Battery cage vs deep litter system is one of the first choices every poultry farmer has to make.
Many new farmers think they must buy cages to succeed. But the truth is simple: cages don’t lay eggs, birds do!
So stop postponing your dream farm based on lies. In this post, I’ll show you 7 clear differences between battery cages and the deep litter system. With this, you’ll make the right choice for your farm.
One of the many decisions a beginner layer farmer has to make.Read to know what to consider when deciding.
1. SetUp Costs
Battery cages are more expensive to buy and set up compared to deep litter.
Why? Cages are made from galvanized metal. Deep litter, on the other hand, can use cheap by-products like coffee husks, rice husks, or wood shavings. While prices differ from place to place, cages will always cost more.
If you’re short on cash, deep litter is a practical way to start. You can upgrade to cages later. Don’t buy cages just to look fancy and then end up starving your birds.
2. Ongoing Costs
The deep litter system has more ongoing costs than battery cages. Buying cages is a one-off cost for a batch of birds. You don’t keep buying them again. However, litter needs frequent replacement to prevent diseases.
This means the deep litter system can feel more expensive in the long run. On the other hand, the initial investment for cages is heavier, which many farmers struggle with.
3. Disease Management
Disease spreads faster in deep litter than in battery cages.
Since cage birds are separated, one sick hen is less likely to infect the rest. In addition, it’s easier to see and isolate sick birds in cages. In deep litter, birds mix freely, so transmission is quick and hard to control. Therefore, a disease outbreak in deep litter can cause higher losses. However, with proper vaccination, cleaning, and management, both systems can still keep birds healthy.
4. Ease of Management
It is generally easier to manage birds in cages than in the deep litter system.
For example, farmers can vaccinate, count birds, collect eggs, and remove manure more quickly in cages. This reduces labor needs. If you hire workers, you may need fewer staff with cages, which saves money.
On the other hand, deep litter gives birds more freedom, so management takes more time and effort.
5. Space Required
Cages make better use of limited space. Birds need less space per hen because cages are stacked vertically. This allows farmers to keep more layers in the same house. Therefore, if you have little land, cages might be your best solution. However, if you already have plenty of space, the deep litter system can still work well.
6. Bird Happiness
Happy birds produce better. Many farmers believe that birds in deep litter are happier because the system is closer to their natural environment. Although cages are more controlled, they limit bird movement. Think of it like life in high school—tight and controlled. Deep litter gives more freedom. However, happy birds do not always mean higher profits, so a farmer must balance welfare with production goals.
7. Automation
Automation should be the goal of every farmer who wants to grow big. It separates a business owner from someone who is self-employed. In this area, battery cages win. Because cages create a controlled environment, it is easier to automate egg collection, feeding, and cleaning. Deep litter is harder to automate since birds move freely, and conditions are less uniform.
There you go! You now know the 7 main differences between battery cage vs deep litter system.
Remember, there is no good or bad system. The right choice depends on your budget, space, goals, and beliefs. A farmer with limited cash may start with deep litter and upgrade later. Another farmer with limited land may go straight into cages.
💬Let me know in the comments what you’re planning to use for your farm.
Niss had always been a farmer. A vegetable farmer. She planted cabbages, sukumawiki, spinach, and kiswenya — a local herb.
It was food, yes, but also her little business. Every six weeks she would harvest and sell at the local market.
When Money Isn’t Enough
The sales gave her some money to support her kids, but it was never enough.
And truth be told, she wasn’t even sure if she made profits. She just sold, counted the cash in her hands, and because money came in on market days, she assumed she was doing fine.
Was she really? She didn’t know.
Stress That Won’t Let Go
For the past three weeks, she had been trying to figure out how to get funding for her new idea — layer poultry farming.
But the more she thought about it, the more her head burned and her heart raced. Stress became her daily companion.
Sleepless Nights And Strange Fears
At night, she couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned, managing barely two hours after the first cock crowed, then nothing until the next night when the cycle repeated.
Slowly, she started noticing something else: her dresses and skirts felt looser.
“What is happening to me?” she wondered.
“Could it be cancer? That’s what causes sudden weight loss, right? Or maybe TB? But I’m not coughing…”
The Request That Stopped Her
Before she could untangle her fears, her daughter walked in.
“Mum, it’s been so long since we went out as a family. Why don’t we go to Bofa Beach tomorrow? Judith and Jay will be there too.”
Niss stared at her for two minutes, silent, until a housefly almost flew into her open mouth.
Finally, she said, “No. Why do you kids want a posh life? Don’t you see how we’re struggling? Do you think I’m like your uncle who makes big money off his employees? I’m not spending even a dime on a ‘walk.’ I’m trying to save every shilling so we can start this business!”
Her voice was sharp, her anger louder than she meant.
The Kids Take Action
A few minutes later, she found her kids already packed, neatly dressed, ready to leave. “We’re going to stay at Uncle’s house tonight,” they said. “Tomorrow we’ll go to Bofa with them.”
Niss’s heart sank. She felt angry, surprised, and pitiful all at once.
What kind of mother have I become? What happened to taking care of my babies? To the fun we used to have?
The Beach That Changed Everything
Go to the beach often. The winds and waves are therapeutic and they help you reconnect with nature.
That night, those questions wouldn’t let her rest. Finally, she made a decision. The next morning, she took her children to Bofa Beach herself.
And for the first time in a long while, she laughed. The waves washed her worries, the sun warmed her heart, and she remembered what joy felt like. Watching her daughter talking to a boy, it struck her — her little girl was growing into a young woman, and she had almost missed it.
If she kept ignoring moments like this, she would wake up one day and her children would be gone, grown, out of reach.
A Lesson She Couldn’t Forget
When they returned home that evening, tired but happy, Niss whispered to herself:
“Family first. Money second.”
That night, she slept early, peacefully.
And with that, she learned the truth — you should never sacrifice yourself or your family, even while building a business. Know your priorities and give them the importance they deserve. Money can wait. Family cannot.
How do you sell your tray of eggs for Ksh.2,000 or even Ksh.5,000?
Well, you don’t. Nobody in their right mind will buy a tray for that crazy amount when they can get it somewhere else for Ksh.350. I personally wouldn’t either.
But wait, not so fast.
Why do we have $1 bags and $1,000 bags? Can’t you also have Ksh.350 trays of eggs and Ksh.2,000 premium trays?
Drumrolls…
Yes, you can. And there’s only one secret to that: increase the value of your eggs so they’re worth more than what you want to sell them for.
The reason I’ll buy your tray of eggs for Ksh.350 is because I believe it’s worth more than that. The reason I won’t buy it for Ksh.2,000 is because I believe it’s not worth that much.
So, how do you make your eggs worth Ksh.2,000? That’s the billion-shilling question.
You’ve probably heard of advice about processing eggs to increase their value. While those are true and important, they’re not the real gold in value addition of eggs.
Let’s look at 6 practical ways you can make more money from your eggs.
Pay more attention to the last 2.
Numbers 5 and 6.
1. BOILED EGGS
You’ve seen this before. An egg you would have sold for Ksh.12 can be sold boiled for Ksh.30 with little added cost. It’s the simplest form of value addition of eggs, though not always easy to scale.
Selling all your eggs as boiled is unreasonable, but depending on your location, selling even a percentage as boiled can give you a good return.
2. BAKING
Eggs are a key raw material in bakeries. If you know how to bake, here is a chance to turn eggs into higher-value products.
Instead of waiting for someone to buy your tray at Ksh.350, you can bake cakes, pastries, or bread and sell them for much more.
For best practice, treat your bakery and your farm as two separate businesses. Let your bakery buy the eggs from your farm, so you keep proper records and profits clear.
Kimani, a farmer from Kenya is doing this profitably.
Next to liquid eggs are powdered eggs. These are widely used in bakeries, pharmaceuticals, and by athletes. Powdered eggs are easy to transport, have a long shelf life, and attract premium clients.
Like liquid eggs, this method requires investment in equipment, but the returns can be significant.
Here’s one woman from Nigeria successfully doing this.
The greatest form of value addition of eggs comes from your creativity. Think differently and test new ideas. Here are practical options:
Farm-to-table subscriptions — Deliver weekly egg boxes to families for a premium.
Branded grading & packaging — Sort eggs into large, medium, premium and use simple branded cartons.
How much would you pay for these eggs? That the power of packaging and branding.Unique, Premium branding and packaging can increase the value of your eggs and differentiate your eggs from your competitors.
Recipe or meal kits — Pair eggs with a recipe card (e.g., omelette kit) to sell convenience.
Corporate & event packs — Supply branded trays for offices, hotels, and events.
Partnerships with bakeries/cafes — Offer exclusive supply deals for stability.
Specialty eggs — Try small runs like free-range or smoked eggs for higher prices.
Teach & sell — Share quick recipe guides or demos alongside your eggs.
Try and try. Keep what works and drop what doesn’t. This is how you innovate beyond the traditional value addition of eggs.
Register for our regular Layer Chicken Digest Tips via email to get tips on how to structure your offer bundles and value ideas👇🏿
Nothing great is built through ordinary thinking. Don’t get stuck complaining about low prices. Instead, find creative, profitable ways to make your eggs worth more.
Remember this: when you provide more value than your price, customers will happily pay.
See you next Friday!
Carlos Deche carlosdeche4040@gmail.com | secretlayerske@gmail.com
“I’m going to be rich. I’m going to make a lot of money. I’m going to be a millionaire.
I’ll be selling my eggs every day — money in my hands each morning. Which job pays you every day? None.”
🛌🏿Dreaming In Numbers
Niss lay on her bed, half-asleep, half-awake. Her daughter had already left for school; Niss let herself rest for a few more minutes — just a little longer😅
“Let me do some quick math,” she whispered to the ceiling.
If I start with 1,000 birds, that’s 1,000 eggs a day once they start laying. At Ksh.20 per egg — that’s Ksh.20,000 a day.
Her mouth went dry. Ksh.20,000?😱 Times thirty. Ksh.600,000 a month.
🤓Wait Till Mama B Hears
She imagined Mama B’s face. She imagined the neighbours whispering — jealous, saying she had “jinis.” She smiled. She didn’t mind.
The city rose before her like a promise: a better house, quieter mornings, no more wrangles with neighbours. She pictured herself checking the village once in a while but living somewhere with pavements and light.
⚠️The Stomach Knot Nobody Talks About
Then the stomach-knots arrived — the same small panic she had felt before. Her heart skipped in a way she could almost taste it at the back of her throat.
If layer poultry farming brings Ksh.600,000 a month, why isn’t everyone doing it? Is it that they don’t know? Or that they don’t have the money?
📱One Google Search That Changed Everything
She grabbed her phone and typed: Is layer poultry farming profitable?
The results? -“You must be offline.” 😂She bought data. And the results returned.
One by one her assumptions fell away. Yes — steady cash flow. But something else hung on the page like a warning: raising layers is hard.
Her chest tightened. The urge she usually felt when she was nervous pushed low in her belly. Layers can be profitable, yes — but the money doesn’t come easy. Her quick math had been a fantasy.
📃The Cold Hard Truth On The Ground
Things on the ground are not what you think you know. The truth is cold. Real cold.
This is what she realized:
1. Having layers doesn’t guarantee daily sales. Marketing and selling takes time.
2. Starting with 1,000 birds is far too risky for a beginner.
3. Buying 1,000 chicks doesn’t mean 1,000 will reach laying age — she didn’t factor in mortality.
4. Even healthy flocks don’t produce 100% — with good management, 80% is realistic.
5. Ksh.20 per egg is retail. Bulk buyers pay less.
6. You’ll likely sell in trays, not single eggs — and volume changes price.
7. Ksh.20,000 per day is gross revenue — not net profit. Not even close.
8. She hadn’t added expenses: daily feed, monthly labour, utilities, even a salary for herself.
9. Nobody will care if she makes it. She has to do it for herself and for her children.
There they are, the 9 things Niss had forgotten and she was reminded how things are different on the ground.
🤐Nobody Cares
Her neighbours were busy with their own lives; they weren’t waiting to cheer her on. The truth was sharp and lonely.
🥚The Brown Image Of Hope
As she scrolled away from the post, a brown image caught her eye — eggs and layer birds, simple and promising. It said: Register for free to get the guide.
She registered. Then she opened her email.
There it was: ✅ A beginner’s guide ✅ A printable purpose planner
🔑From Fantasy To Plan
She quickly read through the guides and oh boy! She was glad she did.
She sat back and let the truth land in her skull. For the first time the fantasy and the work separated. The math stopped being a dream and began to look like a plan — one that required learning, humility and time.
🚨Don’t Be Like Niss
“I can’t believe I was just fantasizing about money without knowing anything about keeping layers,” she whispered. “Never again.”
What’s in your head is very different from the work on the ground. Don’t be a spectator. Be the person in the arena.
If you’ve ever pictured quick riches from birds and a single, neat calculation — stop. Learn the real steps first.
👉 Register for free now and start the work with truth, not a fantasy.
You’ll get our regular Layer Chicken Digest tips via email.
What do I need to start a layer farm? That’s a question many beginners ask. You may wonder if you should first buy land, get money, or even write a business plan.
In this post, I’ll give you a clear answer. By the end, you’ll know exactly what you need to start a layer poultry farm. In fact, the same applies to almost any farming venture.
What do I really need to start my layer poultry farm? I’m confused😮💨
Don’t fret.Just keep reading.
1. PEOPLE
First, you need people. It is said, if you want to go far, go alone. If you want to go further, go with others.
Well,here’s what I say, if you want to go anywhere worthy, you need people.
In business, this is true. You cannot do everything on your own because you’ll quickly burn out. Moreover, business itself is about people—someone with a problem and someone with the solution.
That means you’ll need partners, employees, customers, and suppliers. Even your spouse doesn’t have to like what you do, but they should at least support you. For marketing, sales, and legal matters, you’ll also need a team, including lawyers.
Who will buy your eggs? Customers.
Where will you get farm inputs? From suppliers.
As Jim Collins said in his book Good to Great, you need the right people on the bus even before deciding where the bus should go.
Therefore, choose carefully. Work with people who share your mission, goals, and values. Not just anybody.
2. PLAN
Next, you need a plan. This doesn’t have to be a long, bankable business plan. Honestly, those are often useless.
Instead, have a simple plan that shows direction. Remember how we said to get the right people on the bus? Now, the plan is about deciding where that bus is going. It would be pointless to gather the right people only to lead them into a ditch.
So, what should your plan include?
Goals – How big do you want your farm to be?
Mission – Why are you starting this farm beyond money?
Product – Will you sell only eggs, or also chicks, feeds, or add value?
Systems – How will your farm run daily?
Legal – What approvals or licenses do you need to grow?
Communication – How will buyers find you, and how will you sell to them?
Great, you’ve already found your first guide—Secret Layers. Congratulations, because most people never take that step. From here, you’ll gain technical information and real knowledge about running a layer farm.
Still, you should also find a physical guide. This is someone nearby who can help in case of emergencies and offer one-on-one support. Trust me, you’ll need such a guide.
4. MONEY
Many beginners think money is the number one need. While they’re not entirely wrong, the truth is you need the other things first.
Still, you cannot ignore money. You’ll need cash to feed your birds from day one until about 4.5 months when they start laying. You’ll also need a chicken house, chicks, vaccines, water, and cash to cover ongoing costs like marketing and daily operations.
In addition, you must think about cash flow. Without steady cash flow, your farm could stop running even if you have healthy birds. That’s why money matters, but only after people, plan, and guide.
5. LAND
Finally, let’s talk about land—the elephant in the room. Do you really need land to start raising chickens? Yes, you do.
However, you don’t need to break the bank. You simply need enough space for your chicken house, storage, and workers. If you already have some land, start with that. If not, you can lease, borrow, or partner instead of spending thousands to buy.
Remember the second “R” in DR. STARR—it stands for Resourceful. Use what you have.
Now you know what you need to start a layer farm: people, plan, guide, money, and land. Don’t postpone your dream. Take the first step today and build the farm you’ve been thinking about.
👉 Register below for free to get our regular Layer Chicken Digest tips.
Niss was busy washing her youngest child’s school uniform. Monday was tomorrow, and the clothes had to be ready and ironed before bedtime. The sun was already low, casting long shadows across the yard. They had returned from church only 20 minutes earlier.
Yes, these village churches—services often ran late. Today, the pastor had been recounting a five-year visit to her mother-in-law. Niss had left early because her daughter was sick. After what felt like a 10-hour prayer session from the pastor’s wife, her little girl was finally feeling better.
She had asked her daughter to wash the uniforms the day before, but kids these days… well, they didn’t always listen. Niss hung the last uniform on the line and thought, “Thank God she’s fine now.”
Maybe she should call the headmaster to explain that her daughter might miss school. But wait—the headmaster had been at church too. Surely he understood.
The Weight Of Responsibilities
Her mind wandered to other pressing matters:
School fees were unpaid.
She owed Ksh. 40,000 to her chama.
The monthly siblings’ meeting was coming up.
Her other 4 kids will soon be home for the holidays.
Her father had just left the hospital, and her mother needed support.
Kadzo’s wedding was coming, and she hadn’t contributed yet.
Life was heavy. “I need money. And I need it fast. Otherwise, I might die in this village,” she muttered.
Villagers might think life here is easy—food everywhere, no one goes hungry. But Niss knew better.
A Glimmer Of Hope
Later that night, while preparing supper and scrolling through Facebook, a familiar page caught her eye: Secret Layers.
She had seen it before, but now it struck her—this could be her way out. The guide promised practical steps to earn more money, learn business, and take control of your life.
Her heart raced. She wanted to try, but reality hit: no money, no experience, no one to borrow from, and she was in debt.
This layers thing looks risky, she thought.
How do you feed birds for 4.5 months without a single egg?
What if they die?
What if I run out of money?
I didn’t even do well in primary mathematics,how can I do business… Never mind. It’s for the rich.
A Daughter’s Plea
“Maaa!” her daughter called, panic in her voice. “We have a trip to Gedi ruins next week! I don’t want to miss it like the previous one!”
Niss’s chest tightened. Where was she going to get the money?
“You won’t.”She mumbled.
There it is.The dangerous promise.
Could she keep it this time?
She returned to the table, pushed aside the ironing, and opened her phone. She typed “Secret Layers” into the search bar, hit follow, and scrolled until she found the post she had been looking for:
“Make a commitment and write it down. Date it. Sign it.”
She smiled at the playful advice about cutting a finger and using a drop of blood like Ghost Rider. Just kidding!
The Commitment
Niss grabbed a notebook and wrote:
03 September 2025
I need to have money. I commit to keeping layers and making enough to support my family. I don’t want to disappoint my daughter.
Signature.
Relief washed over her. A burden lifted from her chest. A knife that had been half-stabbed into her heart seemed to vanish.
She had no idea what lay ahead. She didn’t know the challenges, the risks, or the mistakes she might make. But she had made her choice. She had committed, and she had taken the first step.
And sometimes, the first step—though hardest—is all you need to begin.
Your Turn
Have you made your commitment like Niss did?
The first step may be the hardest but it’s also the most important.
There are over 40 layer chicken breeds, and it can feel overwhelming to select the perfect one for your farm.
Although I’ve already shared my list of the Top 3 layer chicken breeds, I believe it’s even more useful to give you the factors you should consider when making your choice. That way, you’ll know how to pick the breed that best fits your goals and situation.
These are 9 factors to consider. The first 3 are general factors, while the last 6 are chicken-specific factors that focus on the characteristics of the birds themselves.
Hopefully, by the end of this guide you’ll be able to make the right choice of breed based on facts. And the best part? You’ll also be able to advise that friend of yours who’s just getting into egg production on what they should look for.
GENERAL FACTORS
1. GOALS
When given 10 days to cut a tree, I’d take the first 7 sharpening the axe. You’ve probably heard this saying before.
But here’s the best version — I got it from Seth Godin. He says it’s not just about sharpening the axe today. Instead, it’s about going back 20 years and asking: Which tree should I plant, and where should I plant it, so I can come back to cut it down 20 years later?
That same thinking applies to farming.
What is your goal with layer chicken farming?
Are you planning to have a big commercial farm?
Do you want to sell eggs for profit?
Or is your plan to simply get a steady supply of eggs for your family?
Maybe you just want a pet!😂
This matters because different breeds have different egg production levels, require different levels of care, and some can even be quite fierce — not ideal if you’re looking for a pet.
And if you want both eggs and meat, you should consider dual-purpose breeds like Kuroiler or Kenbro.
👉 If you want to know which breed is best for commercial use and which one is better for personal use, check this guide.
2. AVAILABILITY
Don’t tell me you want to rear the Jersey Giant and you’re in Kenya — let’s say Kilifi.
Why? Because you’ll most likely not find them locally. You’d either have to import or search endlessly. Honestly, I’ve never seen them here in Kenya. Maybe they exist somewhere, but I personally haven’t come across them.
So, your choice of breed should depend on what is easily available around you. This way, you’ll save on transport costs and avoid unnecessary headaches.
3. MARKET
If your market prefers white eggs, get the White Leghorn. If your market prefers brown eggs, choose any of the other breeds.
Don’t make the mistake of taking white eggs to a brown-egg market or brown eggs to a white-egg market. You’ll struggle to sell.
Of course, you can still succeed if you focus on that small niche white egg market and serve it well — but that’s beyond the scope of this post. I’ll cover it in a future post.
CHICKEN SPECIFIC FACTORS
4. PRODUCTIVITY
Different layer breeds have different levels of productivity. Hybrids usually have the highest.
For example, ISA Brown will produce more eggs per year compared to a KenBro.
So, for commercial purposes, you definitely want to choose the breed that gives you the highest number of eggs annually.
5. FEED-TO-EGG CONVERSION
This is the amount of feed a chicken eats that actually gets converted into eggs.
For instance: Breed A: 1 chicken eats 100g of feed = 1 egg.
Breed B: 1 chicken eats 150g of feed = 1 egg.
Which one should you choose?
Clearly, the one with the higher conversion rate, because it takes less feed to produce an egg. That means lower costs and more profit.
6. LEVEL OF CARE NEEDED
Are you a hands-on guy?
Are you willing to learn how to manage chickens properly?
Some breeds, especially Hy-Line, require a higher level of advanced care compared to breeds like ISA Brown or dual-purpose breeds.
If you’re just starting out and want something simpler, go for breeds that need less specialized care.
7. LOCATION
Some breeds are suited for cooler, temperate regions,like the Brahma while others thrive in warm tropical areas.
So, choose the appropriate breed for your climate to get the best results.
The brahma chicken breed mainly kept in the cooler temperate regions.You can see the feathers extending to her legs – They’re for protection against cold.
8. ADAPTABILITY
While some breeds are developed for specific regions, many can adapt and still perform well in both cold and warm areas.
Breeds like ISA Brown, Hy-Line, and Lohmann Brown are known to do well in a wide range of conditions.
9. DISEASE RESISTANCE
In general, hybrids tend to have better resistance to diseases than pure breeds. This is because superior qualities are selected during their production.
Most hybrid producers will specify the exact strengths of their birds, including the diseases they resist best. That makes it easier for you to choose.
One Last Thing..
Now you have a clear checklist to run through whenever a friend recommends a breed — or when you come across one online. This way, you’ll avoid making a choice you regret later.
We’ve already looked at the key differences between layers and broilers. (If you missed that post, find it here.
Both can be profitable, but in this post I’ll share why I chose layers over broilers — and why you should too.
Many farmers rush into broiler farming because it looks easier. But easy doesn’t always mean better. Let’s break down the reasons why layers often win in the layers vs broilers debate.
In the layers vs broilers debate,choose layers.Below are the 6 reasons why I did and so should you.
1. MARKET
The egg market is stronger than broiler meat.
Fewer farmers keep layers compared to broilers, which means fewer eggs in the market. According to the law of supply and demand, low supply increases demand — and that’s good for you.
Eggs enjoy consistent demand year-round. Broiler meat, on the other hand, has peak seasons like Christmas or when there’s an influx of tourists.
With eggs, you don’t have to wait for festivals to sell your product.
2. STARTUP COSTS
Layer farming isn’t easy to start. It requires more money, more time, better information, and more skill compared to broilers.
That may sound like a disadvantage, but it’s actually an opportunity. Real entrepreneurship is about turning challenges into profits. The harder the problem, the higher the potential reward.
Because it’s tough, most people avoid it. Less competition means you can dominate the market once you succeed. Remember Mike, who left broiler farming due to stiff competition and is now thriving with layers? That’s proof of how the challenge can turn into profit.
3. RETURNS
Layers give a higher return on investment (ROI) compared to broilers.
Many broiler farmers have to replace flock after flock because the profit margins per batch are very low. It takes several cycles to see meaningful returns.
With layers, one hen can produce about 300 eggs in a year. That equals 10 trays. If one tray sells at Ksh.350 (minimum), you earn Ksh.3,500 from a single hen.
Now compare that with broilers. One broiler sells for about Ksh.500 at best. You can already see the gap.
Even better, at the end of the laying cycle you can still sell the birds as spent hens. For example, if you bought a day old chick at Ksh.150 and sold it at Ksh.400 after two years, you never really make a loss.
*Excluding all other costs like feeds e.t.c
4. CASHFLOW
Layers provide stable, predictable cashflow.
Keeping broilers is like buying a chick at Ksh.100 and selling it six weeks later for Ksh.500. That sounds fine, but you must repeat the cycle every 1.5 months to keep earning.
Layers are different. Once they start laying at around 18 weeks, you collect eggs daily for up to 1.5–2 years. That’s consistent income with the effort front-loaded at the start.
Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, says real investors invest for cashflow, not just capital gains. Layers farming is exactly that — cashflow farming.
5. VALUE ADDITION
Eggs give you more value-addition options than chicken meat.
Check market prices:
How much does 1kg of packaged chicken meat sell for?
And how much does 1 litre of packaged liquid eggs sell for?
Way,way higher.
For example, just one tray of eggs can be turned into products worth Ksh.1,750 through value addition. Eggs can be processed into liquid, powder, or used for baking.
Chicken meat also has processing options, but the percentage increase in value is much higher for eggs.
6. PRICES
Eggs generally command better unit value compared to broiler meat.
Think about this:
One broiler chicken raised for nearly two months sells for Ksh.500. That’s almost the same price as 1.5 trays of eggs, which you can easily get in a single day if you keep 50 layers.
That’s the power of layers in the layers vs broilers comparison.
Now you’ve seen the clear advantages of choosing layers over broilers: stronger market demand, higher ROI, stable cashflow, better value addition opportunities, and stronger unit prices.
For me, the biggest reason is cashflow. Keeping layers feels like buying a money-printing machine. From 18 weeks until almost 2 years later, you earn consistently before finally selling the birds.
If you’re ready to start your journey, register below for free.
👉 Just enter your details to grab a copy of my free guide and regular LayerChickenDigestTips via email:
“6 SIMPLE STEPS TO START A PROFITABLE LAYER POULTRY FARM”
It’s the million dollar question every poultry and livestock farmer in Kenya is asking right now.
Finding solutions to high animal feed costs in Kenya is urgent for every poultry and livestock farmer.
Feed prices often take up to 70% of production costs, leaving farmers struggling to stay profitable. The 2024 Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) report shows maize, soybean, and sunflower products have risen by over 30% in just two years.
Last week, I shared the 7 main reasons why animal feed costs are high in Kenya.
If you missed it, you can read that article here and also check out the official CAK report.
Today, I’ll share my 5 practical and industry-level recommendations for solving this problem for good. These are not the usual “grow your own azolla” or “use black soldier fly” tips. They are strategies that, if implemented, can make farming more profitable — especially for layers farmers, which is what Secret Layers specializes in.
The first three ideas focus on reducing feed costs directly. The last two focus on increasing the price you can charge for your eggs, so even if feed prices stay high, you remain profitable.
1. GO BIG
Going big gives you an edge in sourcing and formulating feeds.
Scaling up is one of the fastest ways to cut feed costs. Larger farms can negotiate better prices with suppliers because they buy in bulk.
Hypothetical example: Imagine you have 5,000 layers. Instead of buying feed in 50 kg bags, you order a full truckload. Your supplier might offer you a 5–10% discount for the bigger order. That’s money saved before the feed even reaches your store.
Farmer action: If expanding your flock is not realistic, join or form a cooperative. When multiple farmers buy together, they gain the same bulk-buying power as a large farm.
Stakeholder action: Support cooperative models by offering bulk storage facilities, transport discounts, or collective purchasing agreements.
2. FORMULATE YOUR OWN FEEDS
Making your own feeds can lower your expenses because you are sourcing raw materials directly and avoiding retail markups. This is one of the most effective poultry feed cost solutions available to Kenyan farmers.
What to consider before starting:
Can you source maize, sunflower cake, or soybean meal at good prices?
Do you understand feed formulation for layers so you meet nutritional needs?
Hypothetical example: Let’s say you have 1,500 layers. You decide to mix your own layers mash using maize bran, sunflower cake, and premixes bought directly from a miller. This could cut your feed costs by around 15–20% compared to agrovet prices.
Farmer action: Learn feed formulation from extension officers or trusted training providers. If the investment in mixers is too high, share equipment with other farmers.
Stakeholder action: Offer accessible training and affordable leasing of feed-mixing equipment to farmer groups.
3. PRODUCE OUR OWN FEED INPUTS
Massive maize production at Galana-Kulalu in Kenya.We can do the same for sunflower, soya beans and have our own feeds inputs.
Kenya imports a lot of maize, sunflower, and soybeans for feed manufacturing. While countries like Uganda or Zambia may have larger production areas, we can still increase our own supply.
By producing these crops locally and processing them into sunflower cake or soybean meal, we reduce dependence on imports and stabilize prices.
Hypothetical example: A group of 10 poultry farmers could partner with crop farmers to grow sunflower on 50 acres. The harvest could then be processed locally, giving them cheaper sunflower cake than the market price.
Farmer action: Secure long-term contracts with maize, sunflower, or soybean growers in your region to guarantee feed input supply.
Stakeholder action: Create incentives for local feed input production including subsidies, irrigation programs and assured market purchases.
4. VALUE ADDITION
We don’t have to keep selling eggs for less than Ksh 500 per tray. Through value addition, you can sell your eggs at much higher prices. Processing eggs into liquid, powdered, or specialty products for bakeries, pharmaceutical companies, and retailers allows you to charge more.
Hypothetical example: If you partner with other farmers to invest in a small pasteurization unit, you could supply bakeries with liquid eggs at prices that translate to more than Ksh.1500 per tray in value.
Here’s Fridah Kaaria who processes liquid eggs in Central Kenya.
Pasteurized eggs processed by Fridah Kaaria an entrepreneur in Kenya.One 250ml bottle goes for Ksh.350(2021)
Farmer action: Form groups to share the cost of processing equipment or supply your eggs to existing processors.
Stakeholder action: Provide technical training for value-added egg production and help farmers access certified processing facilities.
5. EXPORT OUR EGG PRODUCTS
If Kenya can export coffee, tea, and miraa, we can also export eggs and processed egg products. Powdered and liquid eggs have long shelf lives and can be shipped regionally and internationally.
Hypothetical example: A farmer cooperative could package powdered eggs and target markets in Rwanda, South Sudan, or even the Middle East. The cooperative could fetch premium prices if it meets export quality standards.
Farmer action: Focus on producing clean, high-quality eggs and join export-ready farmer groups.
Stakeholder action: Streamline export regulations for egg products and secure trade agreements with target countries.
REALITY CHECK : THE ROAD AHEAD
None of these solutions will happen instantly. Bulk buying requires capital. Feed formulation needs training. Exporting calls for regulatory support. But they are all achievable if farmers and stakeholders take coordinated steps. Even small actions today can lead to big changes in the industry.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TODAY?
Choose one or two strategies you can start working on now. Maybe that’s joining a buying cooperative, planting your own maize for feed, or exploring value addition opportunities.
The goal is not just to make more money, but to build a stronger, more resilient poultry industry in Kenya.
By applying these solutions to high animal feed costs in Kenya, we can create lasting change for farmers across the country.
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“Feeds will kill your business.” You’ve probably heard this statement over a million times. It’s what many are told when they decide to get into poultry farming — that you’d make a lot of money, were it not for the prices of feeds. Worse still, feed prices keep rising year after year.
From 2020 to mid-2022, poultry feed costs in Kenya rose by 40–50%. Following the same trend, feed costs in Kenya 2025 could increase by another 25%. Is this a lie? Definitely not.
Animal feeds are the single largest expense on any poultry farm — layers or broilers. Even for livestock like cattle, pigs, or fish, feed accounts for about 70% of the farm’s total expenses. After deducting labor, vaccines, water, and other costs, most farmers are left with around 20% of their revenue as net profit. Some don’t even break even. Worse still, some incur losses.
To survive, farmers try different ways to reduce feed expenses:
-Buying cheaper, low-quality feeds. This often backfires due to poor egg production and even greater losses.
-Purchasing in bulk for discounts. Only large farms benefit from this.
-Supplementing with local feed options such as pawpaw, vegetables, azolla, or hydroponic fodder. These are difficult to balance nutritionally.
-Producing their own feed. While this is cost-effective, it only works for large farms that understand feed formulation and raw material sourcing.
So What Did I Do?
As part of my research on why animal feeds prices are high in Kenya — a concern that keeps many from starting poultry farms — I came across a 2024 Animal Feeds Inquiry Report by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK).
This report explored the reasons behind the high feed prices and made key recommendations to solve the issue.
Below is a summary of the report.
In my next post, I’ll share my personal take on how the government and farmers like us can take action.
If this problem is fixed, Kenya could unlock massive employment opportunities across the animal feeds value chain.
Manufacturers, distributors, farm owners, and workers would all benefit.
Increased egg production would follow — the cheapest source of protein for most African families — and this would help reduce malnutrition across the continent.
But Is This Problem Unique To Kenya?
Unfortunately, yes. Among East African countries, animal feeds prices in Kenya are the highest. Compared to international benchmarks, feed prices here remain unreasonably high.
Kenya also struggles with the influx of cheaper imported eggs, mainly from Uganda. Why? Because Uganda has lower poultry feed costs, allowing their farmers to sell eggs more cheaply while still making a profit. This puts Kenyan poultry farmers at a serious disadvantage.
So Why Are Animal Feeds Prices High In Kenya?
7 Reasons why animal feeds are high in Kenya according to Competition Authority of Kenya(CAK) Inquiry Report,2024.
According to the CAK report, there are 7key reasons behind the high animal feed prices in Kenya:
1. Heavy Dependence On Imported Raw Materials
Kenya doesn’t produce many of the raw materials needed to make poultry feeds. Instead, we import them — and this adds costs at every step.
Soybean meal is imported mainly from Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda.
Sunflower cake comes from Tanzania.
Vitamins and additives are brought in from countries like China, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Every stage of importation — from foreign exchange, transport, taxes, and port delays — raises the final price. Local farmers pay for all this when they buy feeds.
This overreliance on imports makes our feed prices volatile and sensitive to global changes.
2. Market Dominance By A Few Feed Manufacturers
Only four companies control over 50% of the commercial animal feed market in Kenya.This means just a few players determine the pricing trends.
While the report does not accuse them directly of collusion, the structure allows for potential price control. This limits the power of smaller players and gives big companies room to increase prices unchecked.
When competition is low, innovation and price cuts disappear — bad news for smallholder farmers.
3. Unfair Pricing For Non-Integrated Feed Producers
Some feed companies are “integrated,” meaning they also own or control the supply of raw materials. Others rely on external suppliers for inputs.
In 2021 and 2022, the report shows that non-integrated feed producers were charged higher prices for inputs. This “margin squeeze” forced many smaller producers out of business.
So the fewer the producers, the less competition — and the higher the feed prices.
If you’ve ever wondered why the small local feed company died, this is a major reason.
4. Input Processors Set Their Own Rules
Most natural processors of feed inputs like oil cakes and grains are based in East and Southern Africa. Because they dominate the region, they can dictate trade terms and pricing.
Kenya, being a buyer, has little say. Our feed manufacturers must accept the high prices or go without. This makes it harder to produce affordable poultry feed options for local farmers.
5. Lack Of Transparency And Information Sharing
Large feed suppliers in Kenya often exchange information with each other. However, smaller players are left in the dark.
This lack of transparency allows the big players to coordinate pricing — even without formal agreements. It also blocks new entrants from competing fairly.
When small businesses don’t know the actual market rates or raw material trends, they can’t plan or scale.
This keeps animal feeds prices in Kenya unnecessarily high.
6. County Taxes Create Fragmented Markets
One of the most frustrating problems for manufacturers is the inconsistent and excessive county taxes. These vary wildly across Kenya and make the distribution of feeds expensive and unpredictable.
For example:
Machakos County charges Ksh. 20,000 annually per vehicle for distribution.
A separate Ksh. 20,000 is charged for branding.
Each truck needs a Ksh. 2,500 annual transport sticker.
On top of that, there’s a daily parking fee of Ksh. 500 per truck.
Other counties add more charges:
In Kericho, feeding all six sub-counties could cost at least Ksh. 1,200 per day per truck.
In Tharaka Nithi, manufacturers must pay all vehicle parking fees upfront — regardless of how often they deliver.
And it doesn’t stop there. Counties also charge Agricultural Produce levies for inputs like rice polish, salt, and maize bran. These additional costs are passed on to the farmer.
All this leads to one thing: higher feed costs across Kenya.
7. Limited Use Of Yellow Maize For Feed
In countries like Uganda, both white and yellow maize are grown. White maize is used for human food, while yellow maize is reserved for animal feed.
But in Kenya, almost all maize is white — and it’s used for both food and feed. This creates direct competition between humans and animals.
In 2025, maize prices rose and this means layer feed prices will ‘jump’ by almost 30%. Why? Because the demand for maize in feed production still outpaces supply.
If Kenya increased yellow maize production, feed manufacturers could have a cheaper, dedicated source.
Why Poultry Feed Rises Faster Than Dairy Feed
Dairy feed is easy to make — just mix the ingredients. No need for expensive machines.
Poultry feed, on the other hand, requires pelleting and crumbling, which needs precise formulation and investment in machines. This increases production costs and drives up prices.
It’s no surprise that poultry feed costs in Kenya continue to rise faster than other animal feeds.
What CAK Recommends
To solve the problem, CAK made several important recommendations:
1. Reposition the animal feeds industry. Invest in the sector and remove existing barriers to unleash its job creation and production potential.
2.Improve cross-border markets and regulations.This would make it easier to source inputs at fair prices across COMESA and EAC regions.
3. Eliminate county-level trade barriers. Unpredictable taxes hurt feed manufacturers and distort national pricing. These must be reviewed and harmonized.
4. Track and monitor feed markets. Government and regional bodies should assess whether Kenya’s feed prices match international trends. They should intervene in cases of anti-competitive behavior.
5. Add animal feeds to KAMIS monitoring system. This would help create transparency in feed pricing, benefiting both manufacturers and farmers.
What This Means For You
If these solutions are fully implemented, poultry farming could become more profitable. Lower and stable feed prices mean more profit, less stress, and better planning.
Imagine earning 40% more because feed costs dropped. It’s not a dream — it’s possible with the right reforms.
In My Next Post…
Next Friday, I’ll share what I believe we farmers and the government can do to lower feed prices sustainably. These are practical, long-term solutions that will build on CAK’s findings.
Together, we can take agriculture to the next level — maybe even Mars 🚀
