HATCHING SYSTEMS IN SIAYA COUNTY

Poultry farming in Kenya plays a major role in complementing rural and peri-urban households’ food security and income. Farmers have turned to rearing of improved indigenous chicken (IC) due to the fast growth and high production of eggs; one of the strategies used to enhance development of IC is to supply day old chicks to producers. However, the demand for day old chicks outstrips supply because of low hatchability experienced in small holder hatcheries. This study characterized the hatching systems in Siaya County. A survey was conducted on small holder farms and hatcheries to establish characteristics of hatching systems in Siaya County. The study showed that the breeding stock were reared in enclosed and free-range systems with a dominant species of Sasso kuroiler, kenbro and KALRO improved chicken, 55% of the farms attained the standard cock to hen ratio of 1:7 and eggs were stored using both conventional and non-conventional methods. The management practices of the hatchery systems fell outside the standard practices and this contributed immensely for poor performance of farming enterprises. Adoption and implementation of standard practices in hatching systems will contribute to higher performance.