Living in urban areas comes with numerous financial challenges, including the high cost of food, limited farming space, and economic instability.
With rising expenses, many families struggle to afford nutritious meals. However, backyard poultry farming is emerging as a simple yet effective way to ease these burdens.
Keeping a few chickens at home provides a reliable source of fresh eggs and meat, reducing grocery expenses while improving nutrition.
Unlike large-scale farming, poultry keeping requires minimal space, low capital investment, and basic care. Families can start with just a few birds, expanding gradually as they gain experience.
Charles Lubega, a resident of Matugga, has turned his small backyard into a thriving poultry project, proving that limited space is not a barrier to farming. He keeps local chicken, which requires minimal investment and provides multiple benefits beyond personal consumption.
Lubega explains that selling surplus eggs and chickens can generate additional income, making poultry farming a sustainable economic activity for urban dwellers. Poultry waste serves as organic fertilizer, enriching urban gardens and improving food security.
Many city residents have adopted this model, demonstrating that backyard poultry farming is a practical solution for boosting household nutrition, reducing expenses, and increasing financial stability.
Twaha Kakooza, an experienced local chicken farmer from Kayunga, believes backyard poultry keeping is a game changer for urban residents.
He started with just five chickens and now has over 100, providing him with both food and a source of income.
Kakooza explains that keeping chickens at home helps reduce dependency on the market, where prices for eggs and meat can fluctuate.
According to Kakooza, urban poultry farmers do not need large plots of land. A small space like a backyard or balcony can be utilized to raise chickens.
He advises urban dwellers to consider indigenous chicken breeds because they are hardy, resistant to diseases, and require minimal care. Feeding them kitchen leftovers and locally available feeds can also help cut costs.
He further notes that poultry manure is an excellent organic fertiliser for small home gardens, improving soil fertility and increasing vegetable yields.
“Instead of spending a lot of money on fertilizers, I use poultry droppings to grow vegetables, which has significantly reduced my grocery expenses,” he says.
Rose Sanyu, a well-known poultry farmer, has been reaping benefits from her backyard poultry project. She started keeping chickens as a hobby but soon realized its financial potential.
Today, she supplies eggs to local shops and individuals, earning a steady income from her backyard farm.
Sanyu says that poultry keeping is an easy and manageable venture for urban women and youth looking for extra income.
She explains that raising chickens is not time-consuming, making it ideal for people with busy schedules. She advises beginners to start with a few layers for eggs or broilers for meat and gradually expand their flock.
She also stresses the health benefits, saying, “With backyard poultry, I know exactly what my chickens eat, so I am assured of organic, chemical-free eggs and meat for my family.”
