UNDERSTANDING KUROILERS

Understanding the Kuroiler Breed

What Are Kuroilers?

The Kuroiler chicken is an Indian breed introduced into East Africa via Uganda and later into Kenya. Renowned for its quality meat and high egg production, the Kuroiler thrives in kienyeji (free-range) conditions, making it a game-changer for rural farmers.

Key characteristics:

• High productivity with minimal investment.
• Excellent scavengers, reducing the need for expensive commercial feeds.
• Fast-growing and disease-resistant.

Benefits of Rearing Kuroilers

1. Rapid Growth

• Kuroilers grow faster than local kienyeji chickens.
• They gain weight quickly in free-range environments while feeding on leftovers, termites, grass, and other scavenged food.
• With supplementary feeding (e.g., yellow maize, soya, or chicken mash), their growth can be even more robust.

2. Egg Production

• Start laying eggs at 5 months.
• Lay continuously for 2 years.
• Produce 150-200 eggs/year, compared to local kienyeji chickens’ 40 eggs/year.
• Eggs are large, nutrient-rich, and have a dark yellow yolk.

3. High Meat Yield

• Mature in 10 weeks compared to several months for local breeds.
• Weight at maturity: 3.5 kg (males), 2.5-3 kg (females).

Rearing Systems

• Housing: Kuroilers can be housed in the same setup as local kienyeji chickens.
• Rearing Style: Suitable for fully free-range, semi-free-range, or small urban spaces.

Hatchability and Brooding

• Hatchability: Kuroiler eggs boast an 80%+ hatch rate in incubators.
• No Brooding: Unlike kienyeji hens, Kuroilers do not brood, so farmers need incubators to hatch eggs.

Characteristics of the Kuroiler Breed

Summary

The Kuroiler chicken, a hybrid developed by Keggfarms Group in Gurgaon, India, has revolutionized poultry farming in East Africa. It combines the resilience of local kienyeji breeds with superior productivity, offering an economical solution for rural and urban farmers alike.