Increase in Egg Production in Households using Low Cost Rations as Feeds for Indigenous Chickens in Kenya

Abstract

The low productivity of indigenous chickens in Kenya and other parts of the world is partly attributed to poor management practices, in particular the lack of proper healthcare, poor housing and nutrition. However, studies have shown that poor nutrition is a major factor that contributes to the low growth rate and egg production in chickens. The objective in this study was to demonstrate and promote Ration A and B, for laying hens, to enhance egg production and household incomes. During the period 1 July 2018 to 31 March 2021, farmer groups interested in chicken production were selected in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties. The criteria used in the selection of the farmer groups was chicken numbers, level of investment in chicken housing and equipment, interest in feed mixing, cohesion of farmer group, level of education and age of group members. Each farmer group was assigned a facilitator/ extension officer who trained its members on various aspects of chicken production with special emphasis on Ration formulation, mixing and feeding of laying hens. After mixing the Rations, samples were collected for chemical composition analysis so as to assess whether the Rations mixed met Kenya Bureau of Standards [KEBS] (2014) quality standards. At least three farmers within a group feeding the mixed Ration A or B to laying hens were selected to assess egg production. Prior to feeding on the Ration A or B, the same batch of birds in a farm was fed on commercial layers feed and egg production assessed. The results showed that (i) 3,968 farmers in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties mixed and used 136,683 kg of Ration A and B to feed their laying hens, (ii) there was a 44.3% and 45.5% increase in egg production in households using Ration A and B, respectively, to feed their laying hens compared to commercial feeds.