the demand to sell several of them. The eggs also fetch good money,” he says.
Wekoya whose love for poultry keeping started in high school started very small but now the birds have flooded his compound, there hardly any space to play.
“From the money I get from selling the chicken and eggs, I have managed to educate my children and paid for my fees to undertake a Bachelors degree in Education,” he says.
For him, it has been a journey of hits and misses, but worthwhile nonetheless.
Wekoye sells his birds and eggs at nearby Chwele and Mayanja markets. When he has surplus, he exports the products to Bungoma town, Busia and Kakamega.
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