Some lessons hit you in ways you never forget—this one came from chickens.
When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time around poultry farms. One morning, my dad decided to take us to see how different types of chicken farms operate.
We arrived at the broiler farm just as the sun was rising. The air was thick with the smell of feed and the soft hum of ventilation fans. Workers moved quickly, carrying the chickens from their pens toward the processing area. The birds scattered and squawked, jostling against one another. You could almost feel their fear—they knew what was coming. My dad led us aside before we saw anything more, but the lesson was already clear: these birds were being raised for a single, final payoff. Everything on the farm was geared toward one moment—the sale.
A few days later, my dad took us to a layer farm. The difference hit me immediately. The hens moved calmly, pecking at the feed, scratching the ground, and laying eggs day after day. The barn was quieter, the atmosphere almost peaceful. The farmer collected the eggs as they came, creating a steady, predictable flow of income. Unlike the broiler farm, success here didn’t depend on selling the birds—it depended on the output they produced consistently.
Layer Chicken in a poultry house.
My dad stopped and looked at me. “See the difference?” he asked. Both farms own valuable assets—the chickens—but they treat them in completely different ways.
The broiler farmer is like an investor chasing capital gains: the money comes only at the end, when the asset is sold.
The layer farmer is like an investor chasing cash flow: the asset produces money day after day, steadily and reliably.
Most people invest like broiler farmers—they wait for a single big payout and call it risky. The wiser approach is to think like the layer farmer and be the layer farmer: focus on cash flow, let your assets work for you every day, and build wealth steadily.
This is a fictional story inspired by the story of the cattle rancher and dairy farmer in Robert Kiyosaki’s book : Who Took My Money? Why Slow Investors Lose And Fast Money Wins.
I have been having a debate with myself for quite some time about whether I should choose day old chicks or just buy point of lay birds.
If you’re interested in layer poultry farming but you haven’t started yet, you’re more likely to face the same dilemma.
Should I buy day old chicks and raise them for about five months before I start earning, or should I buy point of lay birds and start making money next week?
And if you’ve been a follower of my Facebook and X (which I highly recommend you follow by the way… you’re missing a lot), you already know I prefer day old chicks to point of lay birds.
In this post, I’m going to show you why I chose day old chicks—not to convince you, but to show you my thought process. Hopefully, you’ll learn something from it.
1. Little Capital Required To Start
One day old layer chick costs around Ksh.150 right now(2025), while point of lay birds cost between Ksh.500–Ksh.1500, depending on age and seller. For me, day old chicks are a better option because they require less money to acquire the birds.
At first, I won’t have that much capital. Day old chicks give me a chance to start with a small budget and grow from there. This doesn’t include the cost of feeding for the 4.5 months, but at least I can start the poultry business with little money and buy more feed as I continue.
Let’s say I want to start with 100 birds.
🔴Day Old Chicks
✅Day Old Chicks cost 100 × 150 = Ksh.15,000
✅Each bird needs about 1.25kg in 8 weeks 100 birds × 2.5 = 250kg One 50kg bag = Ksh.4,000
Cost of 250kg
250 × 4000/50 = Ksh.20,000
Total = Ksh.35,000
🔴Point Of Lay
✅Point of lay birds cost
100 × Ksh.850 = Ksh.85,000
Total = Ksh.85,000
And that’s just the birds. I haven’t bought even one bag of feeds.
So you see the difference. A huge Ksh.50,000.
And this is before feeds. This is why day old chicks work for me—they let me start small as I continue finding money.
Caution: Make sure you have money to continue feeding your birds. If not, you’ll end up killing your chicks or selling them at a loss.
2.Learning Opportunity
A good number of people hate school, but this type of learning is different. And remember if you’re not learning, you’re dying.
Humans grow when they learn new things, and that’s exactly what day old chicks offer.
They give you a chance to learn how to:
– Prepare before receiving chicks – Brood correctly – Follow a vaccination schedule – Maintain strong biosecurity
You get to learn these for almost five months. Point of lay birds don’t give you this chance. They have already been brooded, most vaccines done, and all you get is a near-finished product.
Where is the fun in being handed success on a silver platter?
The amount of knowledge I’ve gained from brooding alone is massive. If I had planned to buy point of lay birds, I wouldn’t have bothered learning about brooding or vaccinations.
3. They’re Easier And Safer To Source
Getting 100 point of lay birds is easy. But what if your farm grows and now you want 5,000 birds? How easy will it be to source 5,000 point of lay birds from one place? Let me tell you—it’s as easy as getting rich quick in farming. Yes, I scared you there, but it’s true.
As your egg business grows, sourcing point of lay birds becomes difficult. You’ll need to buy in small batches from different sellers, and I personally don’t want that.
On the other hand, if you wanted 10,000 day old chicks today, you know where you would get them. Big hatcheries supply them all over Kenya, and they are credible compared to most point of lay sellers—mostly farmers like you and me.
Another sourcing problem with point of lay birds is the lack of transparency. You don’t know:
– If the vaccination records are true – If the feeding program was followed – If the birds are uniform – If the birds are healthy – Or even their exact age
Many farmers buy “18-week-old” birds expecting eggs in one week, only for them to start laying two months later. Others buy mixed breeds, including dual-purpose chickens instead of hybrid layers.
Worst of all, some farmers buy birds that fall sick or die the next day—even with updated vaccination cards.
Imagine paying Ksh.85,000 for 100 point of lay birds only for them to die. You don’t want that.
This almost never happens with day old chicks if you buy from regulated hatcheries.
Day old chicks vs Point of lay birds
4. They Offer Control Over Your Business
Day old chicks give me full control over my business. I choose when to stock, how to brood, what to feed, which vaccines to use, and how to raise my flock.
You can’t do that with point of lay birds.
What if you want to stock next month, but your supplier’s birds are still three weeks old? You wait. You also don’t control how they brooded, fed, or handled those birds.
Big layer poultry farms don’t buy point of lay birds. They all buy day old chicks and raise them themselves. Why? Because control is everything. Even cost control.
Plus remember, the seller wants profit. If their feed prices were high, they’ll pass that cost to you.
Control your business if you want to scale your poultry farm.
5. Profitability
Day old chicks are simply more profitable than point of lay birds. The only advantage point of lay have is quick cash, which doesn’t last.
With day old chicks, you control your production cost from the beginning. With time, your brooding becomes effective, mortality stays low, your cost stays down, and you get maximum production from your layers.
This results in: – More eggs – Better profits – Predictable performance
Something that is hard to achieve with point of lay birds because the foundation is out of your hands.
And if you want, you can even sell your own point of lay birds later and profit from your skills. I’m not saying you should—but you can.
6. Fun
Lastly, day old chicks are fun. They’re like babies—many babies. You get them on day one of life and you raise them to maturity. They don’t get married, but they lay eggs. Hallelujah!
By the way that’s normal😅
The sad part is selling them off as ex-layers.
And Fun is part of our Secret Layers core values.
If you’re not fun, buy point of lay birds.
Those are the six reasons why I chose day old chicks and point of lay birds. They give me control, the ability to scale, and I enjoy doing it.
Let me know in the comments what you will choose for your farm—DOC or POL—and why. You might have better reasons, and I’d love to know.
If brooding is the main challenge stopping you from choosing day old chicks, get this Free Layer Poultry Farming Guide and I’ll send you a Free Brooding Guide next.
Ludwig Wittgenstein “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
You can’t operate expertly in a field if you don’t understand the words that define it. This is everything you should know about layer chicken, layer poultry farming and the business of layers. The list will be updated every week with new information. Please learn. Layers – Adult hens raised primarily for egg production. In layer poultry farming, layers are the backbone of your egg business, providing consistent daily eggs once they reach maturity.
Pullets – Young female chickens, usually under 20 weeks old, that have not yet started laying eggs. Pullets are the future layers of your flock.
Day-Old Chicks (DOCs) – Newly hatched chicks, only a day old. Farmers buy day-old chicks to rear them into pullets or point-of-lay birds for egg production.
Point of Lay (POL) – Birds that are about 16–20 weeks old and ready to start laying eggs. Point-of-lay hens are ideal for farmers who want to begin egg production quickly.
Feeder – A container or tray used to provide feed to your birds. Using the right feeder in layer poultry farming ensures minimal feed wastage and healthy growth.
Drinker – Equipment that supplies clean water to chickens. Proper drinkers are crucial for layers’ health and optimal egg production.
Brooding – The process of keeping chicks warm, usually with a heat source, during their first few weeks. Brooding is critical to prevent chick mortality.
Incubator – A machine used to hatch eggs artificially by maintaining the right temperature and humidity. Incubators allow farmers to hatch chicks without using a broody hen.
Mortality – The number of birds that die within a flock over a given period. Low mortality rates indicate good management in layer poultry farming.
Layer Mash – A balanced feed specially formulated for laying hens to maximize egg production and quality. Layer mash provides the nutrients needed for strong shells and healthy layers.
Bird – A general term for chickens, hens, or roosters in your flock. In layer poultry farming, the term usually refers to your egg-laying hens.
Feed to Egg Conversion Ratio (FCR) – A measure of how efficiently a layer converts feed into eggs. Lower FCR means better efficiency and higher profitability.
Ex-Layers / Spent Layers – Hens that have completed their peak laying period and are no longer productive. Farmers often sell them for meat or dispose of them responsibly.
Debeaking – A management practice where part of a chicken’s beak is trimmed to prevent feather pecking or cannibalism. Debeaking helps protect your flock in crowded layer farms.
Culling – The process of removing weak, sick, or unproductive birds from the flock. Culling ensures only healthy layers remain for maximum egg production.
Litter – Bedding material, like wood shavings or straw, used on the poultry house floor. Proper litter management keeps your birds healthy and reduces disease risk.
Cages – Enclosures used to house layers, especially in commercial layer poultry farming. Cage systems help manage feed, water, and egg collection efficiently.
Newcastle Disease – A highly contagious viral disease that affects chickens, causing respiratory issues and high mortality. Vaccination is critical to protect your flock.
Infectious Bronchitis (IB) – A viral disease in poultry that affects the respiratory system and egg production. Proper biosecurity and vaccination reduce the risk.
Marek’s Disease – A viral disease in chickens that causes tumors and paralysis. Vaccinating day-old chicks helps prevent Marek’s in your flock.
Deworming – The process of giving chickens medication to remove internal parasites. Regular deworming keeps your layers healthy and improves feed-to-egg efficiency.
Gumboro (Infectious Bursal Disease– A viral disease affecting young chickens, weakening their immune system. Vaccination protects your flock and supports healthy layer development.
Starter Mash – A high-protein feed for day-old chicks to ensure healthy growth in the first few weeks. Starter mash is the foundation for strong pullets.
Grower Mash – Feed given to pullets after the starter stage but before they begin laying eggs. Grower mash ensures proper growth and readiness for point-of-lay.
Free Range – A system where chickens can roam outdoors for part of the day. Free-range layers often produce healthier eggs and can command a premium price.
Pasture Raised – Chickens raised primarily outdoors on pasture with access to insects and grasses. Pasture-raised layers provide high-quality, nutrient-rich eggs and enjoy better welfare.
Brooding can feel like the scariest monster in poultry farming, yet receiving day old chicks doesn’t have to be terrifying if you know exactly what to do. Many farmers give up—or never start—because they fear brooding.
It is the most sensitive period in a chicken’s life, just like the first 28 days for humans.
The first day especially is critical. On day one, a small mistake can turn your joy into despair if all your chicks die. But I don’t want that for you. If you’ve read the 28 Equipment List and How to prepare for day old chicks arrival,now you must be ready for the moment your day old chicks arrive. This post walks you through receiving day old chicks, step by step, so there’s no guesswork when your chicks arrive (or when you pick them).
1. Pre-heat the brooder
Since day old chicks lack enough feathers, you need to control the brooding temperature carefully. Brooding is a temperature-sensitive phase, especially on day one.
Heat the brooder 2 to 3 hours before the chicks arrive. Aim for about 30–33 °C (this may vary by region and supplier).
If it’s cool, use your heat source; if hot, increase ventilation by adjusting windbreakers or openings.
2. Prepare glucose in water
Transport stresses chicks. They might arrive dehydrated and weak. So before they arrive, mix glucose in water. This gives them quick energy and helps them recover from the journey.
This simple act may mean the difference between 100% survival and full mortality. Be ready—this solution must already be in place when the chicks arrive. Consult your vet for recommended doses.
3. Count your chicks
Once your day old chicks arrive, firstcount them. Whether the supplier brings them or you pick them up, counting ensures you got the number you ordered. Some may die during transit, so count.
Some suppliers often compensate or replace dead chicks later.
4. Weigh your chicks
Weighing helps track uniform growth. Though the hatchery may have done this, it’s best practice to weigh again on your farm. For most breeds, a day-old chick should weigh around 45 grams. Record this as your baseline for later comparisons.
5. Dip their beaks in water
When placing chicks into the brooder, gently dip their beaks into the glucose water. This teaches them how to drink and helps them find the water.
If you have helpers, have them assist in this step so it’s efficient and calm.
6. Introduce feed
Allow the chicks 2–3 hours after arrival to hydrate and calm down. Then begin introducing feed. Use brooder paper (newspapers, carton, etc.). Put feed in their feeders and also sprinkle some on the paper so they can see and find it easily. Within a short time, they’ll move to the feeders on their own.
7. Monitor crop fill
Several hours later (and then at least twice that day), check the crop of each chick. The crop is that small pouch in their neck. Inspect it to confirm they are feeding and drinking.
Full & soft → good (they ate and drank)
Empty → no feed or water yet
Full & hard → ate but did not drink
Full & very soft → drank but not ate
Your goal: at least 80% of chicks with full and soft crops indicates most chicks have found water and feed.
8. Provide light
Chicks need light to find feed and water. During day one of brooding, ensure there is enough light—even if they arrive in the evening or in darkness.
For layers, start with ~21 hours of continuous light for a few days, then gradually reduce to 14–16 hours daily.
9. Monitor closely
One day old chicks received today in a proper brooder with light,heat,water and feed.
Receiving day old chicks is just the start. The real work lies in ongoing care. Monitor:
Brooder temperature
Feed and water intake via crop checks
Growth (weigh daily or often)
Mortality
Consistent monitoring separates good farmers from those who rely only on remote advice.
10. Vaccinate
If your chicks weren’t vaccinated against Marek’s disease at the hatchery, make sure you do it on day one. This vaccine protects them from a deadly viral infection that causes paralysis and poor growth. Always confirm with your supplier, and if it hasn’t been done, call your vet to administer it immediately.
Don’t delay this step—it’s one of the most important early protections for your day old chicks.
This guide gives you a clear, step-by-step plan for receiving day old chicks. No confusion, no guesswork. Yes, some chicks might die—that’s expected—but with this approach, mortality should be far lower than going in blind.
Niss walked out of the police station feeling angry, guilty, and embarrassed.
Grrrr. Her stomach rumbled. Hunger joined the list of things gnawing at her.
The Cafe That Took Everything
It was a long way home, so she slipped into a small café and ordered quickly. It had been ages since she last ate in a restaurant, and the thought itself felt strange. After what seemed like hours to the waiter, she finally settled on ugali skuma. The plate hit her table in five minutes, and by the seventh it was gone.
She stared at the empty plate, stunned. That small food for seventy shillings? Rage burned hotter. This president will kill us all.
Fumbling through her leso for coins, she came up empty. That’s when a man who had been watching her closely stood, paid her bill without a word, and left her more embarrassed than grateful.
The Stranger With Promises
She walked home, bracing herself for her children. She hadn’t seen them since yesterday, when she had left with her colleagues to riot against the merchants.
But the riot hadn’t started there.
It had started a few weeks back, in her own compound. She was seated with her kids one evening when a young man appeared. He looked sharp—probably a gym type, shoulders squared, the kind who seemed to know exactly what he was doing in life. Definitely not like my husband when he was young, she thought.
He introduced himself as part of an NGO empowering women. His words dripped with promise. Twenty minutes later, he walked away with a KSh 20,000 commitment from her, paid in three installments. In her hands he left a bundle of seedlings. Rosemary.
A Marvelous Scam
Plant them, he said. In a month, they’d mature. His NGO would come for them and pay KSh 60,000. A three-times return. Marvelous, wasn’t it?
True enough, the rosemary grew and matured right on time. But on the promised harvest day, no one came. One week passed. Two. Three. Nothing.
The man had vanished. The NGO had never existed. And her money—gone.
Chicken Don’t Wait
That was the money Niss had set aside for her first batch of layers. Her chicks were now four weeks old. In another four, they would need growers mash. She thought she could “invest” the feed money, flip it fast, and come out with plenty. But the plan crumbled.
Desperation turned to fury. She joined neighbors—victims of the same scam—and they stormed the streets, shouting, demanding answers. That night, they slept in a police cell.
The Lesson In The Dark
Sitting on the cold floor, Niss finally admitted the truth: it was her fault.
She had ignored the one principle she’d read before: Go deep first, then go wide. The Secret Layers guide had always said it. Focus on one venture. Master it before chasing others. But she wanted shortcuts. Easy money. And now her birds were hungry.
Rosemary Fed Chicken
That afternoon, walking back toward her house, the lesson burned in her mind.
Well, she thought, glancing at the stack of rosemary in the corner of her yard, at least I still have this. Is it edible? Maybe. But what if—
Her lips curled into a sly smile.
Rosemary-fed chickens. Eggs with a twist. Maybe people will pay for that. Maybe this is how I begin again.
Register for our regular Layer Chicken Digest Tips below.
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.
“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.
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”
You’ve decided to go into poultry farming, but now you’re stuck between layers and broilers, unsure of their differences.
You don’t want to invest your hard-earned money blindly and fail because of limited information. That would be costly ignorance. The choice you make—whether to keep layers or broilers—will influence your time involvement, the costs you incur to start and manage your poultry farm, your profitability, and ultimately your happiness as a farmer.
This guide aims to remove confusion by explaining 10 key differences between layers and broilers and adding a profitability score for both. Make the right choice for your poultry farm.
Layer vs broiler chicken side by side – see the physical differences clearly.
What Are Layer Chickens vs Broiler Chickens? Before diving into differences, let’s define these two types of poultry. Broilers – Chickens bred and raised primarily for meat production. Layers – Chickens kept mainly for egg production.
Here’s a quick Layers vs Broilers comparison.More details below:
Feature
Layers
Broilers
Main Purpose
Eggs
Meat
Startup Costs
Higher
Lower
Time to harvest
Start laying at 18 weeks
Ready for sale 6-9 weeks
Market Stability
Stable demand
Demand fluctuates
Housing System
Battery cage or deep litter
Mostly deep litter
Vaccine Schedule
Longer
Shorter
Spacing
Bigger(2-3sq ft/bird)
Smaller(1-2 sq ft/bird)
Feeds
Starter Grower Layer
Starter Finisher
Profit Type
Daily income Continuous
Quick One time batch
Management Level
More skilled Long term
Easier Short term
Lighting
Less 14-18 hrs
More 24 hrs
Profitability Score
8.3
7.5 (Check below for how it was compiled)
(Layers vs broilers differences table) With that in mind, here are the 10 key differences in details. 1. Startup Costs Startup costs for layers are significantly higher compared to broilers.
This is because layers require more housing space, higher-priced chicks, a longer vaccination program, and more feed in their early months. For example, in Kenya in 2025, starting with 100 broilers costs approximately KSh 100,000, whereas 100 layers could cost upwards of KSh 300,000.
These figures are estimates and can vary based on region, type of housing, and market fluctuations. (Tip: I’ll soon publish a full, accurate cost breakdown for starting a layer poultry farm.)
2. Time Commitment Layers require more time and commitment than broilers.
While broilers are typically raised for a short period—6 to 9 weeks before slaughter—layers stay on the farm for up to 2 years as long as they remain productive. Because layers stay longer, they need continuous care, including vaccination follow-ups, debeaking, egg collection, and regular health monitoring.
Broilers, on the other hand, have a shorter but more intensive cycle, allowing you to free up your time after each batch. 3. Market Dynamics The market for eggs is generally more stable than for broiler meat.
In Kenya, there are significantly more broiler farmers than layer farmers, which means meat supply often outpaces demand. This can lead to price drops during peak seasons. Eggs, however, have a steady demand from institutions, hotels, retail shops, and households.
Even better,layers give you more time to plan because they start laying at about 18 weeks (4.5 months), whereas broilers must be sold within 6 weeks. That short sales window for broilers means you should find your market before buying your chicks. 4. Housing Systems Layers can be raised in both battery cages and deep litter systems, providing flexibility depending on your budget and management style. Broilers, however, are mostly raised on deep litter systems only. Imagine broilers in cages—uncommon and impractical due to their rapid growth and space requirements. If you want options for expansion or automation, layers offer more choices.
Get detailed guides on layer chicken here 5. Vaccination Programs Because layers live longer, their vaccination schedule is more extensive.
Vaccines for layers typically include Marek’s, Newcastle, Infectious Bronchitis, Gumboro, Fowl Pox, and periodic deworming. Broilers, on the other hand, have shorter lifespans and need fewer vaccines—mainly Marek’s, Newcastle, and Infectious Bronchitis.
This makes broilers easier and cheaper to manage from a health perspective, especially for beginners. 6. Space Requirements Layers need more space per bird compared to broilers.
They are active, long-lived, and require at least 2–3 square feet per bird. Broilers, by comparison, only need about 1–2 square feet per bird. This difference directly affects your housing investment. A larger poultry house for layers means higher construction costs upfront. If your available space is limited, broilers might be easier to start with. 7. Feed and Nutrition Feeding layers is more expensive in the long run because they go through multiple feed stages—starter, growers mash, and layers mash.
Additionally, their feed must be rich in calcium and other minerals to support eggshell production, while protein levels stay moderate (16–18%). Broilers only need starter and finisher feeds, formulated with high protein levels (around 23%) to promote fast muscle growth. Because their cycle is short, their total feed cost per cycle is often lower, making broilers appealing for quick-turnaround ventures.
Find more details on broilers best practices here 8. Profitability Potential Both layers and broilers can be profitable, but the pattern of profitability differs.
Broilers deliver quick, one-time profits per batch, ideal if you want fast cash flow.
Layers, however, offer stable long-term income through daily egg sales once production starts. Layers often have a higher profit margin because you buy birds once and earn from them continuously for about 22 months.
Broilers require you to restock every 6 weeks, which can be labor-intensive but gives multiple opportunities to adjust market strategy. 9. Management Skills Required Managing layers is more demanding than managing broilers.
Layers need specialized skills, including handling vaccinations, debeaking, egg collection, and monitoring productivity over a long period. However, once your layers are established, you don’t need to buy new birds for almost two years. Broilers are simpler in terms of management but require high attention during their short growth period. They need constant monitoring for weight gain, proper feeding, and quick marketing decisions. 10. Lighting Requirements Lighting needs also differ significantly. Layers require controlled lighting, typically 14–18 hours daily, to maintain egg production. Broilers, however, need near-constant lighting (24 hours) to encourage continuous feeding and rapid weight gain. This difference impacts your power costs and infrastructure decisions.
ProfitabilityScore
Criteria
Layers (Score 1-10)
Broilers (Score 1-10)
Startup Costs
6 (Higher but worth it)
8 (Lower)
Time to returns
7 (Slower)
9 (Fast)
Profit Stability
10 (Very stable)
6 (Seasonal
Market Demand
10 (Strong & Steady)
7 (Fluctuating)
Management Complexity
7 (Challenging but rewarding
8 (Simpler)
Long Term Profit
10 (Excellent)
7 (Moderate)
Average Score
8.3
7.5
(Layers vs broilers differences in profitability)
Layers have it🥳
If you’ve already decided it’s layers, I have a step by step guide on how to start your layer chicken farm the right way here
And to start you off,
Enter your details to grab a copy of my free printable guide and regular Layer Chicken Digest tips via email:
Which Option Carries More Risk? Risk depends on your resources and experience.
Layers require more startup capital, long-term commitment, and skilled management, but they also provide steady income after maturity. You won’t see returns until after 4.5 months when they start laying, so patience is necessary. Broilers carry a different risk. Their short cycle means that if you fail to secure a market quickly, your birds continue eating expensive feed while gaining weight beyond market standards.
Unfortunately, most buyers won’t pay extra for heavier birds, leaving you with slimmer profit margins—or even losses.
Which Should You Choose? The decision between broilers and layers depends entirely on your goals.
If you prefer long-term, stable income and are willing to invest more time and capital upfront, layers are ideal. If you want quick turnover and have a reliable meat market, broilers may suit you better. Think about your financial resources, available space, time commitment, skill level, and long-term vision. Choose what aligns with your goals, even imagining what you’d be comfortable managing for the next decade—eggs or meat? Common Questions Beginner Farmers Ask 1. Can you keep both layers and broilers together? Yes, you can keep both on the same farm, but never in the same house. Maintain two separate poultry houses at a safe distance to prevent disease transmission. 2. Layers vs broilers—Which is Better? There’s no universal answer. The better choice is the one that matches your current financial position, skill level, and business goal. Carefully weigh startup costs, time involvement, and market potential before deciding. 3. Which is best for small farms? For small farms with limited capital, broilers are often the better starting point because of lower upfront costs and faster returns. Finally, The layers vs broilers differences go beyond just eggs versus meat. They influence your time, money, and long-term profitability. Understand your goals clearly and then choose the option that matches your situation. If you want to explore layers further, check out for my upcoming detailed guide on the cost of starting a layer poultry farm. It will include cost by cost breakdown and projected revenue and profits.
Be like DR.STARR and master the 7 qualities of a successful layer chicken farmer required for a profitable and sustainable layer farm.
Remember the quail farming craze of 2010?
Kenyan farmers invested heavily, only for many to lose millions when the market crashed.
One farmer even released 3,000 quails into the wild because he could not sustain the business.
But what was the real problem?
Were quails themselves a bad idea?
Not really. Some people actually became millionaires during that time. So why did some farmers succeed while others failed?
The difference often lies in character, values, and qualities rather than just resources. Sometimes success comes not from what you have but from who you are.
In this post, I’ll show you how adopting the DR. STARR framework can transform your layer farming journey.
DR. STARR is an acronym representing 7 qualities of a successful layer chicken farmer – essential traits every farmer must have.
1.DESIRE
Napoleon Hill, in Think and Grow Rich, calls desire “the starting point of all achievement—the first step toward riches.”
You don’t necessarily need deep passion for chickens to succeed in poultry farming, but you must cultivate a strong desire to succeed in keeping layers.
Wishing for success is not enough. Instead, develop a desire so strong it becomes an obsession. Then plan definite ways to achieve your goal and back those plans with persistent action. When your mind obsesses over success, it naturally finds ways to make it real.
Look around you.
Every great achievement you’ve ever had probably began as a thought—a simple desire in your mind. Your layer chicken farm is no different: desire first, then achievement.
2.RESILIENCE
Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
Poultry farming, like any business, comes with challenges. Birds may die from disease, feed prices may spike, or theft might wipe out your flock.
What will you do when these setbacks happen? Quit? Blame the government, imported eggs, or bad luck? Or will you come back stronger?
The answer defines success. Those who quit easily never see profits. In contrast, resilient farmers adapt and rebuild after every challenge.
For instance, Dr. Daniel Masaba, a successful Ugandan layer farmer with 30,000 birds today, once lost 700 birds (Almost half of his flock at the time) in a disease outbreak. Instead of giving up, he rebuilt with improved biosecurity.
Today, his farm thrives because of his resilience.Persistence keeps you moving forward; resilience helps you rise after falling. Together, they keep you in business long enough to see the “crazy profits.”
3.SPIRITUALITY
Surprisingly, spirituality plays a significant role in farming success. Here, spirituality involves two things: Mission and Faith.
Mission:
Why does your farm exist? Is it just for money, or does it serve a bigger purpose?
While earning KES 100,000 a month is a great financial goal, having a purpose beyond money gives you drive even when challenges arise.
It keeps you motivated before the money comes and even after it arrives.
Faith:
Faith is believing in things you cannot yet see.
You already exercise faith daily—when you go to sleep trusting you’ll wake up or travel believing you’ll arrive safely. Likewise, you must believe you can succeed in poultry farming even before it happens.
When faith combines with mission, your farm gains a powerful foundation. You’re not just running a business; you’re pursuing a purposeful calling.
To be a leader, you must first be a good follower.
And being a good follower involves working as a team and following the teams goals and mission.
That lesson applies directly to farming because you’ll interact with many people: employees, customers, suppliers, and even government officers.
Lack of teamwork often creates unnecessary workload, employee turnover, and lost partnerships.
Successful poultry farmers, on the other hand, know how to work well with others and build strong professional relationships.
Here’s a tip I use to promote teamwork: treat everyone as a partner in your business. Listen to them, ask better questions, and encourage collaboration. Even friends can offer valuable insights when you view them as informal consultants. Remember, we always go farther together.
5.ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability is one of the toughest yet most valuable qualities to develop.
It’s different from responsibility.
Responsibility means admitting you made a mistake.
Accountability goes further: learning from that mistake and preventing it from happening again
For example, if feed prices rise, accountability means acknowledging you failed to stock up when prices were low, then creating a plan to buy in bulk next time.
If an employee ignores biosecurity rules and your flock dies, accountability means accepting you hired and trained poorly—then improving your hiring and training process.
Mastering accountability forces you to create systems and solutions that strengthen your farm, ensuring mistakes are not repeated. It’s a powerful habit not just in business but in life.
6.RESOURCEFUL
Being resourceful doesn’t mean having plenty of resources; it means making the most of what you have.
Imagine you need to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa but can’t afford a plane ticket. What do you do? You take a bus. You still reach Mombasa, just in a different way. That’s resourcefulness—finding alternatives when things get tough.
On your layers farm, money may run out, customers may switch suppliers, or markets may slow down. Will you give up, or will you find creative solutions to keep moving forward?
Resourcefulness often awakens your creativity.
You begin to see possibilities where others see dead ends. That ability keeps your farm alive and thriving when others fail.
7.READER
If you’ve reached this part of the blog, congratulations—you’re already a reader!
And that’s an essential quality.
Elon Musk once said he learned how to build rockets by reading two books a day. Similarly, farmers who continuously learn stay ahead of the curve. Reading exposes you to new concepts, tools, and opportunities that others miss.
Even dedicating 10 minutes a day to reading about best poultry farming practices can compound into significant knowledge over time.
With today’s fast-changing agriculture industry, staying informed is crucial to staying competitive.
Start with reliable sources: books, research papers, credible blogs, newsletters, and even worksheets like the ones we offer at Secret Layers.
(If you haven’t already, sign up for our free Layer Starter Kit,weekly poultry tips and tutorials- It’s totally FREE)
Being like DR. STARR—having Desire, Resilience, Spirituality, Teamwork, Accountability, being Resourceful, and becoming a Reader—makes you more than just a farmer.
It positions you as a successful, future-ready poultry entrepreneur.They are the qualities of a successful layer chicken farmer you’ve been looking for – the ‘cheatcode’ for success in the poultry business.
These qualities may seem personal, but they directly influence how you run your farm, how you handle challenges, and how quickly you grow.
Start working on them today. Build the poultry business mindset first, then apply the skills. Combine your character with knowledge and watch your layers farm thrive—regardless of market challenges.
And if you haven’t already:
> 📩 Register below for free for access to Secret Layers resources:
