1.
OVERVIEW OF LAYERS
PRODUCTION
Start with day-old chicks (layers)
Begin laying at: 18–22 weeks
Peak production: 25–35 weeks
Production cycle: 72–80 weeks
Eggs per bird/year: 280–320 eggs
🏠 2. HOUSING SYSTEM
🧱 Deep Litter System (common in Kenya)
Space:
o Chicks: 50 per m²
o Growers: 10–12 per m²
o Layers: 5–6 per m²
Use wood shavings (3–4 inches)
Good ventilation (very important)
Protect from cold, rain, predators
🥚 Nesting (from week 18)
1 nest per 4–5 hens
💰 3. BUDGET FOR 100 LAYERS (KENYA)
🐣 Chicks
100 × KSh 100–130
👉 KSh 10,000 – 13,000
Feed (BIGGEST COST)
Chick mash (0–8 weeks)
👉 KSh 18,000
Growers mash (8–18 weeks)
👉 KSh 30,000 – 40,000
Layers mash (18–72 weeks)
👉 KSh 120,000 – 160,000
👉 Total Feed: KSh 170,000 – 220,000
💉 Vaccines & medication
👉 KSh 5,000 – 10,000
🧰 Equipment
Feeders, drinkers, nests
👉 KSh 10,000 – 20,000
🏠 Housing
👉 KSh 20,000 – 50,000
🧴 Miscellaneous
👉 KSh 5,000 – 15,000
📊 TOTAL COST
Scenario Total
Existing house KSh 200,000 – 260,000
Scenario Total
New setup KSh 230,000 – 300,000
🐥 4. PRODUCTION STAGES
🐣 Stage 1: Brooding (0–8 Weeks)
🔥 Temperature
Week 1: 32–35°C
Reduce weekly
Feed
Chick mash (18–20% protein)
💉 Vaccines
Day 7: Newcastle
Day 14: Gumboro
Week 3–4: Gumboro booster
🐥 Stage 2: Growers (8–18 Weeks)
Feed
Growers mash (16–18% protein)
Control feed (avoid overweight birds)
💉 Vaccines
Week 6–8: Fowl pox
Week 8: Newcastle booster
Deworm every 2–3 months
🐔 Stage 3: Layers (18–72 Weeks)
Feed
Layers mash (16–18% protein, high calcium)
Lighting 💡
16 hours of light daily (important for egg production)
Egg production
Starts at 18–22 weeks
Peak at 25–35 weeks
💉 5. FULL VACCINATION SCHEDULE
Day 7 → Newcastle
Day 14 → Gumboro
Day 21 → Gumboro booster
Week 6–8 → Fowl pox
Week 8 → Newcastle
Every 3 months → Newcastle repeat
Deworm → every 2–3 months
6. FEED CONSUMPTION (PER 100
BIRDS)
Chick stage → ~2 bags
Grower stage → ~4–5 bags
Layers → ~2 bags per week
👉 Total feed over cycle: ~100–120 bags
🧴 7. DAILY ROUTINE (VERY
IMPORTANT)
🌅 Morning
Open house & check birds
Give fresh water
Feed birds
Collect eggs (1st round)
🌞 Midday
Check feed & water
Remove sick birds
Clean drinkers
🌆 Evening
Top up feed
Collect eggs (2nd round)
Close house (security)
🥚 8. EXPECTED RETURNS
Egg production
100 birds → ~80–90 eggs/day at peak
Egg price (Kenya)
KSh 12–18 per egg
👉 Daily income: KSh 1,000 – 1,500
👉 Annual revenue: KSh 300,000 – 450,000
📈 PROFIT ESTIMATE
Total cost: ~KSh 230,000
Revenue: ~KSh 350,000+
👉 Profit: KSh 100,000 – 200,000 per cycle
COMMON CHALLENGES
High feed cost
Drop in egg production
Diseases (Newcastle, coccidiosis)
Poor market prices
✅ SUCCESS TIPS
Use quality breeds (ISA Brown, Kenchic layers)
Maintain clean water always
Provide enough calcium (strong eggshells)
Avoid stress (noise, overcrowding)
Keep proper records
🏁 9. END OF PRODUCTION (HARVEST)
After 72–80 weeks:
o Sell as spent layers
o Price: KSh 300–500 per bird
🔑 BOTTOM LINE
Layers = slow but steady income (daily cash flow)
Broilers = fast but one-time profit