your mind when you think about poultry rearing. Many farmers are
familiar with chicken rearing for eggs or meat and the recently
over-flooded business of quail farming but few have embarked on turkey
farming as a source of income.
| Turkey Farming in Kenya |
Even in the few homesteads where you find a turkey or two, they are normally for aesthetic qualities as pets and not for economic purposes. This has left a huge gap in the market that can be filled by anyone seeking to start turkey farming in Kenya in 2018 as a way to earn a living through agribusiness. The market for exotic white meat is growing by the day; turkey, ostriches, quails are some of the birds whose taste Kenyans are growing to like.
To start a turkey farming in Kenya, you need to either buy a day old poults(turkey chicks) or buy a turkey hen and a tom (male turkey). Once
the hen lays the fertilized eggs, select the best 10-15 eggs for
incubating. Hatching takes 28 days only. If the technology is available
to you, you can incubate the eggs artificially to increase the
likelihood of hatching.
Brooding the Poults
Before
the poults arrive or get hatched, you want to prepare the brooding
area. Sawdust, wood shavings or paddy hast can be used for the litter.
It should be 3 to 4 inches thick at first and increased over time. To
prevent caking. It is good to rake the litter occasionally.
| Turkey Poults |
Poults need a little more space than chicken chicks. Ensure that each bird has 1.5 ft2. They also need to stay warm. Maintain a 32 to 38 degrees Celsius for the first week and reduce by 2 degrees every week after that for a months. In the second week, the space for each bird should be increased to a square of 20cm to 20cm. After 6 weeks, you can let them outside when it’s not cold or rainy.
Feeding the Turkey
You will need one feeder and one waterer for 25 birds. For a kg of of live
turkey, you will need three and a quarter kilos of turkey feed. Starter
mash is the feed that starts off your poults. That and plenty of clean
fresh water.
Growers mash is introduced at week ten.
Greens and other cracked grains like maize should also be introduced at
this point. Minerals and vitamins addition to the diet will ensure that
the turkey turn out healthy as they should.
| Turkey on a plate |
Slaughtering the turkey
At week 22, the turkey will start adding fat to their body. To know whether they are ready for slaughter, check to see whether all the pinfeathers have disappeared. This will happen between week 24 and week 28. By this time, your turkey will be averaging 8kgs. For 18 hours before slaughter, withdraw food and give your turkey lots of clean fresh water.
What do you think? Is turkey farming in kenya something you see yourself doing? Leave us a comment below.
See Also: Water Melon Farming in Kenya
Am leonard.i have two she-turkeys and a male one.since last year they never produced eggs.What could be the problem or is there special food i should give them
Feed them on a balanced diet.
Am leonard.i have two she-turkeys and a male one.since last year they never produced eggs.What could be the problem or is there special food i should give them
Turkeys have laying seasons that last between 16 to 20 weeks depending on the breed.
Providing artificial light to ensure that they get at least 14 hours of light per day could trigger the laying early on in the season.
NO MARKET
MAMA BINO I would like to know where to get(buy) the turkey (hen & tom)
Where can one get the chicks or hen and tom to start-off?
Hello, Am Jacktone a turkey farmer in Bungoma County. I currently have 20 6 weeks old turkeys fully vaccinated against Newcastle disease, gumboro, Infectious bronchitis, Fowl pox, and Fowl cholera. If you are interested kindly keep in touch.
My number: 0795206755.
6 weeks old @ 900/=
8 weeks old @ 1200?=
Where can one get the chicks or hen and tom to start-off?
Hi Faith,
I am selling my turkey chicks but above a month old in umoja, Nairobi. They are all in teen stage of of turkey life so incase you need some, get in touch 0721134750
Hello there how much are u selling them
Av got a large flock of turkeys and chicks
Looking for a ready market.
254 722 481638
Where are you situated?
How much do turkey eggs go for in kenya? David, from Kiambu
Turkey Birds , different ages for sale. We sell minimum ten Poults . Adults any number. Welcome all . +255784290808: email : eliafieswai@gmail.com
I am Beatrice .I have a turkey and a Tom. They had hatched ten poults but they have all died. What could be the problem?
How much do turkey eggs fetch in Kenya?
How can one determine fertile turkey eggs?
Where to buy day old turkey and how much. Am from mombasa
I THINK TURKEY BUSINESS REQUIRES TIME AND A LOT OF PATIENCE COZ 24-28 WEEKS THATS A LOT OF TIME!! THEN THE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT WE KENYANS HAVE IS LACK OF PROPER INFORMATION…. I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO REAR TURKEYS BUH THE PROBLEM IS WHERE CAN I GET THE CHICKS FROM ie,IMPROVED BREEDS THAT TAKE LIKE 13-14 WEEKS TO MATURE
Information is scarce. Any turkey farmer interested in joint venture to raise turkeys email saeedchaudhri
For mature Toms and female turkeys or poults contact +254708440983
@saeed chaudhri am intrested with the turkey venture
@saeed chaudhri am interested with the turkey venture
people are asking for the poults prices!!!!!.. it would be better if we know the estimate prices for any turkey bird at any stage. thank you
People are asking for the estimate poult prices in the previous comments and you seem to ignore that. kindly the information is important in a big way and i too would like to know the estimate prices for turkey bird at any stage of development.thank you
I want to do Turkey farming in Busia Kenya. One month poults.
Am Fred. 0713775259.
Need to know where I can get the poults
I got turkeys but no idea where to sell them.Am located in kikuyu town anyone with interest can contact me via email: limqua@gmail.com. MATURE turkey from 3k, fertilized eggs @200 negoitable.
I got turkeys but no idea where to sell them.Am located in kikuyu town anyone with interest can contact me via email: limqua@gmail.com. MATURE turkey from 3k, fertilized eggs @200 negoitable.
Your number please
My name is Given Mahachi a Zimbabwean full of African pride especially those who encourage our home grown products. I wish one day like what is done with canival events we must have national events to show case these African dishes.
I need female turkeys 15 of 3 month age
I am looking for 15 female turkeys basically within kakamega county and should be 3 to 4 month
Owners should remember to give enough freedom to the birds. It is better not to confine them in the cage all the time but let them out to the open from time to time. Poultry Farming
I have tried keeping the turkeys . My challenge is market for large quantities e.g. 1000 per month
Hellooo… Your article is so eye opening thank you so much. I am martin and am really interested in rearing turkeys among other birds if you have any contacts of people rearing them in and around kisumu, siaya , busia , kakamega please hit me up… Also if theres any training needed feel free to advice me of the same.
My no. Is 0704718028…
And oooo about the special incubators used if any…
Thank you for such a platform
Have tried to rear turkey poults but they eventually die after two weeks, what should l do.
What causes boil like in turkey eyes
any mature turkey for sale within kakamega
av got turkeys for sale some females laying eggs and some about 4months old at Makueni
no:0741677424