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.

What is poultry farming?

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

How to start poultry farming

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.

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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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