Farmers in Nakuru County have embraced the indigenous kuroiler chicken due to their size and resistance to diseases.
Speaking on Tuesday at a field day for farmers in Rongai Sub County, the county Agricultural officer Stephen Mureithi said the new chicken breed is more attractive to farmers because it can fight predators due to its large size and camouflaged colours.
"The kuroiler developer tactfully combines disease resistant traits, colour scavenging ability and agility drawn from indigenous Indian chicken,” said Mureuthi.
The agricultural officer said the kuroiler lays 200 eggs per year compared to the indigenous Kenyan chicken which lays 40 to 50 eggs annually.
He added that it weighs four kilograms compared to the local chicken, which weighs 2.5 kilograms.
He however cautioned the farmers in the area against rushing into the venture, like their neighbours and friends, stating that this ends up flooding the market with the same products.
He said one kuroiler chicken currently costs Sh1,500 or Sh2,000 but once farmers create a surplus in the market the price will plummet.
He gave an example of quails where almost all farmers decided to keep them and the market got flooded which led to enormous loses.
He urged farmers who have the Kuroiler not to present it as a goldmine otherwise there will be a market glut and they will be disappointed.
Farmers who have reared the Kuroiler chicken said the meat is tastier than the local chicken and has less fat.