7 easy steps to start poultry farming in Nigeria - Skabash! (2023)

Poultry farming is a profitable business because Nigerians like poultry products like chickens, turkey, eggs etc. According to a report on the Guardian, Nigeria consumes about 1.5 million tons of chicken annually but Nigeria produces only 30% of that. This means that poultry farming business is a largely untapped gold mine. Like every other business, there are challenges but they are not insurmountable.

So are you interested in poultry farming business in Nigeria? Do you want to start it as a main hustle or a side hustle? Then, read this article. In these times when the global economy is tittering downward, everybody must shine their eyes in this country. So join the train of agricultural entrepreneurs and let’s get started.

Table of Content hide

1What is poultry farming?

2How to start poultry farming

2.22. Secure your capital and buy the birds

2.33. Be strategic with your farm location

2.44. Construct good housing and shelter for the birds

2.55. Determine your target market

2.66. Determine the feeding and medication of the birds

2.77. Be consistent

3Cost of poultry farming in Nigeria

4Challenges of poultry farming in Nigeria

5Conclusion

What is poultry farming?

According to Britannica, poultry farming is defined as the raising of birds domestically or commercially, primarily for meat andeggs but also for feathers. Chickens,turkeys,ducks, andgeese are usually the primary products and this also include their eggs.

How to start poultry farming

7 easy steps to start poultry farming in Nigeria - Skabash! (1)

If you’re interested in starting a poultry farm in Nigeria, this is for you. In terms of market size, Nigeria has the largest egg production in Africa with South Africa following behind. ThisDay Newspaper also reported that Nigeria’s poultry industry is worth over N1.2tn as of 2017.

Since the banning of imported chickens, except for the day-old chickens, in Nigeria in 2003, most poultry produce distributed all over the country are locally reared. This means you can make millions with poultry farming in Nigeria. However, you must know the necessary steps to follow before venturing into the business.

ALSO READ: How to start a successful crayfish business in Nigeria

There are different types of poultry farming like duck rearing, rearing chicken, quails, turkey, emu, broiler, etc. But they all follow the same principles and practices. Below are 7 easy steps to follow to start a successful poultry farm in Nigeria.

1. Choose the type of poultry you want to rear

Before you start poultry farming, it’s important to know the type of poultry you want to rear. Don’t be a crowd follower. Determine the type of bird you can comfortably rear. In Nigeria, most people rear chickens such as broilers, old layers, cockerels. Broilers require around 8 weeks to grow to table size, cockerels require 6 months and layers need a minimum of 19 weeks in order to begin laying eggs.

Make your choice. However, it doesn’t stop there. You must also educate yourself on how to rear the breed you have chosen. Start from taking classes from professionals in the business, practice what you have learned and begin the process. There are also sources to learn from such as blogs, books, articles, vlogs etc.

2. Secure your capital and buy the birds

You don’t have to be told that no business can be established without capital. Depending on the scale of poultry farming which can be small, medium or large-scale, you must have sourced the appropriate amount of capital for it. Poultry farming is capital intensive but very profitable. If you can’t raise start-up capital on your own, perhaps you should look at getting a loan from a bank or through loan apps. As long as you know what you’re doing, you can pay back according to your arrangement with your lenders. Once your capital is secure, go ahead and buy the birds you want to rear from reliable sources.

3. Be strategic with your farm location

Oh yes, the location of your poultry farm is very important. You can’t build a farm in an isolated location where people are scared of going. The world is a very dangerous place now and everyone is becoming wary of their movements. So, make sure the land you choose is accessible. You can either use your own land or rent one. If you live in large compound, you can start a small or medium poultry farm. A poultry farm should be in a quiet and pollution-free environment. Poultry birds are often fragile and vulnerable to diseases so you must make sure you breed them in a place that is safe.

4. Construct good housing and shelter for the birds

Housing the birds is very important in poultry farming. Depending on the scale of business, there are different designs you can use. However, there should be enough space for your birds to move around. Also, ensure that the shelter is raised enough to prevent flooding. It must also be adequately ventilated and protected from sunlight.

5. Determine your target market

Don’t be caught up in just operating a poultry farm. In order to make your efforts worthwhile, your poultry farm must be monetised. In every business, the four ‘Ws’ must be put into consideration. Who are you going to sell your produce to? What is their gender and age? Where are they located? When is the best time to sell your produce? All these must be determined before you move any further in your business plans.

Speaking of business plans, do you know how to write a business plan? It’s very important to guide you to where your business is going. Here’s a useful tip: the best period to sell your chickens or turkeys are during the festive period like Christmas, New Year and Easter. So you might want to keep that in mind while starting your poultry farming business.

6. Determine the feeding and medication of the birds

This is what will determine the success or failure of your poultry farm. Feeding is very important for this business. You don’t want to sell birds that look malnourished. Proper management of the poultry is very important. This includes feeding your birds a complete and nutritious diet to help them to stay healthy and lay lots of profitable eggs. Change the water as often as possible to prevent them drinking contaminated water. Don’t cut corners in purchasing the feeds. Avoid buying substandard or adulterated feeds. You may think you’re being smart but you may end up poisoning your birds.

On the other hand, medication is also an important area of concentration. There are various routine medications and vaccinations that will help your birds stay healthy and prevent diseases like birth flu, coccidiosis and other deadly infectious diseases. Also, as a commercial poultry farmer, you need to have a veterinary doctor that can check on your birds when the need arises.

7. Be consistent

You need a lot of patience in poultry farming. You’re not going to start making profit immediately. However, your consistency will determine how successful you’ll turn out to be. There will be times when you’ll lose some of your birds, especially to flooding and diseases. But don’t give up.

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Cost of poultry farming in Nigeria

7 easy steps to start poultry farming in Nigeria - Skabash! (2)

You can start a small scale poultry farm with as little as ₦50,000 to ₦70,000 and get a 100% profit in six months. For medium scale, you need about ₦800,000 – ₦6 million to cover the cost of land and other materials. If you want to go large scale, you need about ₦10 million or more because it’s very capital intensive. You have to buy birds in hundreds, employ professionals, and equip the farm with latest technology and infrastructure for effective running.

Challenges of poultry farming in Nigeria

7 easy steps to start poultry farming in Nigeria - Skabash! (3)

Every good thing has its challenges. Poultry farming is no exception. The following are the challenges of poultry farming in Nigeria:

  • Adequate funding is a challenge to many Nigerians interested in the poultry business. A lot of entrepreneurs and farmers don’t have access to good funding.
  • Many poultry farmers in Nigeria lack adequate training and information on how to run a successful poultry farm. A lot of them are crowd followers who started the business after watching successful farmers. Yet, they lack adequate information on how these farmers made it work.
  • Parasites and diseases can kill a poultry business. While some birds are resistant to certain diseases, others aren’t. Also, lack of good hygiene and adequate feeding contribute to the death of these birds.
  • Some farmers mix grains with the feeds which will only dilute the nutrients that will aid the growth and health of the poultry birds. Feeding is a problem in poultry farming because most good quality feeds are imported and therefore, expensive. This has forced many farmers to look for alternatives which might lead to other problems for the birds.
  • Natural disasters is a common problem in Nigeria. As at the time of this report, some states, cities and communities have been affected by flooding. Many poultry farms have been lost or shut down.
  • Access to vaccines and drugs is a problem as many poultry farmers, especially those operating small-scale businesses, cannot afford them.

Conclusion

Poultry farming is a profitable business in Nigeria. However, it comes with various challenges. These challenges are often temporary if you know where to look. Nigeria has the highest population in Africa and Nigerians consume poultry produce a lot on a daily basis. So don’t let the challenges stop you from starting your own poultry business.

ALSO READ: How to start a successful transportation business in Nigeria

FAQs

How much does it cost to start a poultry farm in Nigeria? ›

STARTUP CAPITAL

Poultry Farming in Nigeria startup costs: 500 birds (point-of-lay layers): N1,500,000. 5 cages (100 birds-per-cage) to house the 500 birds: N450,000. Cage house or pen construction: N1,500,000.

What are the 7 types of poultry? ›

Chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, geese and turkeys can be found in all types of poultry systems, both large and small. But pheasants, quail and ostriches are almost exclusively found in large-scale systems.

How do I start a poultry farm for beginners? ›

1. Select the sector that suits your interest, this includes-
  1. Meat production (through broilers breeding)
  2. Eggs production (through layers breeding)
  3. Production of poultry feed.
  4. Equipment manufacture required in poultry farming.
  5. Eggs and meat processing.
  6. Chicken hatching.
  7. Packaging and marketing of eggs and meat.

How many acres do you need for 200 chickens? ›

Salatin recommends one acre per 500 birds per this method to be sustainable and profitable. This rotational grazing allows chickens to forage the ground naturally while gaining access to fresh grass.

What is the easiest poultry to raise? ›

1. Chickens. As the best known backyard farm bird, chickens are valued because they are easy keepers and quite useful. They've been part of farmyards for about 5,000 years, since first being domesticated in Asia from a wild bird known as Red Junglefowl.

Which poultry is most profitable? ›

  • Country chicken farming / Desi chicken farming. India has long practiced raising desi hens or country chickens. ...
  • Quail Farming. Japanese quail are mostly reared in India for meat and eggs. ...
  • Duck Farming. ...
  • Emu Farming. ...
  • Geese Farming. ...
  • Guinea Fowl Farming.
Aug 6, 2022

How much is a kilo of chicken in Nigeria 2022? ›

₦2,599.00 per 1 kg.

Which state is best for poultry farming? ›

Poultry is raised in all 50 states, with Alabama and Arkansas leading the way in production of broilers (chickens raised for meat). Iowa leads in egg production. North Carolina and Minnesota lead in turkey production.

How many eggs will 7 chickens produce? ›

Based on the 0.5 eggs per chicken per day figure, if we need 24 eggs per week, as estimated above, then 24/7 = 3.4 eggs needed per day. 3.4 eggs per day divided by 0.5 eggs per chicken = 3.4 / 0.5 = 6.8, or approximately 7. So we would need about 7 hens to produce 24 eggs a week somewhat reliably.

Which chicken breed grows fastest? ›

CORNISH CROSS

These birds can reach 12 pounds in just six to eight weeks. Each bird provides a large amount of breast, leg, and thigh meat. However, Cornish Cross chickens require a lot of feed and other resources to accommodate this rapid growth.

Which chicken is best for poultry? ›

The most popular varieties are peela (golden red), yarkin (black and red), Nurie 89(white), kagar (black), chitta (black and white silver), Teekar (brown) and Reza (light red). Although poor in productivity, the birds of this breed are well-known for their meat qualities.

How do I start a small chicken farm at home? ›

It also contains more information on each of the topics in this article.
  1. Starting out. ...
  2. Find a market. ...
  3. Chickens for eggs or chickens for meat? ...
  4. Building a chicken coop. ...
  5. Feed. ...
  6. Equipment. ...
  7. Disease management. ...
  8. Marketing your chickens and eggs.
Feb 3, 2021

How much money do I need to start a poultry farm? ›

On average, it costs between R20,000 to R50,000 to start a chicken farm poultry business in South Africa. This depends on the size of the farm, what type of housing you will be using, where the farm is located, and the breeds you will be farming. Growing a day-old chick typically costs around R40 to the point of sale.

How much money required for poultry farm? ›

This means if you are planning to start a small scale poultry farm, you will need around INR 50,000 to INR 1,50,000. While to start a medium scale poultry business, you may need around INR 1.5 lakh to INR 3.5 lakhs. And for a large scale poultry farm, you will need to invest around INR 7 Lakhs to INR 10 lakhs.

How much space do I need for 500 chickens? ›

So 1 500 chicks placed in a 100 square meter cage equates to 15 chickens per square meter.

How many chickens in a 10x10 run? ›

A chicken needs about 4 square-feet per bird inside the coop. That means a 10x10 coop would comfortably hold 25 birds. Remember, they also need about 10-12 inches per bird to roost on at night.

How much space does 1000 chickens need? ›

Broiler Management
AgeFloor space/ birdFeeder space/ bird
Up to 18 days450 cm2 (0.5 sq.ft.)3 cm
From 19 days to 42 days1000 cm2 (1.1 sq.ft.)6-7 cm

What are the 4 main types of poultry? ›

The breeds of chickens are generally classified as American, Mediterranean, English, and Asiatic. While there are hundreds of breeds in existence, commercial facilities rely on only a select few that meet the rigorous demands of industrial production.

How many chickens should a beginner start with? ›

Chickens are extremely flock-oriented, so a good starter flock size is no fewer than three chickens. You should collect about a dozen eggs from three laying hens. A flock of five or six hens is a good choice for slightly larger families.

Which animal farming is most profitable in Nigeria? ›

In the Nigerian agriculture sector, poultry Farming in Nigeria is one of the most profitable businesses. Chickens are more common than other poultry birds in Nigeria.

How much is a crate of egg in Nigeria 2022? ›

According to him, the farm gate price for normal size egg per crate, under the new price regime will be N1,700 up from N1,500 beginning from the 7th of January, 2022.

How much is gizzard in Nigeria? ›

₦3,500. These unique chicken gizzards are high-quality frozen items. They are low in fat and rich in Vitamin B12 which is essential for brain functioning as well as riboflavin for healthy skin and hair.

How much is full frozen chicken in Nigeria? ›

The price of Chicken Frozen - 1kg on Mart.NG is ₦1450.

How much land is needed per chicken? ›

Try to plan for at least 10 square feet of outdoor space per chicken. But really, the more space you can provide, the happier your chickens will be. In addition to outdoor space, your coop should have roosting bars—preferably at least eight to 12 inches per bird—so they can sleep comfortably at night.

Which season is best for poultry farming? ›

Winter season has incredible impact on poultry generation by bringing down the temperature of encompassing. Amid winter when temperature goes down and different issues like decrease in egg generation, lessening in water consumption, diminishment in fruitfulness and hatchability and so forth happens.

How long do fresh eggs last? ›

A general rule, unwashed eggs will last around two weeks unrefrigerated and about three months or more in your refrigerator. If you're experiencing an egg boom, it's smart to refrigerate any unwashed fresh eggs you aren't planning to eat immediately.

How many eggs can 1 chicken lay per day? ›

Egg-laying chickens lay up to one egg per day at their peak. But how do chickens lay eggs? And how often do chickens lay eggs? The process takes 24 – 26 hours per egg.

How many chickens will feed 12 eggs a day? ›

On average 13-15 chickens should be able to produce a dozen eggs a day for the best part of a year. A single hen is only capable of laying one egg a day, and there will be days when they don't lay eggs at all. Shortly after laying, the hen will start developing a new egg.

What makes chickens grow so fast? ›

Genetic selection and improved nutrition are the main reasons poultry producers are able to produce a much larger bird than they were 50 years ago.

What chicken breed lays 300 eggs a year? ›

White Leghorn

These attractive birds can lay up to 300 large white eggs in their first year.

What are the 2 types of chicken farms? ›

There are two different classifications of chicken raised in the poultry farming industry: broiler chickens and laying hens.

What are the materials needed to start a poultry farm? ›

Common Poultry Farming Equipment and Their Uses
  • Incubators: Incubators are devices used for ensuring the safe and productive hatching of eggs. ...
  • Brooders. A brooder is a heated structure that provides warmth for chicks. ...
  • Chicken Cages. ...
  • Transport Crates. ...
  • Feeders and Drinkers. ...
  • Vaccination Equipment. ...
  • Debeaking Machine. ...
  • Egg Crates.
Aug 2, 2022

How can I start a small farm with no money? ›

How to Start a Farm with No Money
  1. Get Experience from Another Farmer.
  2. Look For Deals on the Market.
  3. Start Purchasing Livestock Young.
  4. Purchase a Good Truck.
  5. Never Loan nor Borrow Anything.
  6. Stock Up on Everything.
  7. Rent Out the Best Farm for You.
  8. Look Into Possible Grants.
Aug 23, 2021

How many chickens do you need to make a profit on eggs? ›

If you can build up to 100 laying hens, you'll earn R155/day or about R4 650/month. With good management, you could reinvest your profits in the business and slowly increase hen numbers. If you can sell eggs to a health shop at R2,50/egg, your daily profit will increase by R50 and your monthly profit by R1 500.

How to start a poultry business in Nigeria? ›

Small scale – You will need around ₦70, 000 to begin rearing chicken on small scale (around 50 birds) and keeping them in cages at your residence backyard. Medium scale – You need about ₦800, 000 – ₦6 million to start a mid-scale poultry farm, which needs housing and other materials over land spreading 1-2 plots.

How to design a poultry farm? ›

The poultry house should be located in such a way that long axis is in east-west direction. This will prevent the direct sunshine over the birds. Each broiler require one square foot of floor space while a layer requires two square feet of floor space under deep-litter system of rearing.

Is poultry income tax free? ›

76 80JJ. Where the gross total income of an assessee includes any profits and gains derived from business of poultry farming, there shall be allowed, in computing the total income of the assessee, a deduction from such profits and gains of an amount equal to thirty-three and one-third per cent thereof.]]

Do we need to pay tax for poultry farm? ›

Unless the lands are converted under Section 95 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, poultry farms cannot be assessed for taxes by the local bodies, much less the gram panchayats, Mr.

How much does a poultry farm make in Nigeria? ›

Salary range for the majority of workers in Poultry producers - from ₦23,223 to ₦106,606 per month - 2022. A Poultry producers typically earns between ₦23,223 and ₦127,582 net per month at the start of the job. After 5 years of service, this is between ₦23,609 and ₦98,132 per month for a working week of 40 hours.

How can I make 15 chickens from 1000 a month? ›

Take those 65 eggs and multiply it by the four weeks in a month, and now we have 260 eggs. Now take that thousand dollars that we want to make. Divide that by those 260 eggs and you get $3.85 each. So if you hatch all those eggs and sell each chick for that amount, you'll make $1,000 a month.

Is chicken farming profitable in Nigeria? ›

Poultry Farming in Nigeria is one of the most profitable agribusinesses in the Nigerian agriculture sector. It is a lucrative money making venture in Nigeria. within a short time frame, due to the fact that chickens mature very quickly.

What are the rules for poultry farming? ›

What are the licenses required for starting poultry farm in India
  • No objection certificate from the local government in the area which you are planning to setup a poultry farm.
  • NOC from pollution board f the area.
  • Electrical permission whether to have a transformer based on the size of farm you are planning to setup.
Feb 7, 2020

How much does it cost to set up a farm in Nigeria? ›

A small-scale farm may cost between N20,000 and N50,000 to set up, while a large-scale commercial farm could cost upwards of N1 million.

How many eggs will 10 chickens produce a day? ›

I have 10 hens and I get an average of 7-9 eggs from my flock per day – that's anywhere between 49 – 63 eggs per week! Now, we use a lot of eggs in my house – eggs for breakfast every morning, lots of quiches and other recipes that use eggs! But if you don't need that many eggs, consider getting less chickens.

How many eggs do 15 chickens lay a day? ›

On average 13-15 chickens should be able to produce a dozen eggs a day for the best part of a year. A single hen is only capable of laying one egg a day, and there will be days when they don't lay eggs at all. Shortly after laying, the hen will start developing a new egg.

How many chickens will 12 eggs make a week? ›

If you wanted to get about a dozen eggs per week, you would need between 3 to 5 laying hens. For two dozen eggs a week, you would need to double those numbers for a flock size of between 6 to 10 laying hens.

What is the best medicine for poultry? ›

Some of these drugs have been used in poultry medicine.
...
Major classes of antibiotics include the following:
  • Aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamycin, neomycin, spectinomycin, and streptomycin)
  • Bambermycins (e.g., bambermycin, flavophospholipol)
  • Beta-Lactams.
  • Penicillins (e.g., penicillin and amoxicillin)

Can poultry farming make you rich? ›

Huge income & employment Opportunities:

Poultry farming creates income and employment opportunities. Unemployed educated youth can easily make a great income by raising poultry commercially.

What are the challenges of poultry farming in Nigeria? ›

This paper reviews this challenges to include; disease and pest attack, lackof loan and credit procument, lack of technical knowleged, high rate of mortality, high cost of poultry feed, supply of poor quality chicks, inadequate extension services, and inadequate access to and high cost of veterinary service.

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