Poultry Farmers Face Severe Shortage of Day-Old Chicks in Kenya

Poultry farmers across Kenya are currently experiencing a significant shortage of day-old chicks, a crisis that threatens to escalate egg prices and strain the poultry sector. Joseph Karuri, chairman of the Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers, has highlighted the severity of the situation, pointing to challenges in sourcing these essential chicks as a major issue for layer farmers.

The shortage has created a backlog, with delays stretching up to six months from the time of booking to receiving the chicks. Karuri attributes the crisis to decreased purchasing power among farmers since the COVID-19 pandemic, which led breeders to cut production capacities due to diminished market demand. He noted, “There is a looming shortage of day-old chicks, and this may lead to higher egg prices in the market.”

This shortage is not isolated to Kenya; it is part of a global issue affecting poultry industries worldwide. However, Karuri expressed some optimism, suggesting that the situation might stabilize within a year as the industry slowly recovers. Despite this hopeful outlook, farmers are currently grappling with high costs and reduced flocks.

Zachary Munyambu, a poultry farmer from Ngoigwa in Thika, Kiambu County, has voiced concerns about the increasing cost of day-old chicks. Prices have surged to between Sh140 and Sh170 each, making it difficult for farmers to maintain their operations. Munyambu, who leads the Kiambu Poultry Farmers Cooperative Society, reported that the cost of raising a bird from day one to laying has risen significantly. Previously between Sh650 and Sh720 per bird, the cost now ranges from Sh850 to Sh900.

The escalation in production costs is attributed to rising feed prices, driven by the scarcity and increased prices of raw materials. For instance, soybean, a crucial protein source, has risen from Sh97 to Sh123 per kilo, while fish meal is in short supply and often contaminated. Alternative protein sources like omena are also hard to come by, forcing farmers to rely on imported artificial proteins. The price of maize germ has similarly increased from Sh23 to Sh30 per kilo, impacting feed costs. Consequently, prices for different types of feed have also gone up, with a 50kg bag of chick mash now selling at Sh4,200, and layers mash at Sh3,800.

In response to these challenges, Munyambu has called for government intervention to allow the importation of genetically modified maize and yellow maize for feed production. He also advocates for local production of soybean and sunflower to reduce dependence on imports and lower costs for Kenyan poultry, pig, and dairy farmers.

Timothy Mulwa, chairman of the Kenya Poultry Breeders Association, acknowledged the heightened demand for day-old chicks, which has overwhelmed breeders. He noted that while broiler farmers used to receive chicks within two to three weeks of ordering, the wait time has now been reduced to about one week. However, Mulwa urged farmers to plan ahead and place orders in advance to mitigate the pressure on hatcheries.

“Farmers should provide hatcheries with their schedules for ordering chicks to ensure a smoother process,” Mulwa advised. He added that the expansion of hatchery capacities and the establishment of new companies in Kenya are steps toward addressing the shortage.

Overall, while the poultry industry in Kenya faces significant challenges due to the day-old chick shortage, efforts are being made to increase production capacity and improve planning to meet the growing demand. As the industry works toward stabilization, farmers are encouraged to adapt to the evolving market dynamics and plan their operations accordingly.