Raising Chickens in Kenya (Tips, Tricks and More)
Raising Chickens in Kenya (Tips, Tricks and More)
Raising chickens in Kenya is a very rewarding experience. It can be challenging at first, but the more time you spend with your chickens, the more you learn about them and their needs. Chickens are great pets and provide fresh eggs every day. Raising chickens in Kenya will not only give you fresh eggs regularly but also offer an opportunity to take part in the process of raising them from chicks to adults. If you’re thinking about raising chickens at home, read on to know everything you need to know about keeping chicken as pets:
What you will need to raise chickens in Kenya
There are a few things you will need for raising chickens in Kenya. First, you will need a few birds. Chickens begin to lay eggs at around 5 months of age and can be expected to continue laying through the end of the year. You will also need a coop, which will provide shelter and protection from predators. You may also need a run to provide additional space for your chickens to move around and have enough room to grow your chickens during different seasons.
You can choose the breed of chickens depending on what you plan to do with them. For example, if you want eggs or meat, you will need breeds that are good at producing those things. You should also think about how many chickens you want to keep. Some people only keep one chicken, but most people keep two or more.
Where to get chicks for your own backyard?
There are two ways of getting chicks; you can either get them from a supplier or get them from a friend. Getting them from a supplier would be easier since you won’t have to wait for it to hatch. On the other hand, if you get the chicks from your friend, you can be guaranteed that it’s free from diseases. If you get the chicks from a supplier, you will have to wait for it to grow up, which can take up to two months. To get chicks from a supplier, you will have to visit the store, choose the breed you would like, and make an appointment for delivery.
Feeding your new chick(s)
Newborn chicks need to be fed with a special chick starter feed. This feed is high in protein and minerals that the chicks need to thrive. You can either feed your chicks with a special chick feeder or place the feed in a bowl and let the chicks eat out of that. After a few weeks, you can slowly change the feed to grower feed. This feed is slightly lower in protein, which is good because if the chicks eat feed that is too high in protein, they won’t grow as big.
As your chicks grow bigger and closer to being fully grown, you will have to change their feed to finisher feed. This feed has the highest protein content and is what the chickens will eat for the rest of their lives. When changing the feed, you should do it slowly. It is a good idea to mix both types of feed for a few days before completely changing over to the new feed. This will slowly get your chickens used to the change in feed.
Tips on brooding your baby chick(s)
Many people get chicks because they want to raise them from chicks to fully grown chickens. If you have a chick that has been rejected by its mother, there are a few things you can do to help it survive. The first thing you will need to do is keep the chick warm. Young chicks are not able to control their body temperature very well, so they will need help staying warm. You can do this by keeping the chick in a warm place or wrapping it in a warm towel.
Another tip for brooding a chick is to provide it with food and water. If the chick is still very young, you will have to feed it special chick feed every two to three hours. You can also use an eye dropper to feed the chick if you don’t have a feeder. As the chick gets a little bigger, you can start feeding it every four hours, and then every six hours, and so on.
Orchard and Garden Protection Guide
Chickens like to eat bugs and worms from the soil. They are great for keeping pests away from your plants. Some chicken breeds are good for Orchards and some are good for gardens. If you keep different breeds, you can use them for both.
For Orchards: Sex Links, Brown Chinese, Black Australorp, Buff Orpington, and Rhode Island Reds are good breeds.
For Gardens: Black Australorps, Indian Runners, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are good breeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to raise free range chickens in a small backyard?
Yes, you can raise free-range chickens in a small backyard. This is especially possible with the new breeds that are being developed. For instance, the Freedom Rangers are bred for small backyards and are great for free range.
Can you keep roosters in the backyard?
Yes, you can keep roosters in the backyard. However, keep in mind that they will make a lot of noise (especially during mating season). You might have to consider getting a coop with a sound-proofing feature or build a sound-proof coop. You can also consider getting a rooster that is not loud.
What breeds are best for hot weather?
Breeds that are best for hot weather include: Barred Plymouth Rocks, Black Australorps, and Rhode Island Reds.
What breeds are best for cold weather?
Breeds that are best for cold weather include: Orpingtons, Silkies, and New Hampshires.
What to feed chickens?
You can feed chickens with a range of things. You can feed them with a commercial feed or with kitchen scraps. Chickens love to eat kitchen scraps that are rich in protein. You can also feed them with garden scraps.
How many chickens should I keep in my backyard?
In order to get fresh eggs, you will need at least two chickens. If you want to get fresh eggs and meat from your chickens, you will need to keep at least four chickens. If you are raising chickens for show, you will need to keep at least six chickens.
Conclusion
Chickens make great pets, and you can learn so much from raising them. They are easy to care for and are a great source of fresh eggs. If you are thinking about raising chickens, make sure you do your research first and get the right breed for your climate.
As long as you have the space, they make great pets, and you can learn so much from raising them. They are easy to care for and are a great source of fresh eggs.
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