Poultry farming is the practice of breeding different domestic birds, such as chickens, turkeys, emus, ducks, geese, and others, for their eggs or meat.
Since this has been a widespread practice in Nigeria for so long, the farming and agricultural systems can no longer function without it.
Among the most profitable agricultural business ventures in Nigeria right now, poultry farming cannot be left out.
If you have enough space in your home to accommodate the desired number of birds, you may start your business without having to invest a significant amount of money.
Nigerian Poultry Farming
As a result of population growth and greater urbanization, the demand for livestock products, especially poultry, is quickly growing in Nigeria and throughout Africa.
One of the agricultural sectors in Nigeria with the quickest growth is poultry farming.
Nigeria’s poultry sector has a 2017 market value of about N1.2 trillion, according to ThisDay Newspaper.
Nigeria produces the most eggs in Africa from the standpoint of market size, followed by South Africa.
Nigeria banned the importation of chicken in 2003, except for day-old chicks, which increased indigenous poultry output.
The majority of the chicken in Nigeria is farmed in “backyards” or on farms with fewer than 1,000 birds due to the country’s very fragmented poultry industry.
The most popular type of poultry farming, which includes raising chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks, is the one where farmers frequently receive a large number of chickens, either for their flesh or their eggs.
The enormous demand for the final product—chicken and eggs—in the market and even in many Nigerian homes today makes poultry farming very lucrative because it appears to be a potent source of animal protein in addition to fish, pig, and beef.
How to Start a Poultry Farm in Nigeria in 6 Steps
Are you preparing to launch your poultry farm? If so, you should think through every facet of the business before starting it.
You must proceed carefully at every step, from assembling some fundamental equipment to rearing the poultry and selling your enterprise.
There are various sorts of poultry farming, including raising ducks, chickens, quails, turkeys, emus, broilers, etc. But the fundamental ideas and methods remain the same.
The five fundamental steps you must take to launch a successful snail-farming business in Nigeria are listed below:
Step 1: Determine What Sort of Poultry Bird You Want To Rear
It’s critical to have a clear idea of the varieties of hens to farm before starting your poultry farming business enterprise, with breeds that lay lots of eggs being the most crucial consideration.
Currently, two main breeds are popular among poultry producers in Nigeria, in addition to birds raised locally.
Broilers: Young males and females are bred for meat production. In only six weeks, they go from a hatch weight of 40 g to a weight of roughly 1.5 to 2 kg.
Layers: Hens are killed for meat after being used to produce commercial eggs. From the age of one day, layer chickens are grown. They begin laying eggs at 18 to 19 weeks and keep doing so for another 72 to 78 weeks.
Cockerels: Cockerels are used to produce meat and have a unique market need, just like broilers, although their growth is much slower than that of broilers, which have a rapid rate of expansion. In a variety of conditions, cockerels can live.
Step 2: Pick a Good Farm Site
Your company greatly depends on the location of your poultry farm. You need a farm location to start raising poultry. The number of birds you intend to raise should be taken into account while determining the size of the poultry farmland.
It’s usually advisable to start small if you have adequate area in your backyard and can’t afford to move to a new location. You can start with what you have, but as soon as you can afford it, give it a top priority to upgrade your farm.
An ideal location for a poultry farm should be free of city noise and activity. It ought to be a serene, pollution-free atmosphere. Water sources close to the farm must be sufficient, hygienic, and fresh.
Additionally, the location must be clear of predators and fowl enemies like foxes and leopards. So that farm products may be transported more conveniently when they are ready for sale, the site must be easily reachable from major roadways.
Step 3: Provide the birds with suitable habitats and shelters.
After acquiring a farm property, housing is a critical component of poultry farming. For the security and survival of your commercial poultry birds, suitable poultry housing is required.
The poultry breeds and farming techniques have a significant impact on the housing system you select. According to different types of chicken growing techniques, housing design differs.
The new home should have ample room for the birds to run about freely. To reduce the risk of flooding, shelters must be raised sufficiently.
The area should be big enough to let the birds fly about freely. The shelter also needs to be sufficiently ventilated and shielded from sunlight.
Step 4: Feeding and Medicating the Poultry Birds
High-quality, nutrient-dense feed is a requirement for commercial chicken production.
The bird is always healthy and extremely productive thanks to high-quality and well-kept meals. Because contaminated feed might infect birds, the feed must always be kept clean and dry.
The secret to success in the chicken farming industry is providing fresh, wholesome food. Water is not needed to be scarce for your birds. A lack of sufficient water supply may hamper their growth.
Many diseases of chickens can be avoided with the right treatment and vaccinations. You need a veterinarian who is available to check on your birds whenever necessary if you are a commercial poultry farmer.
If your birds contract an infectious condition, numerous routine treatments and immunisations contribute to their overall health and keep them protected from bacterial and viral infections.
Step 5: Promoting and Selling the poultry Birds
Every poultry farmer wants to have successful sales following each harvest since raising chickens is a lucrative industry. T
herefore, you must focus on the sales and marketing aspects of your company. Don’t focus on the operational side of your organization to the point where you neglect the sales side.
However, the following suggestions can assist you in marketing and selling your chicken: going online, selling to hotels and restaurants, advertising your items, hiring marketers, home delivery, etc.
Step 6: Be devoted and disciplined
It would be excellent if you developed this habit in every interaction. Particularly when they are young, raising birds may be challenging and time-consuming. The possibility of experiencing many deaths at various phases is another factor.
These things take place. It’s unavoidable to lose one or two birds; losing ten to twenty or more is more likely.
Don’t be afraid to move forward, though. The advantages are substantial. Hard effort, commitment, and dedication are the foundations of everything great, though. It is far from sufficient to obtain a good breed.
The top priority is to make sure you pay great attention to your business. Less mortality and greater productivity are ensured.
You now have the necessary information to begin a chicken farming business in Nigeria.
A Poultry Farming Business’s Startup Cost
Most business owners are unable to afford the huge capital investments that many new ventures require.
In addition to taking a while to pay back your investment, a normal startup business does so as well.
A small-scale chicken operation, on the other hand, has a cheap initial investment and quick financial success.
Within six months, you can obtain a 100% return on your capital investment by starting with as little as N50,000 (which essentially covers the expense of purchasing and feeding the day-old chicks).
Furthermore, after just three weeks of starting, you can start making money because it only takes 21 days for chicks to hatch. Nobody else in the industry can turn things around so quickly.
Challenges Faced by the Poultry Farm Business in Nigeria
Nigerian poultry growers encounter frequent issues despite the economic potential of the industry.
Finding dependable employees to help run the farm is one of the most frequent issues. Epidemics are another frequent issue. These can happen if birds are not properly immunized or when they come into contact with wild birds.
A flock can be abruptly wiped off by infectious diseases like Newcastle disease and avian influenza.
Theft is a further difficulty that poultry breeders encounter. In rural locations where farms are frequently neglected for extended periods, this is particularly prevalent.
Despite these difficulties, if done correctly, chicken farming can be successful in Nigeria. The Nigerian poultry sector has enormous growth potential due to the country’s expanding population and rising demand for chicken meat and eggs.
Wrapping things up
Nigerian commercial poultry farming has generated and is continuing to create lucrative business opportunities for entrepreneurs and it is undoubtedly a fantastic source of employment for unemployed people.
The option that is easier and less dangerous for most business owners is to raise day-old chicks and sell them to growers. You have the freedom to decide, though.
In addition to boosting the economy, poultry farming employs a large number of people. Small-scale farmers may find poultry farming to be more feasible because it often requires less land and funding than other livestock farming endeavours.
Nigeria’s agriculture depends heavily on the production of poultry. In addition to ensuring the food security of the nation, it gives small-scale farmers a source of income.
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