By MN Reporter

At Sagero village, outside Migori town Samora Machel Mwamba, the CEO of Nyakwar Sana farm feeds his poultry in his morning routine.

Mwamba said he quit formal employment after graduating with a degree in Information Technology to follow his personal interest in poultry farming.

 “I had a passion for poultry farming and when I started the venture I employed several farmhands and managed the farm through the phone which made me realise a lot of losses through deaths and  workers stealing from me,” he said.

After losing 400 chicken in the first venture, Mwamba said he took accumulated leave of eight months to concentrate on farming which paid off.

He took interest in ornamental farming when he toured Nairobi Agricultural Society of Kenya show where he bought his first Jumbo Pekin duck and two fantail pigeons.

“Ornamental birds fetch better prices in the market both birds and eggs compared to normal breeds, require small space to rare and eat the same food like other poultry,” he said.

The Jumbo Pekin ducks grow faster as they reach maturity from three-to-six months compared to eight for normal Muscovy ducks but are three times bigger and lay 300-350 eggs annually compared to 90 for local breeds.

Fantail pigeon spreads it tail like a peacock, breed faster and can be caged comfortably. While a normal pigeon is sold for Sh150, they exotic pigeons fetch from Sh5,000-10,000.

 “Ornamental bird farming, like any other poultry venture require one to be very observant and look at minor details like colour of poop, drooping plumage and eating habits to know and nab diseases at the bud before wiping out the whole stock,” he said.

Challenges he faces are cost of feeds and diseases which should be managed well.

He also advises for each breed of ornamental bird should be placed separately to avoid cross breeding.

He said with improved keinyeji poultry flooded, ornamental bird farming is the way to go.

The market is not readily available, but it is done through social media as it cuts a niche which has to be served.

“Once a farmer creates a reputation of delivering birds, customers will come throughout the country. Those who want ornamental birds will pay for quality birds,” he said.