Without planning, quail-breeding just won’t fly

A quail farmer in Nyeri feeds the birds. About 200 farmers are applying for quail rearing licences every day. FILE

By CAROL MUNYWOKI

IN SUMMARY
Copying your neighbour’s business without thorough analysis spells failure.

Without planning, quail-breeding just won’t fly
The hype about raising quails in Kenya is another failed attempt at imitation. Aspiring traders are trying to ape their neighbours or friends’ seemingly successful ventures without planning.

Oded Shenkar in his book, Copycats, states: “In the business world, imitation gets a bad rap.” He says he pities their fate— a life of picking up crumbs discarded by innovators striding a path paved with fame and profit.

After reading how the Kenya Wildlife Service is getting hundreds of applications for permits to raise quails, I decided to visit a few breeders and find out for myself if the business is as easy as it sounds and as profitable as it has been portrayed.

There are a variety of quails and not all are bred for their colourful eggs.

The popular types of layers are Tuxedo, Pharaoh, British Range, English White and Manchurian Golden and the two most popular broilers are the American Bob White and the Indian White Blessed Kind.

Before you decide to imitate a business you must carry out extensive research so that you can execute a well-crafted strategy to give you a competitive advantage and increased profitability.

Imitations are all over the business world and when they are done meticulously with increased performance then they can be sustainable.

One of the quail breeders I met was a humble and hard working woman. She walked me through her business from waking up at 4 am to taking care of her bird’s needs. Her name is Rita Kendi and should you want any quail raising advice, it would be useful to contact her.

Before you embark on the “in-thing” keep in mind that the only simple thing about raising quails is that it is easy to start as they are relatively smaller birds so you can breed them in small areas. The rest is hard work with consistence and daily maintenance.

You have to invest in a good incubator for your eggs and if you are not using solar panels— the power costs can be prohibitive. Supply of clean water is essential. As simple as it is to get good housing for your pretty birds, this shelter must always be clean.

Almost everything about the quail’s needs changes with age; from adequate temperature, to their diet, light, supply of food, water and air movement. The things that remain constant are the strict hygienic rearing rules, and the power costs.

With this in mind, you have to monitor the pretty little birds on a regular basis separating them systematically and keeping a log on all of the above.

Lastly, before you decide to start – carry out market research. The birds are highly nutritious and since they are small it is easier to price them. In the last three months I have received more than 10 emails from quail farmers looking for market.

The number of posters hanging up at malls and by the roadside on the sale of the birds is impossible to miss. It can get really frustrating when you have hundreds of birds and eggs with no market.

When you decide to imitate or make money as fast as your neighbours, then imitate with added value. Rita is not just breeding quails for the eggs, she is also selling them for meat and has been using their manure which she plans to start selling.