Journal of
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health

  • Abbreviation: J. Vet. Med. Anim. Health
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2529
  • DOI: 10.5897/JVMAH
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 418

Full Length Research Paper

Household characteristics influencing management of indigenous chicken: A case study of Machakos and Busia Counties in Kenya

Irene Ogali
  • Irene Ogali
  • Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Veterinary Science Research Institute Muguga, P. O. Box 32-00902 Kikuyu, Kenya.
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Erick Mungube
  • Erick Mungube
  • Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Veterinary Science Research Institute Muguga, P. O. Box 32-00902 Kikuyu, Kenya.
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Charles Muleke
  • Charles Muleke
  • Egerton University, P. O. Box 536 - 20115, Egerton-Njoro, Kenya.
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Jane Githinji
  • Jane Githinji
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operative Development, State Department of Livestock, Directorate of Veterinary Services, P.O. Box P.O. Box 18021, 00500 Enterprise Road, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Tessy Achieno
  • Tessy Achieno
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operative Development, County Government of Busia, P. O. Box 261-50400, Busia-Kenya.
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Lilian Mutungi
  • Lilian Mutungi
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operative Development, County Government of Machakos, P. O. Box 40-90100, Machakos, Kenya.
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Celestine Musili
  • Celestine Musili
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operative Development, County Government of Machakos, P. O. Box 40-90100, Machakos, Kenya.
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Dennis Odhiambo
  • Dennis Odhiambo
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operative Development, County Government of Busia, P. O. Box 261-50400, Busia-Kenya.
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Wambongo Bosita
  • Wambongo Bosita
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operative Development, County Government of Busia, P. O. Box 261-50400, Busia-Kenya.
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Bockline Bebe
  • Bockline Bebe
  • Egerton University, P. O. Box 536 - 20115, Egerton-Njoro, Kenya.
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  •  Received: 16 October 2022
  •  Accepted: 28 November 2022
  •  Published: 31 December 2022

Abstract

The study was conducted in 225 indigenous chicken keeping households between August 2020 and July 2021 in Machakos and Busia Counties. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-economic factors, flock characteristics and management practices from targeted households. Overall, majority of respondents were male (82%) with formal education (87%). Agriculture was the main source of income for most households (71%). One third of the households accessed extension services (26%), market information (31%) and credit (33%). The extensive system of production was predominant (66%) with an average chicken flock size of 28 birds characterized by low chick survival rate (33%). There was selective adoption of management interventions, with 76% of households adopting feed supplementation and half (55%) adopted improved chicken housing. Lesser proportion of households practiced improved chick rearing (32%) and vaccinated their chicken (30%). Access to credit and literacy increased adoption of the management interventions (p<0.05). Adoption of management interventions such as improved chick rearing and housing increased chick survival and average chicken flock size significantly (p>0.05). The findings point to necessary targeted efforts such as improving farmer access to credit and provision of specifically packaged extension messages to meet needs of indigenous chicken farmers.

Key words: Indigenous chicken, management interventions, adoption, socioeconomic factors.