Farmer makes quails a runaway success

By JAMES KARIUKI kamaukariuki@gmail.com
From Daily Nation

Seventy two-year-old Philip Gichohi is busy making money ‘restoring’ men’s vitality via sale of quail eggs — a rare venture licensed by the Kenya Wildlife Service to help farmers earn handsomely from the wild birds.

Mr Gichohi’s project — the first in Nyandarua County — has won him orders from four-star hotels in Nairobi which have been receiving eight egg trays every week form his farm.

Further, he has also been giving lectures on the benefit of eating quail eggs by men keen on boosting their vitality within and without his home county.

“Age is just but a number as all we need is to eat the right food like the Japanese, Chinese and Indians have done for ages. They prefer eating wild fruits, animals and drinking water from springs thereby avoiding highly-processed foods and drinks,” he says.

His venture into quail farming was motivated by a visit to a quail farm in Kiambu County where he saw a farmer rearing the wild birds as a commercial enterprise and was surprised at the low input and maintenance cost required. (more…)

Little birds bring Nyeri farmer profits

From NTV

Quail farming is an uncommon business in Kenya, but the few people who have embraced it are laughing all the way to the bank. In Nyeri County, one farmer who has ventured into rearing the little birds now says this was the best decision he ever made after retirement.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caU2GDVI2lY?rel=0&w=640&h=360]

Kenyan farmer reaping from quail eggs venture

Story By JAMES KARIUKI
From Africa Review.

Seventy two-year-old Philip Gichohi is busy making money ‘restoring’ men’s vitality via sale of quail eggs — a rare venture licensed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to help farmers earn handsomely from the wild birds.

Mr Gichohi’s project — the first in Kenya’s Nyandarua County — has won him orders from four-star hotels in the capital Nairobi, which have been receiving eight egg trays every week form his farm.

Further, he has also been giving lectures on the benefit of eating quail eggs by men keen on boosting their vitality within and without his home county.quail

“Age is just but a number as all we need is to eat the right food like the Japanese, Chinese and Indians have done for ages. They prefer eating wild fruits, animals and drinking water from springs thereby avoiding highly-processed foods and drinks,” he says.

His venture into quail farming was motivated by a visit to a quail farm in Kiambu County where he saw a farmer rearing the wild birds as a commercial enterprise and was surprised at the low input and maintenance cost required.

While a mature hen consumes an average of 150 grammes of food per day and requires a regular administration of drugs, a quail eats 20 grammes per day and hardly requires any drugs.

Additionally, while a kilo of poultry meat goes for Sh280 ($3.30) on average, quail, which hardly weighs half-a-kilo at maturity attracts, Sh500 (about $6). (more…)

High school dropout makes a killing in quail rearing venture

Story by By MUNENE KAMAU

From Standard Digital News

As many youths grumble over soaring unemployment, Leonard Mbucho is a happy man. In his early 30s and with modest education, he is pocketing an average of Sh100,000 a month from a rare bird business.

In his one-storey structure in Gacharu village, Kirinyaga County, Mbucho rears hundreds of birds which include quails, turkey, the Egyptian goose, ordinary goose, the Ugandan cranes, ducks, turkey, pigeons, and guinea fowls, among other varieties of poultry.

But the rare quails stand out. The birds are highly valued for their pricey meat and eggs and their proven medicinal value.

The investment started a year ago after he came across the quails in Karatina where Mzee Kiongo Kamau had stocked the birds.

“I had just paid a visit to Mzee Kamau and within his homestead I could hear bird sounds coming from a wooden structure,” he said.

He developed interest in the tiny birds and secured 15 of them after learning from Kamau how they mature as demand for the eggs continues to grow.

In the Bible, God provided the Israelites with quails and manna in order to survive as they traversed the hot desert from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan.

Today the tamed bird is a delicacy especially among the Luhya who refer to it as Isidu. The Luo call the bird Aluru.

And the bird sells like hot cake in select restaurants within Nairobi and other restaurants are slowly adopting to it. It is also highly sought after for its medicinal value. (more…)

Tips on Quail Farming

Marketing

Here are some suggestions to assist you with marketing.

  • Become a member of  Ecochicks Quails . You can make many valuable contacts with both producers and customers.
  • Advertise, advertise, and advertise some more. It does not cost it pays. Be certain the ads are attractive, clear, and concise. An ad or brochure that looks sloppy will
    not gain sales; seek local printers’ advice and assistance.
  • Keep a neat farm. A prospective customer judges you by the appearance of your farm.

Breeding Stock 

If you start with undesirable breeders, you end up with undesirable offspring. It’s just this simple; so be cautious when selecting breeder stock from your stock or from someone else’s. The following suggestions help with selection of the best breeding stock:

  • Buy only from reputable breeder dealers. Get the best breeder birds available; your future in the business depends on good breeder stock.

If you plan to buy birds or eggs

  •  Check the breeders for conformation in size, shape, and color according to the species.
  •  Check for off color, size, body or leg deformities, and other abnormalities. (more…)
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