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  • Happy Chickens Project

Fijians rely heavily on imports for up to 50% of their food consumption. Poultry ranks second to seafood as the most important protein source for South Pacific Nations, but the industry is dominated by commercial factory-type farms completely reliant on imported chicks. These are poorly suited to village conditions, require expensive imported feeds to ensure productivity, and do not breed well in local conditions, further exacerbating food insecurity.

The project aims to meet the increased demand for climate-adapted chickens for cyclone rehabilitation and food security in South Pacific communities. Village farmers have well-adapted local breeds, but they are not very productive. Flocks are small and chicks are almost never available for sale.

Through selective breeding of local chickens, SELF has created a diverse and more productive breed that is well adapted to local conditions, able to thrive by foraging on locally available foods and that have great potential for improving food and nutrition security in Fiji and other Pacific islands.

Since 2013, SELF has hatched and distributed over 37,000 chicks to poor rural people across Fiji. In 2019, an upgraded hatchery was established for SELF’s new breeding facility to increase production to meet the immense and urgent needs across a wide regional area.With the additional funding, SELF hopes to eventually increase production to 10,000 chicks per year for local and regional supply. 

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the importation of day old chicks have virtually stopped, making demand for improved local breed birds even higher. 

Where: Sigatoka Valley, Fiji

Status: Completed 2018

Supported by: The Palladium Group – Let’s Make it Possible

Partner: SELF

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KYEEMA Fiji

What are the ongoing aims for SELF?

  1. Increase demand for climate-adapted chickens for cyclone rehabilitation and food security in South Pacific communities.
  2. Build capacity for breeding climate-adapted chickens at a community level to build self-sufficiency and long term food security.
  3. Improve village poultry husbandry and sustainability through improved housing and production of local feeds.
  4. Conduct training and education in smallholder poultry and related subjects through continued programs for training village poultry breeders.
  5. Promote measures to improve the health and production of village poultry – SELF has a vision to encourage the conversion of cage farming of eggs into free range happy chickens methods, to save money for the farmers and to prevent cruelty.  
  6. Evaluate and optimise the potential of rural poultry genetic resources.

More importantly, why?

Increased availability of local breed chicken meat, eggs and income from chicken and egg sales for households.

Women’s empowerment through increased income earning potential with a sustainable small business solution.

Will this work contribute to ongoing change?

Sustainability is achieved through the following:

Training in farm-based breeding, feeding, and housing of chickens will help to ensure that improved chicken breeds continue to flourish generation after generation in rural communities.

Purchase of fertile eggs from farmers during recurring low laying period during the hot summer season will also help to build sustainability of the hatcheries over time through cooperation and partnerships.

We are also measuring our outcomes against indicators set out for the specific globally recognised sustainable development goals for 2030.

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Website by Sprout Projects, Paolo Curray and Faith Considine.