Indigenous chickens perform well in all agro-ecological zones in Embu county and ranks highly as an existing resource whose productivity can be increased with minimal resources.  Rearing of indigenous chicken is highly suitable for vulnerable households and are often owned and managed by women and Youth. The indigenous chicken value chain growth in Embu County is limited by poor access to improved breeding stock, inadequate supply of day-old chicks and quality fertilized eggs.The supply of quality day-old chicks and fertilized eggs is paramount for the success and sustainability of indigenous chickens, which are locally adaptable to the rural conditions. Most chicken farmers depend on hatcheries for the supply of day-old chicks, a small number have incubators while majority of farmers hatch their chicks by natural incubation. Fertility is therefore very important in chicken production.

The innovation entails identifying a group through proposal writing where indigenous chicken multiplication center would be established.  A deep litter poultry wooden house measuring 18x5x10m and roofed with iron sheets with an adjacent feed storing store. The house has a concrete floor for ease of cleaning.  The group was supported with  four hundred and fifty KALRO kienyenji day old chick to rear for supply of fertilized eggs to the community and as a source of  their own incubation.

To support the establishment of indigenous chicken multiplication center to facilitate the access of quality fertilized eggs to producers.

Meta Data

• Contact person: Nancy Njeri Njeru
• Location: Irangi centre
• County: Embu
• Ward: Kagaari North
• Type: Animal / crop Breeding innovations
• Source: County ASDSP II offices
• Status: Delivered to beneficiaries

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During the first year of production, the VCO was able to produce seven hundred and eighty six crates of fertilized eggs which they sold to the community at the rate of kes 600 per crate generating kes 471,600. Among the layer there were eighty cocks which were sold to the community to upgrade the local chicken. The cocks generated kes 80,000 and a total of one hundred and eighty culls sold at kes 600 generating kes 108,000.