Comparison Kienyeji Improved Chicken varieties.

The term Kienyeji Improved is not really understood by farmers. Most farmers think that It is a mixture of the pure Kienyeji (roadrunner chicken) and some exotic breeds. Well, you are partly right, but not quite. The Improved Kienyeji varieties come in different breeds; Kari Improved, Kuroiler, Kenbro, Rainbow Roster, Sasso, Hubbard.

The Kienyeji improved varieties above are a cross of different pure breed, or they are pure breed themselves. They are imported to Kenya as Parent Stock, then the company or institute hatches the F1 chicks and supply to farmers.

Please note: Although they are known as Dual-Purpose, some are good in egg production while others are good for meat, meaning that they gain weight quicker. Also, if a chicken breed is good for egg production it doesn’t gain weigh as quicker or more than a chicken breed that is good for meat production.

For example: KARI Improved Kienyeji are the best in egg production, but when you weigh a them, they weigh less than all the other Kienyeji improved varieties. Also, you do not want to keep a heavy chicken for eggs, because it will consume a lot of feeds, meaning less money into your pocket.

Kienyeji Improved Chicken that are good for meat are Hubbard, Kuroiler, Rainbow Roster, Kenbro and Sasso. But then you need to rear them for a maximum of 3 months, then you dispose them. The longer you keep them the more they consume. At 3 months old they will be at least 1.8kg and above.

At Ziwani Poultry we supply all the above Kienyeji Improved Varieties, including Hubbard; new Kienyeji Chicken in town! Click the link for more details

You will find details of all the Kienyeji Improved Chicken varieties to compare, so that you can make a better judgement on which breed to go for.

Kuroiler

• Origin: India
• Characteristics:
  • Dual-purpose breed, suitable for both meat and egg production.
  • Hardy and adaptable to various environmental conditions.
  • Excellent scavengers, making them suitable for free-range systems.
• Egg Production: Approximately 150-200 eggs per year.
• Meat Production: Rapid growth, with a mature weight of around 3-4 kg for males and 2.5-3 kg for females.
• Advantages: High productivity, resilience to diseases, and adaptability to different climates.
• Disadvantages: Require proper management and supplementary feeding for optimal performance.

KARI Improved

• Origin: Kenya (but parent stock from Europe: Czech Republic and Holland)
• Characteristics:
  • Developed by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
  • Designed for enhanced productivity while maintaining the hardiness of indigenous chickens.
  • Suitable for both egg and meat production.
• Egg Production: Approximately 200-280 eggs per year.
• Meat Production: Moderate growth rate, with a mature weight of around 2-3 kg.
• Advantages: High egg production, disease resistance, and good adaptability to local conditions.
• Disadvantages: Requires vaccination and proper management to prevent diseases.

Sasso

• Origin: France
• Characteristics:
  • Dual-purpose breed known for its robustness and adaptability.
  • Performs well in free-range and semi-intensive systems.
  • Good for meat production with a decent egg-laying capability.
• Egg Production: Approximately 180-240 eggs per year.
• Meat Production: Rapid growth, with a mature weight of around 3-4 kg for males and 2.5-3 kg for females.
• Advantages: High meat yield, disease resistance, and suitability for free-range systems.
• Disadvantages: Requires adequate feeding and management to achieve optimal growth and production.

Rainbow Rooster

• Origin: India
• Characteristics:
  • Dual-purpose breed with a focus on colourful plumage – mixture of different colours, just like Kienyeji.
  • Known for its hardiness and adaptability to various environments.
  • Suitable for both meat and egg production.
• Egg Production: Approximately 160-200 eggs per year.
• Meat Production: Moderate growth, with a mature weight of around 2.5-3.5 kg.
• Advantages: Attractive plumage, good disease resistance, and adaptability to different farming systems.
• Disadvantages: Slightly lower eggs production compared to other commercial breeds.

Kenbro

• Origin: France
• Characteristics:
  • Red in colour.
  • Developed by Hubbard but sold to Kenchic Ltd as REDBRO, but then Kenchick changed the name to KENBRO.
  • Dual-purpose breed suitable for both meat and egg production.
  • Not so hardy but adaptable to local environmental conditions.
• Egg Production: Approximately 200-250 eggs per year.
• Meat Production: Rapid growth, with a mature weight of around 3-4 kg for males and 2.5-3 kg for females after 4 months.
• Advantages: High productivity, disease resistance, and adaptability to free-range and semi-intensive systems.
• Disadvantages: Requires good management practices and supplementary feeding for optimal performance.

Hubbard

• • Origin: France
  • Characteristics:
    • Primarily a meat bird, known for its rapid growth and high feed efficiency.
    • Bred specifically for broiler production.
    • Performs well in intensive farming systems.
  • Egg Production: Limited, as Hubbard chickens are mainly raised for meat.
  • Meat Production: Very rapid growth, with a mature weight of around 2.5-3.5 kg within 6-7 weeks.
  • Advantages: Extremely high growth rate, efficient feed conversion, and excellent meat quality.
  • Disadvantages: Requires intensive management, higher susceptibility to diseases if not managed properly, and less suitable for free-range systems.

Pure Kienyeji Chickens

• Origin: Indigenous to Kenya and other parts of East Africa.
• Characteristics:
  • Traditional, native chicken breed.
  • Known for hardiness and adaptability to local conditions.
  • Typically scavengers, thriving in free-range environments.
• Egg Production: Approximately 80-120 eggs per year.
• Meat Production: Slow growth, with a mature weight of around 1.5-2 kg for males and 1-1.5 kg for females.
• Advantages:
  • Extremely hardy and resistant to common poultry diseases.
  • Can survive on minimal supplementary feeding due to excellent foraging skills.
  • Meat and eggs have a distinctive, preferred taste among local consumers.
  • Low maintenance and cost-effective in terms of feeding.
• Disadvantages:
  • Lower productivity in terms of both meat and egg production.
  • Longer time to reach market weight.
  • Smaller egg size and fewer eggs laid annually compared to improved breeds.

Summary

Each of these breeds offers unique advantages and caters to different aspects of poultry farming:

• • Kuroiler: Best for high meat yield and adaptability.
  • KARI Improved: Optimal for high egg production and local adaptability.
  • Sasso: Ideal for meat production and free-range systems.

• Rainbow Rooster: Attractive option with good overall performance and hardiness.
• Kenbro: Balanced for both meat and egg production with strong disease resistance.

Farmers should choose based on their specific needs, environmental conditions, and management capabilities to ensure the best outcomes for their poultry operations.

Ziwani Poultry Breeds

Get your chicks from the best supplier of Kienyeji Improved chicken varieties; Kari Improved, Kuroiler, Sasso, Rainbow Roster and Kenbro. At our farm we supply from Day Old to 2 months improved Kienyeji. We also offer Incubation service where you bring your eggs to our premises for a small fee.
Ziwani also offer Poultry Training on: Kienyeji chicken house, Kienyeji Feeds, Vaccination, chicken diseases and medication and Chicks brooding.