Jayanthy’s egg story: How a village woman turned backyard poultry into a daily source of income

Malappuram: Vattamkulam panchayat, near Edappal in Malappuram,  has long been known for its thriving egg production. The transformation began nearly 15 years ago when a poultry project was launched to empower rural women and help them achieve self-reliance. What started as a small initiative soon gained statewide attention. Although many families later moved on to other livelihoods, Jayanthy, who runs a successful egger nursery in Vattamkulam, continues to prove that backyard poultry farming remains a sustainable and rewarding source of income. It ensures a steady daily income for families solely dependent on farming. The continued demand for chicks from Jayanthy’s nursery stands as proof.

Gains through the nursery
Jayanthy’s egger nursery was launched when the Animal Husbandry Department introduced the poultry farming project in Vattamkulam. The nursery purchases day-old chicks and sells them after rearing them for 50 days. Chicks are sourced from government hatcheries in Malappuram and Palakkad districts, or from private hatcheries when government supplies are unavailable. Her primary revenue comes from distributing hens and coops under the long-running local-body project, though chicks and coops are also sold outside the scheme.

The egg-production project was introduced around the time Jayanthy had set up a shed for mushroom cultivation. She volunteered to repurpose the shed for poultry farming, and the nursery continues to benefit her to this day. Currently, she rears around 20,000 chicks in three sheds and supplies them to the local-body project.

While major orders from local bodies require considerable investment, Jayanthy maintains that even housewives with limited resources can start an egger nursery. Day-old chicks can be reared using a brooding system and sold on a small scale. Many families in villages rear 5 to 50 chicks, making them potential customers. Sales are manageable at smaller volumes, and the nursery can be expanded gradually based on demand.

Various categories
Jayanthy distributes mixed-variant chicks such as Gramalakshmi, Gramasree, and Gramapriya, developed by Kerala Veterinary University under the hen-and-coop project. These variants lay an average of 200 eggs annually. With 15 hens, one can expect 6 to 7 eggs daily. They can be reared in backyard spaces or in hi-tech fenced or standard coops for those with limited space. Kitchen waste and other easily available feed suffice, though Jayanthy recommends supplementing it with a small quantity of chicken feed to boost egg production and improve weight. These hens reach a weight of 2.5 to 3 kilograms by 18 months and begin laying eggs by 5.5 months.

Their eggs, like those of indigenous hens, are brown, which is an advantage for sales. A day-old chick of this variant costs ₹25 at the hatchery. Jayanthy rears them for 40 to 45 days, administers all necessary vaccines, and sells them to local bodies for ₹70.

BV 380 and Indbro variants

Jayanthy also rears BV 380 and Indbro variants for those seeking a steady income from egg sales. These are sold on order. The BV 380 variant, which lays 330 to 380 eggs annually, is a favourite among poultry farmers. With 15 hens, one can expect 12 to 13 eggs daily. However, their productivity depends on artificial feed. These hens should be reared in coops and fed artificial feed, as roaming reduces their energy and egg-laying capacity. A significant portion of revenue must be allocated for feed. Jayanthy notes that supplementing with fruit and vegetable waste, bran, and fish waste can help maintain productivity even if artificial feed is reduced by 25–30 per cent.

Like BV 380, the Indbro variant is also known for high egg production and immunity. However, BV 380’s brown eggs are more marketable due to consumer preference, while Indbro eggs are white.

Jayanthy recommends these two variants for those pursuing egg production with space constraints. Better income is assured only by reducing feed costs by 30 per cent through alternative feed. After laying eggs for 1.5 years, hens of these variants can be sold for meat at ₹150–₹200 each. Alongside her nursery, Jayanthy rears BV 380 and Indbro hens for egg sales.

Jayanthy provides part-time jobs to local higher secondary students. They assist with tasks such as beak trimming to prevent fights among hens and administering vaccines. These students are happy to earn and support their academic expenses through these jobs.

Needs for expansion of market
Jayanthy advocates for a centralised system to procure eggs from poultry farmers and sell them, making the project more beneficial beyond hen-and-coop distribution. At present, farmers struggle to find markets beyond their immediate neighbourhoods. She suggests that if local bodies establish a system to collect eggs and sell them under branded labels in supermarkets and malls, it would ensure sustainability and growth in egg production and benefit those involved.