Heart disease that stresses most broiler chicken
Mama Njoki is one of the most fervid poultry farmers I have encountered in my 12 years as a Vet.
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
Heart disease that stresses most broiler chicken
Fatal disease that is every poultry farmer's headache
Our company recently participated in one of the national agricultural exhibitions. As a way of encouraging farmer participation, I always ask them what topics they would like to have covered in Smart Harvest.
By DR TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
Fatal disease that is every poultry farmer's headache
Vaccines are useless if chicken coops are dirty
On several occasions I have been involved in cases of vaccine failure in poultry - either due to poor administration techniques of the vaccine or due to break of the “cold chain”
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
 Vaccines are useless if chicken coops are dirty
Ducks get sick less often but viral diseases are fatal when they strike
Duck meat is slowly becoming popular and more people are enjoying it as a meal. This is in contrast to a few years back when it was mostly only available in high-end restaurants.
By DR TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
Ducks get sick less often but viral diseases are fatal when they strike
Black Soldier Fly: Insect that turns farm waste into rich animal feed
This study involves the use of larvae of an insect known as Black Soldier Fly (BSF) which would potentially substitute ingredients used as sources of protein and energy in feeds.
By DR TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
Black Soldier Fly: Insect that turns farm waste into rich animal feed
Black Soldier Fly: Insect that can turn farm waste into rich animal feed
A top international research centre in Kenya has been conducting a study on an insect that may change the fortunes of fish and poultry farmers by significantly reducing the cost of feeds.
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
Black Soldier Fly: Insect that can turn farm waste into rich animal feed
Inbreeding will give you deformed and sickly chicks
In one of the previous Smart Harvest editions, we mentioned the importance of sourcing quality first generation/F1 chicks for maximum production.
By Tony Kiragu 7 years ago
Inbreeding will give you deformed and sickly chicks
Hey, this is why your hens stopped laying eggs and they look sickly
Last week I received an email from an ardent Smart Harvest reader who is a poultry farmer in Athi River.
By Tony Kiragu 7 years ago
Hey, this is why your hens stopped laying eggs and they look sickly
To avoid those nagging chicken mites, hygiene is a must
One of my clients, James Njogu has been a chicken farmer for close to 10 years now. I met Njogu in one of the poultry farmers’ training session we held in Thika town last year.
By Tony Kiragu 7 years ago
To avoid those nagging chicken mites, hygiene is a must
How to hatch eggs in incubator
In the Smart Harvest edition of November 5 last year, I covered the consequences of having a faulty incubator and the losses associated with poor quality incubator machinery.
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
How to hatch eggs in incubator
My hens are laying funny eggs!
My farm in Naivasha – Nature Kuku - conducts training for poultry farmers nearly every month.
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
My hens are laying funny eggs!
Help! I found all my kukus dead
Mrs Muthee, a veteran poulty farmer occasionally calls my office to give updates on developments in her farm.
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
Help! I found all my kukus dead
Concerns that must be addressed before Uganda ban on poultry is lifted
The ban had been put in place after dead wild birds tested positive for the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The press statement read by Kenya Poultry Farmers Association (KEPOFA) chair Wairimu Kariuki, raised a number of concerns.
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
Concerns that must be addressed before Uganda ban on poultry is lifted
Delicate journey of rearing chicks to healthy birds
Nzomo knew poultry farming is a worthwhile venture and with his 1.5 acre land, he was set. What my client lacked was information and know-how to jumpstart his new project.
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
Delicate journey of rearing chicks to healthy birds
What to do when your birds are always fighting and pecking
One of the challenges he has constantly faced is cannibalism — a bad habit (vice) mostly manifested as vent picking, picking of unfeathered skin on the head, toes, comb or wattle.
By TONY KIRAGU 7 years ago
What to do when your birds are always fighting and pecking
When something is terribly wrong with your incubator
Mama Mulinge is one of the poultry farmers who is forever engaging and challenging me and is always ready to try out new business ventures.
By TONY KIRAGU 8 years ago
When something is terribly wrong with your incubator
How to spot common diseases in your chicken
It is amazing and inspiring how many poultry farmers are going the extra mile to learn more about disease management and control.
By TONY KIRAGU 8 years ago
How to spot common diseases in your chicken
Why more farmers are opting to rear kuku kienyeji
Kuku kienyeji has found its way into the menu of almost all restaurants and high-end hotels. Recently, I visited a popular joint in downtown Nairobi and could not ignore the agony of disgruntled patrons when they were told that “kuku kienyeji imeisha” (we are out of kuku kienyeji).
By TONY KIRAGU 8 years ago
Why more farmers are opting to rear kuku kienyeji
Strategies to cope during low feeds season
If the weather experts’ prediction of La Nina is anything to go by, then it is the optimum time for all livestock farmers to re-strategise in order to cope well during this looming feed shortage season.
By TONY KIRAGU 8 years ago
Strategies to cope during low feeds season
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