The business of poultry is one which has not so much participant until recent times where few has discover how lucrative the business is to both the owner and the country’s economy at large. Poultry is an aspect of livestock farming and has become a great deal of investment in Nigeria and the benefit which accrue within a very short time. With the festive period around the corner and several Nigerians are going to consume poultry products, there is high demand for poultry product. Therefore the business is one ready to give quick profit.
Poultry farming is a type of farming system which involve the raising of domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese for the purpose of getting meat or eggs for food. In poultry ,chickens are of great number than any other .According to OXFORD DICTIONARY, poultry include domestic fowl such as Therefore poultry business refers to a business which involve the raising of domesticated fowl such as chicken, turkeys ,ducks and geese for economical purpose. It is a business enterprise where domestic fowls are raise in order to generate profit.
Starting a poultry business does not necessarily requires educational knowledge, financial capacity or to be an expert in agricultural science. What is required is the interest in the business, discipline and dedication. Before a person can proceed in starting a poultry business there are certain things have to consider in order to start the business.
In order to have an organize structure for an effective and productive poultry business, such a person need to have a drafted business plan. The plan will include:
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WHAT TYPE OF DOMESTIC BIRD TO INVEST ON:
A person can choose to invest and concentrate on chicken or turkey or geese or ducks. However a good and profit –oriented businessman will have to consider its customers and what their interest are. In Nigeria, most people consume chicken compared to other domestic fowl. In choosing chicken, one will have to choose whether it is a layer or boiler. -
WHICH OF THE NICH IN POULTRY FARMING SHOULD TO INVEST UPON: In poultry farming there are different Niches a person can invest on. They include LAYERS BREEDING, BROILERS BREEDING, HATCHERY, and POULTRY FEED. It is important to choose one or two maximum for the purpose of concentration and professionalism.
Layers breeding is raising egg laying poultry birds for the purpose of commercial egg production.
Broilers breeding means the production for the purpose of chicken meat.
Hatchery means breeding chicken for the purpose of hatching new ones.
Poultry feed means food for farm poultry including chickens, ducks, geese and other domestic birds. -
LOCATION FOR THE POULTRY FARM:
It is more preferable to locate the poultry farm in at the rural location than urban area considering the cost of land and availability of lands and also cost manpower. The rural area is also preferable considering Government policy which prohibit setting up poultry farm close to residential area for health implication. -
CAPITAL:
The bigger one plan to start, the bigger the capital for investment. A person can most prefer seek for a short loan especially when venturing into Broiler breeding or layers bleeding, considering the low capital rate required. Also one has to consider the amount for the land in which to set up the poultry.
Where the business plan has been put into order, the next step is to set up the farm once there is capital. It include:
*Purchase a land
*Build the structure
*Buy most preferably a day old chicks
*Buy feeders and drinkers
*Buy a waste disposal system, an incubator and a heater or brooder.
There are many factors in poultry business which makes it more profitable and with less much risk involvement. One of such factor that make poultry business a lucrative one is that one can regain his investment within a short time. For example chicken when laid grow fast and lay large numbers of eggs. The chickens can be ready for sale within 28 weeks (that is seven-7 months) from its birth compared to Goat another livestock that will take 2 or 3 years to mature for sale. Research shows that an average healthy layer can lay almost every day or at about 4 times in a week.
Also the chicken when ready for sale sell within the range of #1500-#2000 per one in Nigeria. Therefore a person can earn at about #20 million or more for about 15,000 chickens. Thus such business is advisable to a person who want get a short term loan and be able to pay back and have profit to still make profit and make another investment.
Also the egg produced can also be another means of getting income apart from selling the chicken or turkey. A crate of egg is about #650 per one, therefore if a person have like 200 layers which produce 10,000 pullet in a month, one can make about #200,000 per month.
In conclusion, in the period of recession that the Nigeria economy is going through there is need for a business with quick profit generation and with less risk .As the saying goes “ no matter how hard the economy is man must eat”, as the festive period draw near,poulty business is certain profitable