Poultry Farming For Beginners.

Jeffrey Alahira

IS POULTRY FARMING PROFITABLE? BY JOSEPH OKPAIRE Image source; designhill.com Poultry farming is basically the rearing of birds either for economic purposes or as companion animals (pets). Birds such as chickens, pigeons, turkeys, ostrich, guinea fowls, Emus, etc. WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING UP A POULTRY FARM? Your market Type of poultry business: Production: Production […]

IS POULTRY FARMING PROFITABLE?

BY JOSEPH OKPAIRE

Image source; designhill.com

Poultry farming is basically the rearing of birds either for economic purposes or as companion animals (pets). Birds such as chickens, pigeons, turkeys, ostrich, guinea fowls, Emus, etc.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING UP A POULTRY FARM?

  • Your market
  • Type of poultry business:
  1. Production: Production of broilers for meat, production of layers for eggs.
  2. Processing and Storage: This includes slaughtering and processing of poultry meat products into frozen products.
  • Identify a specialist to help check the health status of your birds regularly
  • Location of your farm: The proposed site for production should not be located in isolated areas, neither should they be located where they will be disturbed by human interference.

TYPES OF POULTRY BIRDS

Chicken (Broilers and Layers), Duck/Geese, Ostrich, Turkey, Guinea Fowl, Quail, etc.

The most common are the Layers and Broilers for Egg (production) and Meat (processing). There could also be a combination of both Broilers and Layers.

BROILERS

  • Broilers are birds reared for meat.
  • They are reared for 7-8weeks either in cages or dip litter system.
  • They are sold live or as frozen products.
  • They are fed broiler starter (28days), Broiler grower(14days)

and broiler finisher(14days).

  • They are vaccinated against Newcastle Disease, Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumboro).
  • They are medicated against coccidiosis and sometimes Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD).

LAYERS

  • They are reared in cages or dip litter systems. Although, cage system is mostly recommended
  • They are maintained for 80weeks (minimum) or more.
  • In this 80weeks, 18 weeks is assigned for the rearing phase while the remaining 62 weeks is for the laying phase.
  • They can be sold by 80weeks or after 80weeks depending on the farmer.
  • During this 18weeks, they are fed to attain target weights and good uniformity.
  • They are vaccinated against prevalent diseases such as Newcastle Disease, Gumboro, Fowl Pox, Infectious Coryza, Egg Drop Syndrome, Infectious Bronchitis, Fowl Typhoid, etc.
  • They are medicated against worms, coccidiosis, etc.
  • They are fed chick starter mash (8weeks), grower mash (8-14weeks), pre-lay mash(14-20weeks) and finally layer mash (21weeks – depletion)

IS BROILER PRODUCTION PROFITABLE?

EXPENSES

QTY

PRICE(N)

TOTAL(N)

DOC

500

250

     125,000.00

FEED (500 BIRDS WILL CONSUME 2000KG AT 25KG BAG

80

3500

     280,000.00

DRUGS (5% OF FEED COST)

 

 

        14,000.00

VACCINES

3

500

          1,500.00

LABOUR

2

 

        30,000.00

MISCELLANOUS

 

 

        50,000.00

TOTAL

 

 

  500,500.00

SELLING PRICE

450

2000

     900,000.00

COST OF PRODUCTION

 

 

     500,500.00

PROFIT OR LOSS

 

 

  399,500.00

Image source; china-chickencage.com

A profit of almost N400,000 in broilers is guaranteed if all management systems are in good quality.

(Please note: this excludes all cost of fixed assets and equipment. Figures as at March 2019)

Broiler farming is profitable but at the same time very risky.

            Things to bear in mind:

  • Health and Welfare of the birds: The birds should be healthy and free from diseases
  • Weigh your birds (FCR, daily weight gains): Weigh your birds weekly to know the feed conversion ratio of the flock
  • Sorting: Identify weak birds, sort them, and feed them separately.
  • Target customers: Ensure you have a ready market before production commences
  • Source of birds: Get your foundation stock from reliable hatcheries or agents.
  • Feeding and feed quality.
  • Maintaining good records

MARKETING

  • An increase in profit is basically a function of a good marketing strategy.
  • The competition is high but the demand is also very high.

BROILERS

  1. Identify customers first before production.
  2. If you can get someone to buy your birds’ live, GOOD. IF NOT process and store. Sell it as frozen.
  3. You can also sell your broilers at 4 weeks, we call these birds broiler grower.
  4. Hotels, Restaurants, Processors, Eateries, Open Markets, special customers, etc.  are possible places/people where you can sell your birds. Meet them, ask if you can produce for them, and if there is a favorable response, you go ahead and produce. ENTER INTO AGREEMENT TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENTS.
  5. Try to produce less quantity of broilers during festive seasons. The supply of broilers will be high, the cost of raw materials (DOC, feeds, etc.) will increase. When too many birds are in the market, the price of live chicken drops because feeding broilers after 8weeks is not profitable.

CHALLENGES OF POULTRY FARMING

  1. FEEDING (75% OF PRODUCTION COST): Budget extensively to feed your flock
  2. DISEASES AND INFECTIONS: Identify a specialist to help monitor your birds and also guide you.
  3. PILFERING: Theft is a major challenge in poultry production. Identify measures to help you control thieves within and outside the farm.
  4. POOR PARENT STOCK
  5. POOR BIOSECURITY

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Budget extensively for feeding (In cutting cost, always strive to get quality products)
  • Identify a good location for your farm (avoid isolated areas)
  • Too many hands spoil the soup. (Use a trusted specialist)
  • Adhere to the rules of biosecurity.
  •  Start small
  • Ensure you put in place standard operating procedures for your farm.
  • Attend training, seminars, and webinars on poultry farming (Learning is a lifelong process).

Jeffrey Alahira