The Farming Diaries

Finding a freshly laid egg with a hole in it can be frustrating. Finding several broken eggs—and then discovering that your hens are eating them—can be even worse. Egg eating can start with something as simple as an accidentally broken egg. Once a hen gets a taste of the contents, she may learn to look for freshly laid eggs and peck them open. Other hens can then copy the behaviour. The good news is that prevention is much easier than trying to break an established egg-eating habit . The best approach is to find out why eggs are breaking or becoming accessible in the first place and correct the management problem. Why do chickens eat their own eggs? There isn't always one single reason. Usually, egg eating develops when hens have regular access to broken eggs. However, several management problems can make egg breakage and egg eating more likely. 1. Eggs are breaking in the nesting box This is one of the biggest things to investigate. When several hens crowd into the same nest, eggs...

For a poultry farmer, producing a healthy chicken is only part of the job. How the bird is handled before slaughter, during slaughter and after slaughter can affect both animal welfare and food safety . Whether you are preparing chickens for your family, selling dressed birds to customers, or supplying a small food business, hygienic handling matters.                         Poor handling can contaminate meat, while careless slaughter can cause unnecessary suffering and increase the risk of contamination. This guide explains practical principles that small-scale poultry farmers can follow when preparing chickens for food. Important: Food-safety requirements can vary depending on whether you are processing chickens for your household or selling commercially. For commercial slaughter and sale, follow applicable Kenyan veterinary, public-health and food-safety requirements. Why does humane slaughter matter? A chicken raised for...

Poultry farming can be a profitable business in Kenya, but it is not as simple as buying chicks, feeding them and selling them at the end. Many farmers make the mistake of calculating only the cost of chicks and feed. They forget about brooding fuel, vaccines, medication, litter, water, transport, mortality, labour and other small expenses that can quietly eat into the final profit. The real question isn't: “How much can I sell my chickens for?” It is: “After paying all my expenses, how much money will actually remain?” This guide explains how to calculate poultry farming costs, estimate revenue, reduce unnecessary expenses and decide whether a batch is likely to be profitable. Important: Poultry prices, chick prices and feed costs change by supplier, location and season. The figures below are examples for planning, not guaranteed market prices. Always obtain current quotations before starting a batch. Is poultry farming profitable in Kenya? Yes, poultry farming can be profitab...

Have you ever gone into your chicken house in the morning and noticed that one chicken has a swollen eye, watery eyes, or an eye that is completely closed? It can be worrying, especially when the bird was perfectly fine the previous day. A swollen or closed eye is not a disease by itself . It is a sign that something is irritating or affecting the bird. The cause can range from an injury or poor air quality to a respiratory infection. The important thing is not to assume that every swollen eye needs the same treatment. This guide explains what to look for, what you can do immediately, when to separate the affected bird, and when you should involve a poultry veterinarian. Important: This article is for general poultry-care education. A chicken with a severely swollen eye, breathing difficulty, multiple symptoms, or rapidly spreading illness should be assessed by a qualified poultry veterinarian. What does a swollen or closed eye look like? The problem can appear in different ways. Yo...