Starting a Poultry Farming Business – Step by Step Guide

Poultry farming means raising domestic birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese for the purpose of farming meat or eggs for food. The most common and widely raised poultry birds are chicken. As of 2014, in the United States, 8 billion chickens are consumed per year, which translates to 21,917,808 chickens per day.

On an average the UK alone consumes more than 29 million chicken eggs everyday. However, in a word commercial poultry farming is very necessary to meet up the demand of animal nutrition (eggs and meat). Commercial poultry farming is also very profitable and one of the best traditional business ventures.

Poultry farming is a lucrative and rewarding venture for entrepreneurs looking to enter the agricultural industry. Whether you’re interested in meat production or egg production, establishing a poultry farm requires careful planning and diligent execution. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to start a poultry farming business.

Step 1: Market Research and Feasibility Study

Before diving into the poultry farming industry, it is crucial to conduct comprehensive market research. Understand the current market trends, demand, and competition in your local area. Analyze the feasibility of starting a poultry farm by considering factors such as market demand, available resources, and potential profitability. This research will provide you with valuable insights to shape your business strategy.

Step 2: Business Planning

Develop a well-structured business plan that outlines your goals, vision, and mission for the poultry farming business. Define the legal requirements and permits needed to establish and operate the farm. Estimate the investment required for land, infrastructure, equipment, and working capital. Create financial projections to assess the potential profitability of your venture and attract potential investors.

Step 3: Securing Financing

Once you have a solid business plan, explore funding options to secure the necessary capital. This can include personal savings, loans from financial institutions, government grants, or partnerships with investors. Present your business proposal and financial plan to potential investors or financial institutions to secure the required financing.

Step 4: Acquiring Land and Facilities

The Space required to start a Poultry farm

It entirely depends on how many chickens you want to start with. According to me, 1 sq.ft space is enough for 1 chicken, but we should take a little more space so that chickens do not have any problems or they do not get any kind of injury. If you want to start with 1000 chickens, you have to prepare shed of 1500 square feet, but if you want to start with 2000 chickens, then you have to prepare a 3,000 square foot shed. I believe that we should start with fewer chickens but you can choose it according to your budget.

Cost of making shed

To make a 1000 sq ft shed, it will cost at least 1 lakh, because when it is formed, we have to take care of certain things like

• The Shed should be complete pucca.
• The Shed should have good water supply.
• There should not be a leak of rain water from the roof, so the shed should be good.
• The farm is completely covered with lattice so the chickens are safe.

The most noteworthy thing is that the farm should be near to the main road. It is very important for the import & export and your transport money will also be saved. The second most important thing is that your farm should be made in the north-south direction. It keeps the flow of air in the hen house, so that the temperature of the building remains and the birds feel less heat. You can also find out about the many things by visiting nearby poultry farms, or take the help of a good expert here.

Benefits for Poultry business

People generally establish poultry farm for the purpose of producing eggs, meat and generating high revenue from these products. Billions of chickens are being raised throughout the world as a good source of food for their eggs and meat. As a result, many farmers prefer to invest in this business. Here I am shortly describing the main benefits of poultry farming.

• In comparison to other livestock, Poultry farming requires less investment to start the farming in commercial scale.
• Return on Investment is rapid and very high.
• Broilers intake of feed is very low while it produces the maximum possible amount of food.
• It provides a continuous source of income throughout the year.
• It does not require huge space, minimum space with modern confinement is enough.
• Almost all banks and financial institution provides loans for the commercial poultry farming project.

Four Types of Poultry Business

Broiler farm

Broiler farming is a lucrative business. Generally highly meat productive birds or poultry breeds are called broiler poultry. In this business, you have to purchase baby chicks from a nearby hatchery and grow it for 40-50 days. When the chickens grow up to 1.5-2.5 kg, they are sent to the market or processing industries.

Egg Farm

Egg production on a small scale is one of the oldest animal farming enterprises in recorded history. In this business, birds are fed some grain and allowed to forage for the balance of their diet. Birds can be used for egg production and may be harvested later for food.

Poultry Hatchery business

Hatcheries take the fertilized eggs, incubate them, and produce day old broiler chicks. The hatchery industry supplies newly born chicks to boiler industries. This is a very profitable business and requires high investments because hatchery demands a sufficient area for the operation. You will need to provide the housing for the one-day chicks. In addition, you must provide the space for incubator operation, vaccinations, etc. Ensure the adequate supply of water and electricity.

Poultry Farms for Rent

If you are not interested in poultry farming business, you can build shed and rent it or even lease it. Renting a shed can also earn a lot of money.

I have to say that you should start with the broiler farm, because as your profits begin to increase, you can start all the projects mentioned above.

Step 5: Procuring Equipment and Supplies

Equipment required to start poultry farms

There is a very long list of equipment and facilities to put in place in order to fully manage a poultry farm. You need to construct a house for the birds, provide feeders and drinkers, a good waste disposal system, source of water, lightening and heat, egg crates and storage space for keeping feed and eggs.

The following equipment may be needed for your poultry farm:

• Feeders
• Drinkers
• Perches
• Nests
• Crates
• Lighting system
• Waste disposal system
• Incubator
• Heaters or brooders
• Egg tray
• Cages and coops

Equipment required for Egg farms:

Laying Nest

Laying nest is another equipment that helps the birds for laying of eggs. One of the advantages of this equipment is that it increases the egg productivity of the poultry birds.

Egg Scale

This is an equipments used in weighing the weight of the eggs. It helps the poultry farmer know the eggs that are fertile enough for hatchery because it is assumed that an under weight egg does not have what it take to form a chick.

Egg Washer

Egg washer is an equipment  that makes use of a powder called the egg washing powder. Water is added into the egg washer and then the egg washing powder is added also. It is used for washing the eggs before delivery.

Water Pots and Drinkers

Neat water is required for growth and digestion in poultry birds just like in humans. Therefore, the drinkers are equipments used for supplying water to the birds. You must ensure that the drinkers are washed regularly to avoid disease.

Cages and Coops

This poultry equipment is used for keeping poultry birds. Coops and cages are poultry equipments suitable for small scale poultry farming.

Dressing Machine

This is an equipment used for feathering birds after slaughter. The use of a dressing machine  makes chicken dressing easier, clean and hygienic.

Step 6: Procuring Chicks or Pullets

Select the appropriate breed and quantity of chicks or pullets based on your farming objectives. Source them from reputable hatcheries or suppliers known for their healthy and disease-free stock. Implement proper rearing practices, including providing the birds with adequate nutrition, vaccination programs, and maintaining proper hygiene.

Step 7: Implementing Farm Management Practices

How to take care of your chickens?

In the beginning, you get a chicken of around 18-20 rupees and it takes at least 40-50 days to grow, you have to pay a lot of attention to these 40-50 days. For example:

• Clean the hands before taking any chick in your hands.
• Get them tested by a specialist doctor every week and get them time to time vaccination form time to time.
• Use the fly traps to kill flies and insects.
• Pay more attention to the cleaning of the farm. The pot in which birds are given food and water, clean it every 2-3 days.
• If there is cold in the winter season, then you should apply heater or lights so that the temperature of your form remains constant.
• Their food should be of calcium and protein.
• Chickens eat more food in winter compared to summer, give them 3-4 times a day.
• To protect the chickens from diseases, use the disinfectant medicines in their food, with the expert advice.

Now, make a list of what we need for this business, and what we already have, such as space, money, equipment, etc. After this, keeping in mind the market condition, Govt schemes and Bank loan scheme, make some good Business Strategy and Marketing Strategy. Keep these things in mind and Prepare a good Business Plan.

Step 8: Marketing and Sales

Identify your target customers, whether it’s wholesalers, retailers, or direct consumers. Develop a marketing strategy to promote your poultry products, focusing on branding, packaging, and pricing strategies. Establish partnerships with local retailers, restaurants, or institutions to secure sales contracts and build a reliable customer base.

Step 9: Compliance and Regulations

Familiarize yourself with the local regulations and requirements for poultry farming. This includes obtaining the necessary permits, licenses, and adhering to animal welfare standards, environmental regulations, and food safety guidelines. Compliance with these regulations is essential to ensure the legality and sustainability of your poultry farming business.

Step 10: Monitoring Performance and Continuous Improvement

Regularly monitor key performance indicators such as flock health, growth rates, feed conversion ratios, and production output. Analyze financial statements to track profitability and identify areas for improvement. Stay updated with industry trends, technological advancements, and best practices through continuous learning

Poultry farming business

Poultry farming means raising domestic birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese for the purpose of farming meat or eggs for food. The most common and widely raised poultry birds are chicken. As of 2014, in the United States, 8 billion chickens are consumed per year, which translates to 21,917,808 chickens per day.On an average the UK alone consumes more than 29 million chicken eggs everyday. However, in a word commercial poultry farming is very necessary to meet up the demand of animal nutrition (eggs and meat). Commercial poultry farming is also very profitable and one of the best traditional business ventures.

Benefits for Poultry business

People generally establish poultry farm for the purpose of producing eggs, meat and generating high revenue from these products. Billions of chickens are being raised throughout the world as a good source of food for their eggs and meat. As a result, many farmers prefer to invest in this business. Here I am shortly describing the main benefits of poultry farming.

• In comparison to other livestock, Poultry farming requires less investment to start the farming in commercial scale.
• Return on Investment is rapid and very high.
• Broilers intake of feed is very low while it produces the maximum possible amount of food.
• It provides a continuous source of income throughout the year.
• It does not require huge space, minimum space with modern confinement is enough.
• Almost all banks and financial institution provides loans for the commercial poultry farming project.

Four Types of Poultry Business

1. Broiler farm

   Broiler farming is a lucrative business. Generally highly meat productive birds or poultry breeds are called broiler poultry. In this business, you have to purchase baby chicks from a nearby hatchery and grow it for 40-50 days. When the chickens grow up to 1.5-2.5 kg, they are sent to the market or processing industries.

2. Egg Farm

   Egg production on a small scale is one of the oldest animal farming enterprises in recorded history. In this business, birds are fed some grain and allowed to forage for the balance of their diet. Birds can be used for egg production and may be harvested later for food.

3. Poultry Hatchery business

   Hatcheries take the fertilized eggs, incubate them, and produce day old broiler chicks. The hatchery industry supplies newly born chicks to boiler industries. This is a very profitable business and requires high investments because hatchery demands a sufficient area for the operation. You will need to provide the housing for the one-day chicks. In addition, you must provide the space for incubator operation, vaccinations, etc. Ensure the adequate supply of water and electricity.

4. Poultry Farms for Rent

   If you are not interested in poultry farming business, you can build shed and rent it or even lease it. Renting a shed can also earn a lot of money.

I have to say that you should start with the broiler farm, because as your profits begin to increase, you can start all the projects mentioned above.

The Space required to start a Poultry farm

It entirely depends on how many chickens you want to start with. According to me, 1 sq.ft space is enough for 1 chicken, but we should take a little more space so that chickens do not have any problems or they do not get any kind of injury. If you want to start with 1000 chickens, you have to prepare shed of 1500 square feet, but if you want to start with 2000 chickens, then you have to prepare a 3,000 square foot shed. I believe that we should start with fewer chickens but you can choose it according to your budget.

Cost of making shed

To make a 1000 sq ft shed, it will cost at least 1 lakh, because when it is formed, we have to take care of certain things like

• The Shed should be complete pucca.
• The Shed should have good water supply.
• There should not be a leak of rain water from the roof, so the shed should be good.
• The farm is completely covered with lattice so the chickens are safe.

The most noteworthy thing is that the farm should be near to the main road. It is very important for the import & export and your transport money will also be saved. The second most important thing is that your farm should be made in the north-south direction. It keeps the flow of air in the hen house, so that the temperature of the building remains and the birds feel less heat. You can also find out about the many things by visiting nearby poultry farms, or take the help of a good expert here.

Click here to Watch the Sponsored video on Poultry Farming Business

 

Equipments required to start poultry farms

There is a very long list of equipments and facilities to put in place in order to fully manage a poultry farm. You need to construct a house for the birds, provide feeders and drinkers, a good waste disposal system, source of water, lightening and heat, egg crates and storage space for keeping feed and eggs.

The following equipment may be needed for your poultry farm:

 

• Feeders
• Drinkers
• Perches
• Nests
• Crates
• Lighting system
• Waste disposal system
• Incubator
• Heaters or brooders
• Egg tray
• Cages and coops

 Equipments required for Egg farms:

• Laying Nest

  Laying nest is another equipment that helps the birds for laying of eggs. One of the advantages of this equipment is that it increases the egg productivity of the poultry birds.

• Egg Scale

  This is an equipments used in weighing the weight of the eggs. It helps the poultry farmer know the eggs that are fertile enough for hatchery because it is assumed that an under weight egg does not have what it take to form a chick.

• Egg Washer

  Egg washer is an equipment  that makes use of a powder called the egg washing powder. Water is added into the egg washer and then the egg washing powder is added also. It is used for washing the eggs before delivery.

• Water Pots and Drinkers

  Neat water is required for growth and digestion in poultry birds just like in humans. Therefore, the drinkers are equipments used for supplying water to the birds. You must ensure that the drinkers are washed regularly to avoid disease.

• Cages and Coops

  This poultry equipment is used for keeping poultry birds. Coops and cages are poultry equipments suitable for small scale poultry farming.

• Dressing Machine

  This is an equipment used for feathering birds after slaughter. The use of a dressing machine  makes chicken dressing easier, clean and hygienic.

How to take care of your chickens?

In the beginning, you get a chicken of around 18-20 rupees and it takes at least 40-50 days to grow, you have to pay a lot of attention to these 40-50 days. For example:

• Clean the hands before taking any chick in your hands.
• Get them tested by a specialist doctor every week and get them time to time vaccination form time to time.
• Use the fly traps to kill flies and insects.
• Pay more attention to the cleaning of the farm. The pot in which birds are given food and water, clean it every 2-3 days.
• If there is cold in the winter season, then you should apply heater or lights so that the temperature of your form remains constant.
• Their food should be of calcium and protein.
• Chickens eat more food in winter compared to summer, give them 3-4 times a day.
• To protect the chickens from diseases, use the disinfectant medicines in their food, with the expert advice.

Now, make a list of what we need for this business, and what we already have, such as space, money, equipment, etc. After this, keeping in mind the market condition, Govt schemes and Bank loan scheme, make some good Business Strategy and Marketing Strategy. Keep these things in mind and Prepare a good Business Plan.

Click here to Watch the Sponsored video on Poultry Farming Business

In the end, I would just say that If you work hard and firmly in the poultry business, you will definitely succeed. Many such examples in front of you who have succeeded in this business. You can earn profit from this business only in 40-50 days and gradually you can start other projects related to poultry farm.

Best of Luck