6 TYPES OF BIRDS TO KEEP ON YOUR FARM
6 TYPES OF BIRDS TO KEEP ON YOUR FARM
Most Kenyans only keep chickens. But there are other birds like ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowls, and quails that are also good for eggs, meat, and even helping on the farm.
1. CHICKEN (Kuku, Nguku, Ingoho, Enkoko, Ngokaik, Gweno)
Chickens are the most common birds on the farm. They give you eggs, meat, and even manure for your garden. They also eat insects.
One chicken can lay 4 to 6 eggs a week.
With 10 to 20 chickens, you’ll have enough eggs for your family and extra to sell.
Chickens don’t need a cock to lay eggs.
They need space to move — about 2 to 4 square feet each.
They eat about 100–120 grams of food each day.
2. GEESE (Bata Bukini)
Geese are big birds with big eggs. They also give good meat and soft feathers for making pillows.
They lay 20 to 40 eggs each year.
Geese are great at guarding your home — they make noise when they see strangers.
They help weed your garden.
Geese need water to eat properly, but not a big pond.
They eat 200 grams of food a day if not grazing.
3. DUCKS (Bata, Mbata, Atudo)
Ducks love water. They need water to help them eat and clean their beaks.
They need about 3 to 5 square feet of space each.
Ducks eat about 120 grams of food daily.
They eat plants, insects, tadpoles, and even mice.
Ducks lay 250 to 330 eggs each year — more than chickens!
You can sell a duck for 1500kshs or more.
4. TURKEYS (Bata Mzinga)
Turkeys are big birds that give a lot of meat.
They eat about 250 grams of food per day.
They lay 80 to 100 eggs each year.
Their eggs are speckled and weigh about 65–70 grams.
Turkeys can grow up to 10 kg in 6–7 months.
5. GUINEA FOWLS (Kanga, Awendo, Tergekyat, Nganga, Likhanga)
Guinea fowls are noisy but helpful birds.
If domesticated they can lay about 100 to 150 eggs per year.
Their eggs are strong and don’t break easily.
Their meat is tastier than chicken.
They eat ticks, insects, and even chase away snakes and rats.
They can roam far, so be careful.
In Kenya, you need a permit from KWS to keep them.
6. QUAILS (Aluru, Tsisindu, Ngware)
Quails are small birds, but they lay lots of eggs.
They need only 1 square foot of space each.
They lay more than 200 small eggs a year.
Their eggs are special and expensive.
They are shy and like to hide.
They eat only 15 grams of food a day.
They start laying eggs when they are just 6–8 weeks old.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Don’t just keep chickens. Try other birds too! Every bird has something special to offer. There is a market for all of them if you put in the work. Sell to restaurants, schools, markets — even your neighbors.
You can earn money from many types of birds. Farming can be fun and rewarding!