The Impact of Proper Hygiene and Sanitation on Poultry Production
Opposite the main house of poultry farmer Wilberforce in Homabay County in Kenya, is the chicken coop. Trees provide a protective shade to cover the poultry chicken coop — a preventive measure from sun rays shining directly into the poultry house according to Community Agrovet Entrepreneur (CAVE) Emmanuel Owino, who trains Wilberforce, among 33,600 farmers, on biosecurity and good farm management practices through KAGO FPO and supported by Heifer Kenya USAID TRANSFORM Project.
Wilberforce arrives home from a group meeting and quickly changes into a protective white overall gear with a non-slippery gumboot, a cap and a shade of blue mouth mask.
Before entering the chicken coop, he disinfects his hands with clean water and safe soap. On the right side an innovative measure of keeping the poultry healthy with a well-designed created hygienic footbath with disinfected water.
Poultry farmer Wilberforce step on the footbath before entry into the chicken coop at his farm in Homabay County in Kenya. Photo by Zipporah karani/Heifer International.
Wilberforce became a poultry farmer in 2016. He retired working in the capital city in Kenya, Nairobi and moved back to the village. He joined KAGO Poultry FPO/Cooperative in 2020 and received benefits such as trainings and access to improved kienyeji, a high-income earner breed of poultry for farmers.
“I purchased one day old chicks from Kuku Chick in Eldoret. I bought them from the FPO. I sold local breeds but now I stock improved kienyeji. Before the training on farm biosecurity by the CAVE, I was not a proper poultry farmer.” said Wilberforce.
A major outbreak of diseases wiped his entire flock of 45 chicks in October 2022 he invested to start the poultry farming business. It was before the training on farm biosecurity in December 2022. Despite the obstacles, Wilberforce maintained positivity and put efforts to adopt hygiene and sanitation in the chicken house, fenced off the chicken coop and run with a chain link to contribute to the strength, weight, and stability of the fencing. He contained any form of movement entry and exit into the chicken coop. Furthermore, secured the compound with dogs to prevent theft or any form of attack by wild beast to interfere or devour the poultry flock.
“I was disorderly as I failed to adhere on effective hygiene and sanitation in the chicken house/coop as an important farm biosecurity measure. The 47 out of 50 chicks I purchased died. I remained with three. As per now, as a well-trained poultry farmer, I do not lose chicks even the one-day old when I buy 50 or 100. I learned the negative impact of failure to maintain maintain hygiene in the chicken coop. My focus is to ensure farm biosecurity measure on sanitation and hygiene in the chicken coop and run is a priority,” said Wilberforce.
He says the biosecurity and farm management practices training empowered him on disease outbreak and consults a CAVE for further assistance. He is familiar of benefits of water fillers, feeds and vaccines.
He is now committed to a normal routine, to step on the footbath with a safe disinfectant water with his non slippery gumboots and closes the entry chicken coop/house door immediately. He further adopted a farm biosecurity measure and fenced off the chicken coop. It is a security measure for his poultry and keep off rodents and wild animals to devour his flocks. He keeps two dogs within his compound to prevent theft of the poultry ready for sale or being attacked by wild animals.
“I love reading about poultry that is why I am a poultry farmer. I thought easiest things I could do is to keep poultry. I got chicks from neighbours, and I reared them to maturity. I later stocked local free-range breeds I purchased during a camp meeting in church at a cost of USD 1.54338 (KES 250). I prohibit any movement inside the chicken coop as a preventive measure on access to the poultry including family and friends.” said Wilberforce.
Any visitor must wash their hands with a disinfectant, dip feet in the footbath. He changes water regularly persistently by noon or twice a day in the morning at 7:30 am and at 2:30pm. As he adopted the farm biosecurity practices it has supported his poultry production and income.
“The biosecurity measures have helped me spend less cash to buy vaccines and medicines to prevent diseases. In terms of a reduction in mortality-related losses, I noticed an increased production with high productivity and better prices from my poultry farm produce. In addition to the training by the CAVEs supported by Heifer Kenya USAID TRANSFORM Project, I manage my poultry farm and choose the right breeds from effective suppliers,” said Wilberforce.
He now understands market accessibility and financial literacy from selling poultry. The benefits of rearing poultry support his children’s education and a nutritious meal for his family of five and his wife.
“Nutrition is very important for a farmer. We eat eggs for breakfast a product from our poultry. As I purchase the poultry when they mature two of the poultry are for the family’s consumption and the rest is meant for sale,” said Wilberforce.
Poultry farmer Wilberforce weighing his poultry for sale inside the chicken coop in Homabay County in Kenya. Photo by Zipporah karani/Heifer International.
He sells fertilized eggs (KES 30) and chicks per kilo at USD (KES 380). He measures the poultry before sell as it adds value of income to the farm management practices of feeding the poultry. He records medicine, which is reviewed by the veterinarian. He says it is advisable to give vaccines when they are due, so he calls the CAVE for vaccine to support the vaccination exercise.
His goals include building a poultry enterprise. He wants to encourage his family members actively participate in poultry farming. One positive outcome from his work is it “gives me a profit, that is why I devout my time to poultry keeping,” Wilberforce says.
In addition to poultry farming, Wilberforce earns other sources of income. He plants cash crops like maize and ground nuts and has a few dairy cows. For the future potential of the poultry value chain to be realized, the community and the entire ward in Homabay County needs to engage farmers to invest in poultry farming and support the aggregation center at KAGO FPO with persistent delivery of poultry for market linkages and increase income to farmers.
