ProfitableVenture

Free Range Chicken Farm Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Agriculture Industry » Livestock Farming » Poultry » Poultry Business Plan

Are you about starting a chicken farm? If YES, here is a complete sample free range chicken farming business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a chicken farm . We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample chicken produce marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for chicken farms. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

If the agricultural sector looks attractive to you,  and you don’t have enough start – up capital, then you should consider starting a free-range chicken farming business.

Although you don’t need a college degree to establish your own free range chicken farming business, but you would need some form of informal training, you just have to acquire basic knowledge as it relates to rearing chickens, the kind of food they heat and how to source for market for your chicken and eggs.

The truth is that, when you are into free range chicken farming business; rearing your chicken in your backyard, one of the most economical ways of feeding them is to grow your own mealworms at home for them. Mealworm is perhaps the most ideal meal to feed home grown chickens and it is less stressful and inexpensive when you do it yourself.

If you are sure that this type of business is what you truly want to do after you must have conducted your market research and feasibility studies, then the next step to follow is to write a good business plan. Below is a sample free range chicken farming business plan template that will help you successfully write yours with little or no stress;

A Sample Free Range Chicken Farm Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Free range chicken farming is a method of chicken farming where the chickens, for at least a good part of the day, are allowed to roam freely outdoors, rather than being confined in an enclosure for 24 hours each day as obtainable in a standard poultry farms.

Generally, in most chicken range farms, the outdoors ranging area is fenced, in so doing, making the area an enclosure, though, free range chicken farming systems usually offer the opportunity for extensive locomotion and sunlight prevented by indoor housing systems.

Chicken meat which is in the class of white meat is generally consumed in all parts of the world and it is indeed very sweet and healthy. There are loads of free range farms that raise chickens and they are quite making huge profits from the business.

The Chicken and Turkey Meat Production industry includes free range chicken farms that raise chickens basically for meat production.

Downstream meat processors and food producers supply farmers with chicks, feed and payment, according to contractual agreements. Revenue is recorded in the final prices that free range chicken farmers receive per average weight of live chicken.

The free range chicken farming line of business in recent time has experienced positive trends in demand for chicken meat. Of course, increasing health consciousness among American meat consumers has boosted consumption of white meat such as turkey and chicken, which is also more affordable than beef or pork.

Going forward, the industry will continue to enjoy appreciable growth and free range chicken farmers will keep smiling to the bank. Falling input prices will enable free range chicken farmers to increase production volumes; on the other hand, many farms will consolidate to gain the benefits of economies of scale.

It is important to mention that in the united states; USDA free range regulations presently apply only to poultry and indicate that the animal has been allowed access to the outside and the USDA regulations do not specify the quality or size of the outside range nor the duration of time an animal must have access to the outside world (away from their cages).

There have been proposals to regulate by the USDA the labeling of products as free range within the United States. As at present, what constitutes raising an animal free range is entirely decided by the producer of that product.

If you are looking towards leveraging on the agriculture industry to generate huge income, then one of your best bet is to start a free-range chicken farming business and concentrate on the rearing and sale of chicken and egg. One thing is certain about starting a free range chicken farming business.

If you are able to conduct your market research and feasibility studies, you are more likely not going to struggle to sell your chickens and eggs because there are always food processing companies and consumers out there who are ready to buy from you.

2. Executive Summary

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is a world – class and licensed free range chicken farming business that will be based in the outskirt of Baton Rouge, Louisiana – United States. We have done our detailed market research and feasibility studies and we were able to secure 25 hectares of land to start our free-range chicken farming business.

Our free-range chicken farm is going to be standard farm hence will be involved in raising, processing and marketing chickens on a commercial level; we export live chickens, processed chickens and eggs to other countries of the world.

We are in the free-range chicken farming line of business because we want to leverage on the vast opportunities available in the agriculture industry, to contribute our quota in growing the U.S. economy, in national food production, and also to export live and processed chickens from the United States to other countries and over and above to make profit.

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is well positioned to become one of the leading free – range chicken farming business in the United States of America, which is why we have been able to source for the best hands and machines to run the farms with.

We have put process and strategies in place that will help us employ best practices when it comes to raising healthy chickens as required by the regulating bodies in the United States of America.

At Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms, our customer’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients. Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is a private registered free range chicken farming company that is owned by Mr. Douglas Mendez and his immediate family members.

The free – range chicken farm will be fully and single handedly financed by the owner – Mr. Douglas Mendez and his immediate family members at least for a period of time. He is well experienced and highly qualified to run this type of business.

3. Our Products and Services

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is a standard free range chicken farms company that is committed to raising chickens for both the United States’ market and the global market. We are in the free – range chicken farms line of business to make profits and we are going to do all we can to achieve our business goals, aim and objectives.

These are the areas we will concentrate on in our free – range chicken farms. If need arises we will definitely add more poultry produce to our list;

  • Raising, processing and marketing chickens on a commercial level; we export live chickens, processed chickens and eggs to other countries of the world.
  • Broiler chicken production
  • Roaster chicken production
  • Fryer chicken production
  • Cornish hen production

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

  • Our vision as a company is to become one of the leading free range chicken farming brands not just in the United States of America but also on the global stage.
  • Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is a world class and registered free range chicken farms company that is committed to raising chickens for both the United States’ market and the global market. We want our chickens to flood the nooks and crannies of the United States and other countries of the world.

Our Business Structure

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farm is a family owned and managed free range chicken farming business that intends starting small in Baton Rouge – Louisiana, but hopes to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading free range chicken farms and commercial poultry farms in the poultry industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is the reason why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

At Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, and creative, result driven, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stakeholders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

  • Chief Operating Officer

Free Range Chicken Farm Manager

Human Resources and Admin Manager

  • Accountant / Cashier
  • Sales and Marketing Executive
  • Free Range Chicken Farms Utility Employees

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer

  • Relates, and applies the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
  • Accountable for fixing prices and signing business deals
  • Responsible for providing direction for the business
  • Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
  • Evaluates the success of the organization
  • Reports to the board
  • Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
  • Supervise other section manager
  • Ensure compliance during project executions
  • Providing advice on the management of free range chicken farming activities across all section
  • Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
  • Using IT systems and software to keep track of people and progress of the location and growth of chickens in our free-range chicken farm
  • Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and sale of chickens in our free-range chicken farms
  • Represent the organization’s interest at various stakeholders’ meetings
  • Ensures that farming goals desired result are achieved, the most efficient resources (manpower, equipment, tools and chemicals et al) are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied.
  • Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
  • Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
  • Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
  • Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Accountant / Cashier:

  • Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
  • Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
  • Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
  • Accountable for developing and managing financial systems and policies

Sales and Marketing Manager

  • Achieves external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
  • Model demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
  • Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of the business
  • Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
  • Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
  • Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
  • Develop, execute and evaluate new plans for expanding increase sales
  • Create new markets cum businesses for the organization
  • Empower and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Field Workers / Contract Staff

  • Responsible for daily collection of eggs
  • Responsible for feeding chickens as instructed by the supervisor
  • Responsible for cleaning the free-range farm environment
  • Change the water for the chickens as instructed by the supervisor on a regular basis
  • Handles farm implements and machines (hatchery) as instructed by the section manager / supervisor
  • Assist in handling the chickens during sales
  • Carries out task in line with the stated job description
  • Assist in transport working tools and equipment from the free-range chicken farming location and back to the designated store room
  • Handles any other duties as assigned by the line manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC do not intend to launch out with trial and error hence the need to conduct a proper SWOT analysis.

We know that if we get it right from the onset, we would have succeeded in creating the foundation that will help us build a standard free range chicken farming company that will favorably compete with leading free range chicken farms and commercial poultry farms in the United States of America and in the rest part of the world.

We engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured free – range chicken farm that can favorably compete in the highly competitive commercial poultry farms cum free range chicken farms in the United States and the world at large.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC;

Our strength as a free range chicken farm is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants) in the industry; both suppliers of poultry feeds and medications and buyers of chickens and eggs within and outside of the United States of America.

We have some of the latest chicken farming hatchery, tools and equipment that will help us raise chickens in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship (network) and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in Baton Rouge – Louisiana in our payroll.

Our weakness could be that we are a new free range chicken farms company in the United States, and perhaps it might take us sometime to attract big time customers in the industry. We are aware of this and from our projection we will overcome this weakness with time and turn it to a major advantage for the business.

  • Opportunities:

The opportunities that are available to us as a standard free range chicken farm rearing cannot be quantified, we know that there are loads of households, and businesses such as hotels and fast food restaurants that can’t do without daily supply of chicken meat. We are well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity

Some of the threats and challenges that we are likely going to face when we start our own free range chicken farming business are global economic downturn that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), unfavorable government policies and the arrival of a competitor (a commercial farm that engage in the rearing chickens and other birds) within same location.

There is hardly anything we can do as regards this threats and challenges other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for our good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

  • Market Trends

The Chicken Meat Production industry and free range chicken farming business has greatly benefited from campaigns advertising the health benefits of chicken meat and eggs as a good source of protein.

No doubt, the increased demand of chicken and eggs from households and food related businesses and of course the growing popularity of specialty and processed and canned chicken meat have rapidly improved revenue growth for the industry.

In the face of this growth, profit margin has suffered from rising feed costs and also regulations regarding animal welfare.

As a matter of fact, one of the new trends is that with the recent advancement in technology, free range chicken farmers can now comfortably monitor the flow of their chickens within the set perimeters / range as required by the regulatory authority, and they can as well successfully predict and produce the quantities of chickens or even eggs per time. This has indeed helped them in proper planning and budgeting for the business.

8. Our Target Market

Naturally, the target market of those who are the end consumer of free range chicken farm produce and also those who benefits from the business value chain of the free – range chicken farming business is all encompassing; it is far – reaching.

Every household consumes produce from free range chicken farms be it chicken or egg. So also, almost all hotels and fast restaurants sell chicken meat and eggs. In essence a free – range chicken farmer should be able to sell his or her chickens and eggs to as many people as possible.

In view of that, we have positioned our business to attract consumers of chickens and eggs not just in the United States of America alone but also other parts of the world. We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that we meet and surpass the expectations we set for the business. Below is a list of the people and business that we will market our chickens and eggs to;

  • Individuals
  • Restaurants
  • Fast food eateries
  • Agriculture merchants

Our competitive advantage

It is easier to find entrepreneur flocking towards an industry that is known to generate consistent income and most especially if the start – up capital for such business is minimal and this is why there are loads of free range chicken farmers in the United States of America and of course in most parts of the world.

For example, Statistics has it that there are 2.2 million farms in the United States of America, covering an area of 922 million acres. These goes to show that there are appreciable numbers of farmers in the United States of America but that does not mean that there is stiffer competition in the industry.

As a matter of fact, entrepreneurs are encouraged by the government to embrace free range chicken farming cum poultry farming and egg production business. This is so because part of the success of any nation is her ability to cultivate her own food and also export food to other nations of the world.

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is fully aware that there are competitions when it comes to selling chicken meat and eggs all over the globe, which is why we decided to carry out thorough market research so as to know how to take advantage of the available market in the United States and in other parts of the world.

We have done our homework and we have been able to highlight some factors that will give us competitive advantage in the marketplace; some of the factors are effective and reliable free range chicken farming processes that can help us sell our chickens and eggs at competitive prices, good network and excellent relationship management.

Another competitive advantage that we are bringing to the industry is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants) in the industry; both suppliers of chicken feeds and medications and buyers of chickens and eggs within and outside of the United States of America.

We have some of the latest free range chicken farming hatchery, tools and equipment that will help us raise and produce eggs in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship (network) and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in Baton Rouge – Louisiana under our payroll.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups free range chicken farming and commercial poultry farms and egg production companies in the United States) in the industry.

It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

  • Sources of Income

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is in the free – range chicken farming line of business for the purpose of maximizing profits hence we have decided to explore all the available opportunities within the industry to achieve our corporate goals and objectives. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC;

10. Sales Forecast

Going by the market research and survey conducted, we were able to discover that the sales generated by a free – range chicken farming business depends on the size of the farm and of course the size of their marketing network.

We have perfected or sales and marketing strategies and we are set to hit the ground running and we are quite optimistic that we will meet or even surpass our set sales target of generating enough income / profits from the year of operations and build the business from survival to sustainability with the shortest period of time.

We have been able to critically examine the free – range chicken farming business and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some workable assumptions as well with respect to the nature of free range – chicken farming business that we run.

Below are the sales projections for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC it is based on the location of our business and other factors as it relates to free – range chicken farming start – ups in the United States;

  • First Fiscal Year-: $250,000
  • Second Fiscal Year-: $500,000
  • Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), and unfavorable government policies. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

  • Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are quite aware that the reason why some free – range chicken farming business hardly make good profits is their inability to sell off their chickens and eggs as at when due.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the free – range chicken farming line of business and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall business goal of Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC.

Over and above, we have perfected our sale and marketing strategies first by networking with agriculture merchants and businesses that rely on daily supply of chickens and eggs from the chicken meat production industry who are likely to become our customers.

In summary, Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC will adopt the following strategies in marketing our commercial farm produce;

  • Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to stake holders in the agriculture industry, households, hotels and restaurants and agriculture produce merchant et al.
  • Advertise our business in agriculture and food related magazines and websites
  • List our free – range chicken farming business on yellow pages ads
  • Attend related agriculture and food expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
  • Leverage on the internet to promote our business
  • Engage in direct marketing
  • Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Any business that wants to grow beyond the corner of the street or the city they are operating from must be ready and willing to utilize every available means (both conventional and non – conventional means) to advertise and promote the business.

We intend growing our business which is why we have perfected plans to build our brand via every available means. We know that it is important to create strategies that will help us boost our brand awareness and to create a corporate identity for our free – range chicken farming business.

Below are the platforms we will leverage on to boost our free – range chicken farms brand and to promote and advertise our business;

  • Place adverts on community based newspapers, radio stations and TV stations.
  • Encourage the use of word of mouth publicity from our loyal customers
  • Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; YouTube, Instagram, Facebook ,Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Badoo, Google+  and other platforms to promote our business.
  • Ensure that our we position our banners and billboards in strategic positions all around Baton Rouge – Louisiana
  • Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas in and around our neighborhood
  • Contact corporate organizations, households, landlord associations and schools by calling them up and informing them of Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC and the poultry produce we sell
  • Advertise our business in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site
  • Brand all our official cars and trucks and ensure that all our staff members and management staff wears our branded shirt or cap at regular intervals.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Some of the factors that will help you sell your chickens and eggs at the right price that will guarantee that you make profits is dependent on your strategy while some of the factors are beyond your control. For example, if the climatic condition is unfavorable and if there are natural disaster in the location where you have your free – range chicken farm, then it will directly affect the prices of your chicken and eggs.

Over and above, if you want to get the right pricing for your chickens and eggs, then you should ensure that you choose a good location for free – range chicken farm, choose a good breed that will guarantee bountiful harvest, cut the cost of running your free – range chicken farm to the barest minimum.

And of course try as much as possible to attract buyers to your free – range chicken farm as against taking your chickens and eggs to the market to source for buyers; with this, you would have successfully eliminate the cost of transporting the goods to the market and other logistics.

We are quite aware that one of the easiest means of penetrating the market and acquiring loads of customers for our chickens and eggs is to sell them at competitive prices hence we will do all we can to ensure that the prices of our chickens and eggs of all sizes are going to be what other free – range chicken farmers and commercial poultry farmers would look towards beating.

One thing is certain, the nature of free – range chicken farming makes it possible for farmers to place prices for their chickens and eggs based on their discretion without following the benchmark in the industry. The truth is that it is one of the means of avoiding running into loss.

  • Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC will make available to her clients;

  • Payment via bank transfer
  • Payment with cash
  • Payment via credit cards / Point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
  • Payment via online bank transfer
  • Payment via check
  • Payment via mobile money transfer
  • Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for the purchase of chickens and eggs without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our chickens and eggs.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

When it comes to calculating the cost of starting a free – range chicken farm, there are some key factors that should serve as a guide. The breeds of chicken and numbers of chicken to be raised in the farms determines the total cost of setting up the business.

Besides, in setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting / leasing a big facility, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a free – range chicken farming business; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. Below are some of the basic areas we will spend our start – up capital in setting up our free – range chicken farm in the United States of America;

  • The total fee for incorporating the business in United States of America – $750.
  • The amount needed to acquire / lease a farm land  – $50,000
  • The amount required for preparing the farm land (perimeter fencing et al) – $30,000
  • Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $3,300.
  • Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
  • The total cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,500.
  • The total cost for payment of insurance policy covers (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $9,400
  • The amount required for the purchase of the first set of chickens – $10,000
  • The cost for acquiring the required working tools and equipment / machines / hatchery et al– $50,000
  • Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000
  • The cost of launching an official Website – $600
  • Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,000

Going by the report from detailed research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need an average of two hundred thousand dollars ( $200,000 ) to start a standard free – range chicken farm business in the United States of America.

Generating Funds / Startup Capital for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC

No matter how fantastic your business idea might be, if you don’t have the required money to finance the business, the business might not become a reality. Finance is a very important factor when it comes to starting a business such as free – range chicken farming.

No doubt raising startup capital for a business might not come cheap, but it is a task that an entrepreneur must go through.

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is a family business that is solely owned and financed by Mr. Douglas Mendez and his immediate family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partners which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

  • Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings
  • Source for soft loans from family members and friends
  • Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 ( Personal savings $40,000 and soft loan from family members $10,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to retail our chickens and eggs a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of six years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

  • Business Name Availability Check: Completed
  • Business Registration: Completed
  • Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
  • Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
  • Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
  • Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
  • Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
  • Application for business license and permit: Completed
  • Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
  • Leasing of farm land and building of standard perimeter fence around the range: In Progress
  • Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
  • Generating capital from family members: Completed
  • Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
  • Writing of Business Plan: Completed
  • Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
  • Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
  • Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
  • Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
  • Recruitment of employees: In Progress
  • Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
  • Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
  • Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
  • Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
  • Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
  • Compilation of our list of products that will be available in our store: Completed
  • Establishing business relationship with vendors (suppliers of chicken feeds and drugs) and other key players (chicken and egg wholesalers) in the industry: In Progress

Related Posts:

  • Poultry Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]
  • Broiler Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]
  • Layer Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]
  • Pig Farming Business Plan [Sample Template]
  • Honey Beekeeping Farm Business Plan [Sample Template]

StartupBiz Global

Starting Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan (PDF)

Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan

In a world increasingly mindful of ethical and sustainable farming practices, the free range chicken farming business stands as a beacon of opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking not only financial success but also a chance to make a meaningful impact. With low startup costs, strong market demand, and the potential for rapid growth, starting a free range chicken farming business offers a compelling proposition that merits serious consideration.  To build a successful, sustainable free range poultry farming business, you require sufficient knowledge of how to efficiently raise free range chickens, good business management skills, and a good free range poultry farming business plan. This article will outline how to start a free range chicken & egg production business, and the free range chicken farming business plan – PDF, Word and Excel.

This article and business plan is about free range poultry farming.  We also have articles and business plans for

Poultry Egg Farming Business  

Broiler Poultry Farming Business

Click the links above to go to the articles and business plans. 

Free range chicken and backyard chicken production is a lucrative business, but there are some essential decisions that you need to make before you venture into the business. You have to decide on the scale of your free range chicken farming business (the number of chickens that you will keep and eggs that you will produce), location of the free range chicken poultry farm and products (meat, eggs or both).  The amount of capital that you have and your target market will influence those decisions. If you do not have a lot of capital, you can always start small and grow your free range chicken farming business overtime. You also need to carry out market research (Who are you going to sell the birds and eggs to? At what price? Who are your business competitors?) and write a good free range chicken farming business plan before you venture into this poultry business.

One of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates, regards free range chicken farming as a good, profitable business. He donated thousands of chickens as a means of empowering people to earn an income by starting chicken farming businesses. In his article on his website, “Why I would raise Chickens” , Bill Gates says chickens are a good investment which can generate a lot of income for the people, as they have a multiplicative effect, due to the fact that they lay and hatch eggs frequently, thus multiplying the size of your flock quickly.

Market Research

Before starting your free range chicken farming business, it is essential to delve into comprehensive market research. This critical step can significantly impact the success of your venture by providing you with a deep understanding of the market dynamics, consumer preferences, and industry trends. Research potential suppliers for chicken feed, equipment, and other essentials. Additionally, determine the most efficient distribution channels to get your products to your target market, whether it’s through local markets, farmers’ markets, or direct-to-consumer sales.

Selecting the appropriate free range chicken breed is a crucial aspect of market research for your chicken farming business. This decision hinges on several factors, including the availability of the breed in your region, the specific demands of the market, and your business goals. Different chicken breeds excel in various areas, with some being more suited for meat production, while others are renowned for their egg-laying capabilities. Your choice should align with your target market’s preferences and your intended product offerings. By conducting thorough research on the strengths and availability of different chicken breeds, you can make an informed decision that maximizes your farm’s efficiency and meets the demands of your customers, whether you aim to supply meat, eggs, or both.

An essential aspect of market research for your free range chicken farming business is gaining a deep understanding of pricing dynamics within your target market. This involves not only comprehending the prevailing prices of free range chicken and eggs but also identifying your potential customer base, their purchasing habits, and the quantities they typically order. By gathering this information, you can effectively position your pricing strategy to align with the expectations and affordability of your customer demographic. This knowledge empowers you to set competitive and profitable prices while ensuring that your offerings cater to the preferences and purchasing patterns of your target audience, ultimately enhancing your business’s chances of success.

Land for Free Range Chicken Farming Business

You need to have land for your free range chicken farming business. There are several factors that you should take into consideration when selecting the land to run your free range poultry farming operations from. These factors include the available utilities, neighbours, local topography, prevailing winds, condition of roads, available existing buildings, and local government laws and regulations. Free range chickens make noise and produce odours, so your chicken farm should be located some distance away from residential areas. Low lying land close to streams is prone to flooding, so you should avoid such kind of land topography. Land which is level is better, as hilly land increases the construction costs of free range poultry housing due to grading that would have to be done. Consider the available utilities, it’s better to choose a location that has a good water supply and is connected to the main electricity gridline.  Also consider the conditions of the roads – vehicles will use the roads to deliver chicks and feed to the chicken farm as well as deliver chickens to the market from the farm. Thus you will need to choose a location with good roads for your free range poultry farming business. Also consider if the land will allow you to expand in the future, eg is there enough space to construct additional free range chickens houses? Depending of your choice of production system, free range chickens may require pasture to forage on and move freely around, so you should also consider if the land is suitable for free range chickens to scavenge around.

Free Range Poultry Housing

There are various housing options that you can consider for free range chickens. By definition, free range chickens must be allowed access to the outside, that is there should be space available for them to roam around freely outdoors. However, they also need proper housing especially at night. Some poultry farmers even keep free range chickens indoors all the time. Free range poultry housing may be fixed or mobile. Pasture rotation can easily be achieved when using mobile free range chicken housing which reduces damage to pasture and frequently give the chickens access to fresh pasture. Most commercial poultry farmers use fixed free range chicken housing. The free range poultry housing should provide adequate space, light, ventilation and protection to the birds. Free range chickens should have adequate space to move around even in fixed housing systems. If they don’t have enough space, the birds become stressed, cannibalism may occur, and diseases can easily spread. The free range chicken housing should have an adequate ventilation system – this can be achieved by a poultry house that has open sides. If the housing has poor ventilation, that may cause heat stress which leads to death of the free range chickens thus leading to financial loss of your free range poultry farming business. Chickens cannot tolerate high temperatures, thus why it is necessary to construct the poultry house such that its length is in an east-west orientation to avoid direct exposure to sunlight.

A well lighted housing is important for a successful free range chicken business. If the free range chicken house is dark, that leads to inactive and unproductive chickens. Free range chickens require light as it stimulates egg production, and encourages the chickens to eat feed which is good for their growth and health. Natural lighting ie sunlight is preferable as long as it does not increase the temperature of the house – thus why good ventilation system is required for the poultry housing. The free range chicken housing should also offer adequate protection to the birds : protection from predators and extreme weather conditions. Chicken predators include snakes, rats, dogs and mongooses. Your housing can be in the form of chicken barns, runs, pens, houses, hutches, cages and the cost of construction will depend on the materials used, and the size of the free range poultry house. The free range chickens and backyard chickens also need pasture for them to forage. One of the major difference between broiler chickens and free range chickens, is that broilers are raised indoors, confined to the broiler house, while free range chickens will spend most of the day outside, foraging the pasture and vegetation. The costs of constructing the housing should be include in the free range chicken farming business plan.

Equipment for Free Range Poultry Farming Business

Several equipment are required when carrying out free range chicken farming business. Free range chickens should not lay eggs on the floor, thus you should provide nests for them. Nests can be in different forms that include baskets, card boxes, wood and specially-crafted nest boxes. Ensure that your provide adequate nests – the required number depends on the number of laying free range chickens and size of the nest boxes. Feeding equipment is obviously required. Good poultry feeders should : have correct height and depth, easy to clean and be stable so that they are not knocked over by the chickens. Materials used to make poultry feeders include metal, wood and plastic. Small chicks need their own feeders separate from large chickens. Adequate drinking equipment is also required by the chickens. For large commercial free range farming businesses, you can use automated feeding and drinking systems. Incubators may also be required in free range poultry business. They are used for hatching chicken eggs to produce chicks. Free range chickens can naturally hatch eggs on their own, but the numbers of eggs which they can maintain and hatch are limited. To hatch a large number of eggs at one time you will have to use incubators. The free range poultry framing business plan should include a budget of purchasing the poultry equipment.

Day Old Chicks

You need day old chicks to start your free range chicken and backyard poultry farming business.  After getting experience, you may then hatch your own chicks, which will greatly reduce your expenses as you will no longer need to buy day old chicks. You should purchase your day old chicks from a reliable accredited hatchery or company where the parent stocks are well managed. If you are new to the free range poultry business, you should enquire from other farmers to hear where they buy their chicks from. The success of your free range poultry and backyard chicken business will partly depend on the quality of day old chicks which you buy. The free range chicken farming business plan should cater for the costs of purchasing the day old chicks.

free range chicken farming business plan

Free Range Chicken Breeds

Major products of commercial free range chicken farming business are meat and eggs. Your choice of chicken breed will be determined by the final product that you want to sell. You can choose breeds that maximize meat production or egg production. Dual purpose free range chicken breeds can be used to do both meat and egg production. Rhode Island Red  is a popular American free range chicken breed which is very good at laying eggs as it can produce more than 260 eggs per year. The Sussex chicken breed is a dual purpose breed, which is kept for both meat and egg production. Jersey Giant is a very large chicken breed which is usually kept for meat production, though they also lay eggs. New Hampshire Red is a dual purpose free range chicken breed which grows quickly and are used for both meat and egg production.   White Leghorns breed chickens are usually used as layer birds they produce between 280-320 eggs per year, each egg weighing a minimum of 55 grams. Orpington is a large chicken breed which can be used for both meat and egg production as it can produce up to 200 eggs per year. The Boschveld  chicken breed is from Africa, and it can withstand varying climatic conditions. Boschveld  chicken breed is a dual purpose breed, which can be raised for both meat and egg production. There are many other breeds which include Golden Comet, Cornish Cross, Buckeye,  Ameraucana, Chantecler,  Barred Plymouth Rock, Croad Langshan, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Bresse,  Australorp and Dorking.

free range chicken farming business plan pdf

Feed For Free Range Poultry

There are different feeding systems that are used in free range chicken farming operations. Adequate feeding is important to ensure the success of the free range chicken farming business. At the same time, feeding costs should be monitored so as to maintain the profitability of the free range chicken farming business. The advantage of rearing  free range chickens over broiler chickens is that they will get some of their food from scavenging the surroundings, thus the feed costs are minimized. Free range chickens can feed on pasture and forage outside for leftover food, greens, bugs etc. In a free range poultry rearing system, adult hens and cocks ought to be given enough time and space for scavenging in the surroundings daily. The best time for scavenging is early morning and late afternoon when there are plenty of insects and less heat.

However this is usually not adequate for commercial free range chicken farming businesses. Thus you will have to give supplementary feed to the free range chickens. This can be in the form of commercial stock feeds. As stock chicken feeds are expensive, free range chickens can also be given maize, wheat, sorghum, rice and other grains. Home made stock feeds can also be used to feed free range chickens. Supplementary feeds should be offered in the morning and evening when the free range chickens come back for the night. Clean water should be provided in shady areas during the day to avoid heat stress.  You should adequately feed your free range chickens to ensure that they reach their market weight in the target period. Lack of sufficient feed causes slow growth, poor health and low egg production which reduces the profitability of your free range chicken farming business. You will also need proper vaccines and medications to prevent diseases and promote growth of your free range and backyard chickens. Costs of feed should be included in the free range chicken farming business plan.

Free Range Chicken Farming Business Model

The foundation of a successful free range chicken farming business revolves around a well-structured and sustainable business model. To kickstart this venture, you begin by acquiring day-old chicks, which serve as the future of your flock. These chicks are nurtured and raised in a suitable free range housing environment, where their growth and well-being are carefully monitored. The flexibility of this business model lies in its versatility, allowing you to produce either eggs, chickens for meat, or a combination of both, depending on market demand and your strategic preferences.

The primary expenditures in this business include the initial cost of day-old chicks and ongoing expenses related to feed and maintenance. As the chicks mature, typically reaching maturity at around 12 to 16 weeks, you can decide whether to sell them as live birds or as dressed birds for meat, tailoring your approach to meet the needs of your target market. On the other hand, if your focus is on egg production, free range chicken layers will begin laying eggs consistently from the age of 20 weeks onwards. These freshly laid eggs can then be sold, constituting a significant portion of your revenue.

The beauty of this free range chicken farming model lies in its self-sustaining nature. Over time, as your free range chicken layers continue to lay eggs, you have the option to hatch some of these eggs to produce your own day-old chicks, significantly reducing the need for recurring purchases. This cycle ensures a consistent and potentially lucrative stream of income throughout the year, making the free range chicken farming business an attractive and profitable endeavor.

Management and Labour

The number of farm workers you need will depend on the size of your free range and backyard chicken project. If you are running a small business e.g. 100 birds/cycle, you and your family may be enough to take care of the chickens. However, if you are rearing 2000 birds per cycle, you will need full time employees to manage the free range chickens.  There is need for good technical knowledge of free range chickens rearing techniques for success in the business. You also need good management skills. Salaries for all your staff should be included in the free range chicken farming business.

The amount of capital required for a free range poultry farming business depends on the scale of the project. Sources of capital include bank loans, and equity investors.Don’t have access to capital? Start small, and grow your business overtime! Free range chickens are very profitable, so if you reinvest the profits you get, you can quickly grow. You will require a good free-range chicken and eggs production business plan to guide you in your business.

Marketing Plan

Developing a comprehensive marketing plan is essential for the success of your free range chicken farming business. This plan will serve as your roadmap to reaching your target audience, establishing a strong brand presence, and ultimately driving sales. To start, it’s crucial to identify your ideal customers and understand their preferences and buying behaviors. Whether you’re targeting health-conscious consumers, local restaurants, or specialty grocery stores, this knowledge will allow you to tailor your marketing efforts effectively.

Creating a compelling brand identity is another vital component of your marketing strategy. Your brand should encapsulate the values of ethical and sustainable farming practices, which are closely associated with free range chicken products. This involves designing an eye-catching logo, selecting a memorable brand name, and creating appealing packaging that resonates with your target audience.

In today’s digital era, an online presence is paramount. Develop a professional website to showcase your products, farming practices, and contact information. Leverage social media platforms to engage with potential customers, share updates about your farm, and promote special offers. Additionally, consider content marketing to educate your audience about the benefits of free range products and position yourself as an authority in the field. Collaborating with local businesses, farmers’ markets, and restaurants can also expand your reach and enhance your visibility within the community. By incorporating these elements into your marketing plan, you can build a strong brand presence, attract loyal customers, and ensure the long-term success of your free range chicken farming business.

Market for Free Range Chickens Meat And Eggs

The market for free range chickens is high and increasing, as more people are moving towards organic and healthier food. Many people prefer organic free range chicken meat, as compared to broiler chicken meat. This is because free range chickens are highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and healthier. Thus, the demand for free range organic chickens meat continues to rise. Free range chickens have a higher price than broiler chickens, as they are considered to be more superior.

The eggs from free range chickens are also considered to be superior as compared to the eggs from commercial indoor layers chickens. Free range chicken eggs are considered to be highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and healthier. Thus, the price of free range organic eggs is higher as compared to the usual poultry eggs. You can supply your free range chicken meat and eggs to individual households, butchers, schools, restaurants, companies, supermarkets, organizations, events, abattoirs etc. You can sell your free range chicken as live birds or you can slaughter and freeze them and sell them as dressed chicken.  As you grow your business, you will also be able to export your free range organic products.

Advantages of Free Range Chicken Farming Business

One of the primary attractions of venturing into free range chicken farming is the relatively low startup costs associated with this agricultural endeavor. Compared to other farming ventures, the initial investment required to set up a free range chicken farm is comparatively modest. This affordability makes it an accessible option for individuals looking to enter the farming industry without the burden of high upfront expenses. Aspiring entrepreneurs can get started with a manageable budget, allowing for a gradual expansion of their operations as they gain experience and confidence in the business.

Another compelling advantage is the strong market demand for free range chicken products. With an increasing number of consumers seeking healthier and ethically produced food options, the market for free range chicken meat and eggs has been steadily growing. This rising demand provides a favorable environment for entrepreneurs in this industry, as it ensures a consistent customer base and potential for sustainable growth. The strong market demand not only enhances the profitability of the business but also offers a level of resilience in the face of economic fluctuations.

Additionally, free range chicken farming offers the flexibility of diversifying product offerings. Entrepreneurs can choose to focus on egg production, meat production, or even a combination of both, depending on market trends and their business goals. This versatility allows for the adaptation of the business to changing consumer preferences and market dynamics. It also mitigates the risks associated with being solely reliant on a single product category, further enhancing the business’s long-term viability and profitability.

Moreover, the potential for rapid growth is a significant advantage in this industry. By hatching their own chicks from eggs laid by free range layers, farmers can reduce the need for external purchases and increase their self-sufficiency. This self-sustainability not only minimizes ongoing expenses but also accelerates growth potential. Farmers can control their supply chain, ensuring a consistent stream of day-old chicks for future production, thereby optimizing their profits.

Pre-Written Free Range Chicken And Egg Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the free range chicken production business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive business plan. We introduced the business plans after discovering that many were venturing into the free range chicken business without enough knowledge and understanding of how to run the business, how to keep the birds, lack of understanding of the financial side of the business, lack of understanding of : the industry, the risks involved , costs and profitability of the business; which often leads to disastrous losses.

The StartupBiz Global business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run your free range chicken business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as you will be aware of all the costs involved in setting up and running the free range chicken business.

Uses of the Free Range Poultry Farming Business Plan – PDF, Word And Excel

The free range poultry farming business plan can be used for many purposes including:

  • Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives.
  • Applying for a bank loan.
  • Start-up guide to launch your free range poultry farming business.
  • As a project/business proposal.
  • Assessing profitability of the free range chicken business.
  • Finding a business partner.
  • Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save.
  • Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation.

Contents of the Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan – PDF, Word And Excel

The business plan include, but not limited to:

  • Marketing Strategy
  • Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortization)
  • Risk Analysis
  • Industry Analysis
  • Market Analysis
  • SWOT & PEST Analysis
  • Operational Requirements (Including technical aspects of how to keep and rear the free range chickens, feed requirements etc)
  • Operational Strategy
  • Why some people in the free range poultry business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
  • Ways to raise capital to start your free range poultry business

The Pre-written Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan package consists of 4 files:

  • Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive Version – 93 Pages)
  • Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive Version – 93 Pages)
  • Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan Funding/Bank Loan Version- Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan/funding – 44 pages)
  • Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel File)

The business plan can be used in any country and can be easily edited. The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the number of chickens, selling price of  the chickens etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

Click below to download the Contents Page of the Free Range Chicken Production Business Plan (PDF)

Download free range chickens business plan contents

Testimonial 6

I purchased a business plan from you, and I’m glad to inform you that I was able to get my loan, and I’m starting my poultry farming business on the 1 st of July. This was made possible because of your business plan. Thank you very much, you made my dream come true.

Testimonial 8

Just wanted to say I am very happy with the business plan and I will gladly recommend your products, thank you very much and have a great day.

Testimonial 1

StartupBiz Global provided a very professional and comprehensive business plan which I used for my business. The business plan was easy to edit, and I was able to get the funding which I wanted. I highly recommend their business plans.

Testimonial 2

Many thanks for your incredibly efficient service and thorough business plan. I am very impressed with the business plan. Before I bought the business plan, I tried to do my own business plan – it was such a nightmare and it turned out badly, also not to mention the stress it caused me. I wish I knew about your website earlier!

Testimonial 4

The business plan which I purchased from your website saved me TIME and MONEY! The layout of the business plan was excellent. The financial statements were detailed and easy for me to edit. I will come back to purchase another business plan soon.

Testimonial 7

I found Startupbiz Global online when I was in desperate need of a business plan. I was overwhelmed by the quality of the business plan, it’s comprehensive and well researched! I did not have to wait to get the business plan, I got it instantly after payment. I highly recommend Startupbiz Global, and would happily use them again in the future.

Testimonial 3

I was extremely lucky to come across StartupBiz Global. Their business plan exceeded my expectations, and most importantly I was able to secure a loan from my bank. Thank you guys, now my dreams are coming true!

Testimonial 5

I was able to understand the business side of farming because of your business plan. You did extensive research; the business plan was well prepared and fully detailed.  It made everything clear, and I have somewhere to start now. I am confident that I am going to succeed in my business because of the guidance from your business plan.

Get the Free Range Chicken And Egg Farming Business Plan - PDF, Word And Excel

Click Buy Now  below to purchase using Paypal, Credit Card, or Debit Card. After you have purchased, you will immediately see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. You will also immediately get an email with the business plan download link. The Pre-written business plan package (PDF, Word, and Excel) costs $30 only!

Buy free range chicken farming business plan

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once then click here: Business Plans Store.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

We wish you the best in your Free Range Chicken production business! Check out our collection of business plans  , and more business ideas .

Related Posts

photography business plan

How To Start A Photography Business

petrol station business plan

Starting A Petrol Station Business Plan (PDF)

Latest Innovations In Poultry Farming

Latest Innovations In Poultry Farming

broiler poultry farming business plan

Starting Broiler Poultry Farming Business Plan (PDF)

 

Join our mailing list to receive the latest posts and updates from our website.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

tswana chicken business plan

  • Executive summary
  • Company overview
  • Products and services
  • Operation plan
  • Market and industry overview
  • Sales & marketing plan
  • Financial plan
  • Risk management plan
  • Potential funding sources

tswana chicken business plan

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Pets and Animals
  • Bird Breeds

Everything You Need to Know to Create a Profitable Poultry Farm

Last Updated: May 30, 2024 Fact Checked

  • Choosing a Farm Type
  • Establishing the Farm
  • Caring for Chickens
  • Growing Your Farm

Expert Interview

This article was co-authored by Alexandra Doss and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Alexandra Doss is a Poultry & Livestock Expert expert based in Ruskin, Florida. She owns and manages Stellar Game Birds, Poultry, Waterfowl LLC, a selective breeding operation with game birds, poultry, and waterfowl. With over 14 years of experience, she produces strong genetics and health in her hatching eggs, eating eggs, and live birds. The farm is FWC game farm licensed, FDAC licensed for quail, chicken, and duck eating eggs and meat, and NPIP certified. She is known as the Quail Lady and has published several books on raising Coturnix. Her work has been featured in Mother Earth News, Backyard Poultry, Grit, The Chicken Whisperer Magazine, and Community Chickens. She also has a career as a Workforce Management Supervisor and has a certificate in project ​​management. She received a BS from Oregon State in Animal Sciences. There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,748,965 times.

Running a chicken farm requires more than just agricultural know-how. If you want to be a chicken farmer, you must also think like a business person while growing your brand. Choosing a focus, establishing a brand, raising your chickens, and building your business are all part of chicken farming. Then, as your farm grows, you'll be able to market, finance, and network to grow your business. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to start a successful chicken farm business.

Quick Steps to Start a Chicken Farm

  • Decide if you want an egg- or meat-production farm and choose the best chicken breeds for your focus.
  • Buy the land for your farm and purchase supplies like coops, brooders, and feeders. Apply for a loan if necessary.
  • Market your farm by creating a website, making ads, and attending agriculture conferences to network.

Choosing a Focus, Breed, and Location

Step 1 Choose an egg-laying farm if you want to work with egg production.

  • Although less common, some chicken farms handle both meat production and egg-laying. If you choose this option, it may require twice as much equipment and physical labor.
  • Studies show that eggs from chickens raised in good environments have double or triple the omega-3 fatty acid content and a third of the cholesterol as other eggs. By creating an egg-laying farm, you can assure your customers that they weren’t fed or exposed to unhealthy chemicals. [2] X Research source

Step 2 Create a meat production farm if you're interested in processing meat.

  • Broiler farms typically grow between 4 and 8 flocks a year, depending on the size of the chickens.
  • Large chickens are typically processed into value-added products like chicken patties and chicken fingers. Medium-sized chickens are often packaged as boneless breasts or whole rotisserie chickens. Small chickens are often sold as fast food products. [4] X Research source

Step 3 Choose a specialty niche for your business, if desired.

  • Egg or meat processing: Processing poultry products for taste, quality, and safety
  • Marketing poultry products: Promoting poultry products through advertisements to increase revenue
  • Chicken breeding: Raising, breeding , and selling chickens for pet owners or other farmers

Step 4 Pick a chicken breed that matches your farming goals.

  • If you want to start an egg-laying farm, for example, you may want to choose a layer breed like Rhode Island Red, Hamburg, or Sussex chickens. [7] X Research source
  • Some good broiler breeds include the Cornish Cross, Bréese, Buckeye, and Delaware chickens. [8] X Research source
  • You can find a list of popular chicken breeds and their specialties at https://chickenbreedslist.com/ .

Step 5 Find a location close to your city's limits.

  • The further you move from your city or town, the cheaper the land will be.
  • If you can't find land near the city limits, look for land in the countryside where you'll have plenty of space to farm.
  • Poultry expert Alexandra Doss recommends that you “have at least an acre or so” of land for a chicken farm, but “a quarter of an acre is fine for a few chickens, too.”

Establishing Your Chicken Farm

Step 1 Pursue a Bachelor's degree in agriculture or business.

  • If you choose agriculture or poultry science, add a business minor (or vice-versa) to take classes on marketing, leadership, and other relevant topics.
  • Get your degree online if you don't have time for a traditional four-year degree.
  • Other ways to learn about poultry farming include taking a training course or consulting an established farmer for advice and mentorship.

Step 2 Learn and follow all poultry farm regulations.

  • If you’re starting a farm in the United States, consider applying for an LLC, which has many benefits for startups.

Step 3 Create a business plan for your chicken farm.

  • If you're running a meat productions farm, for example, you could include your plans for raising and butchering chickens, revenue goals or the first year, and plans for marketing your poultry products in stores.
  • Business plans are useful for attracting investors or business partners down the road.

Step 4 Apply for a loan to fund your chicken farm if necessary.

  • Bring a business outline, evidence of your credit history, pay stubs, and anything else requested by the bank to your meeting.
  • Start with a loan for the minimum amount of equipment and chickens for your farm. You can always get a larger loan as your business grows.

Step 5 Purchase all of the necessary equipment for your chicken farm.

  • Lighting instruments
  • Waterers or heaters
  • Waste disposal system

Step 6 Determine whether to hire laborers for your farm.

  • Start with a small farm so you don't have to pay workers until your chicken farm business is successful.
  • If you need to hire more workers, try to hire those with years of experience in poultry farming for better stability. You’ll also likely need an administrative manager to keep an eye on daily business.

Raising and Caring for Chickens

Step 1 Set up coops or cages for your chickens.

  • Extensive: A cost-effective system in which your chickens roam freely on the ground and just have a shelter.
  • Semi-intensive: In this system, you’ll breed half your chickens in cages and the other half will roam freely on the ground. This system protects the chickens from predators and bad weather.
  • Deep-litter: This system is best for broilers. The chickens can move freely on the ground made of straw, sawdust, and leaves. This system allows you to easily feed them and reach their eggs without unnecessary hurdles.
  • Slatted or wired: This system includes creating small houses with wooden slats or wired mesh flooring. The slats are 4 feet above the ground and you can easily feed the chickens and collect eggs . This is ideal for adult birds as the houses have a low temperature.
  • Battery-caged: In this system, you’ll place the birds in metal cages and separate them into groups. Each cage has its own food and water containers and provides nests for the chickens to lay eggs in. This is the most effective system for egg production, but it may be too expensive for a new business.
  • Build the chicken coop or cage at about 4 sq ft (0.37 m 2 ) per chicken. [17] X Research source
  • Clean the chicken coop or cage regularly to prevent the chickens from spreading diseases.

Step 2 Raise chicks for your farm.

  • When buying chicks, always do some research beforehand to make sure the breeder is dependable. You don’t want to invest a ton of money on chicks just to discover they’re sick or malnourished.
  • Make sure you have the brooder ready before buying and stocking the chicks.

Step 3 Feed your chickens daily.

  • You can also give chickens corn, halved grapes, or cabbage as a treat, but avoid feeding them these treats more than several times a week as it's less healthy than chicken feed. [19] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source
  • Nearly 70% of your production cost comes from supplying poultry feed.
  • As you become more experienced, consider learning how to prepare your own feed . Until then, buying it from the market is fine.
  • If your chickens aren’t fed properly, they’ll produce fewer eggs and become susceptible to various diseases.
  • If you use ingredients like maize, ensure the moisture content is never above 10-11%, as this may lead to fungus. To prevent this, purchase your feed from a reliable company.

Step 4 Make sure your chickens get enough light.

  • As there is currently no effective treatment for poultry diseases, vaccinate your chickens to keep the diseases from spreading. Some common vaccines include RDV, Fowl Pox, Cholera, and Mycoplasma. Consult with your vet to get your chickens vaccinated.
  • Not all vets have experience working with chickens, so locate a poultry vet ahead of time. [22] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source

Growing Your Poultry Farm

Step 1 Write down your farming sales and production records for future reference.

  • If you notice that you're spending too much on chicken feed, for example, shop around with different suppliers to find cheaper feed.
  • You can also hire an accountant or financial advisor to keep your records organized for you.

Step 2 Market your poultry farm to spread the word.

  • Creating a logo for your business can also provide visibility for your brand. Make sure it aligns with your business (for example, you could never go wrong with incorporating a chicken into your logo) and put it on your website and business cards.
  • If you don’t have a large budget, however, don’t splurge on a logo when you can invest your money into your actual business.
  • Make use of social media, as well. Consider making a Facebook, Instagram, and even a TikTok account to spread the word about your business. Be sure to post regularly!

Step 3 Connect with other farming businesses.

  • Connect with your friends and neighbors, too. Even if they’re not farmers themselves, they may know people who are interested in buying from you or investing in your business.

Step 4 Apply for more loans or investments to grow your business.

  • If you're running a chicken breeding farm, for example, you may want a loan to buy better egg incubators.

Step 5 Consider raising other types of poultry.

Community Q&A

Andy Winder

  • If you're not up for starting a chicken farm from scratch, you can also invest in or buy an existing franchise instead. [27] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Independent U.S. government agency focused on consumer protection Go to source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Research methods that successful chicken farms use as a guide for your business. Popular poultry farms include Cargill Meat Solutions, Hormel Foods Corp, Tyson Foods, JBS USA, and Smithfield Foods. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

tswana chicken business plan

  • Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling chickens. Live poultry often carry salmonella. [28] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Stop a Rooster from Crowing

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about poultry, check out our in-depth interview with Alexandra Doss .

  • ↑ https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KWCS.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/many-benefits-backyard-chickens
  • ↑ https://www.ciwf.org.uk/farm-animals/chickens/meat-chickens/
  • ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/new-farmers-guide-to-the-commercial-broiler-industry-poultry-husbandry-biosecurity-basics/
  • ↑ https://www.poultry.care/blog/how-to-start-a-successful-poultry-care-farming-business
  • ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/poultry-species/chickens/en/
  • ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/234/69325/Chicken_Breed_Chart_to_Help_Choose_Your_Chicken.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.ciwf.org.uk/media/5235306/The-life-of-Broiler-chickens.pdf
  • ↑ https://withmydegree.org/can-degree-agriculture/
  • ↑ https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan
  • ↑ https://www.osha.gov/poultry-processing
  • ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/management-and-housing/en/
  • ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-biosecurity/keeping-backyard-chickens
  • ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/adopting-and-caring-backyard-chickens
  • ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/decreasing-daylight-and-its-effect-on-laying-hens
  • ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g8903
  • ↑ https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/what-kind-of-records-should-i-keep
  • ↑ https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmers/build-knowledge
  • ↑ https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan
  • ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/poultry-species/en/
  • ↑ https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/consumers-guide-buying-franchise
  • ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/animal/backyard.html

About This Article

Alexandra Doss

To start a chicken farm business, decide if you want to focus on eggs, meat production, or another specialty niche, then obtain the necessary equipment. Next, choose a chicken breed that matches your farming goals and set up coops or cages to keep them in. Feed and care for your chickens daily and be sure to separate any chickens that seem ill from the rest of the population. Don't forget to market your business by creating a website and advertisements! For more tips on choosing the best breed for your goals, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

  • Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

S. Simelane

S. Simelane

Aug 24, 2017

Did this article help you?

S. Simelane

Usman Kehinde

Aug 25, 2017

Robert Leggett

Robert Leggett

Feb 6, 2018

Pamela Spalani

Pamela Spalani

Jun 23, 2016

Nikky Adetokun

Nikky Adetokun

Mar 9, 2017

Do I Have a Dirty Mind Quiz

Featured Articles

Feel Calm and Relaxed

Trending Articles

18 Practical Ways to Celebrate Pride as an Ally

Watch Articles

Clean Silver Jewelry with Vinegar

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

Growthink logo white

Poultry Farm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

poultry farm business plan

Poultry Farm Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their poultry farms. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a poultry farm business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Poultry Farm Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your poultry farm as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Poultry Farm

If you’re looking to start a poultry farm, or grow your existing poultry farm, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your poultry farm in order to improve your chances of success. Your poultry farming business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Poultry Farms

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a poultry farm are personal savings, credit cards, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans, bank loans, and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and USDA FSA loans are the most common funding paths for poultry farm.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a chicken farm.

If you want to start a poultry farm or expand your current one, you need a business plan. We detail each section of a traditional business plan for a poultry farming business.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of poultry farm you are operating and its status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a poultry farm business that you would like to grow, or are you operating poultry farm businesses in multiple locations?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the poultry farm industry. Discuss the type of poultry farm you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of poultry farm you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of poultry farms:

  • Breeder Farms : this type of poultry farm produces hatching eggs for delivery to the hatchery. After the 21 day incubation period, the hatchery then delivers the baby chicks to the broiler houses.
  • Broiler Farms: this type of farm produces a 2.5 lb. to 8 lb. bird in 4 to 8 weeks which is processed for various types of retail sale to consumers, grocery stores or fast food chains as whole birds, cut-up breast, wings, thigh, drumsticks, deboned breast meat, or further processed pieces.
  • Pullet Farms: this type of poultry farm produces pullets and roosters to be delivered to a breeder hen house at 20-22 weeks old when they are sexually mature to breed and lay eggs.

In addition to explaining the type of poultry farming business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

  • When and why did you start the business?
  • What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of chickens and/or turkeys produced, number of production contracts, etc.
  • Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the poultry farm industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the poultry farm industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your poultry farming business plan:

  • How big is the poultry farm industry (in dollars)?
  • Is the market declining or increasing?
  • Who are the key competitors in the market?
  • Who are the key suppliers in the market?
  • What trends are affecting the industry?
  • What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
  • What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your poultry farm business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your target market.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your poultry farming business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: processors, grocery stores, and restaurants.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of poultry farm business you operate. Clearly, processors would respond to different marketing promotions than restaurants, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most poultry farm businesses primarily serve customers living in their same region, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

Finish Your Poultry Farm Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other poultry farm businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes producers of other meat such as beef, pork, or fish, as well as producers of meat alternatives. You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other poultry farms with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be poultry farms located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

  • What types of customers do they serve?
  • What kinds of poultry do they produce (breeders, broilers, pullets)?
  • What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
  • What are they good at?
  • What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

  • Will you use superior production methods?
  • Will you provide services that your competitors don’t offer?
  • Will you provide better customer service?
  • Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a poultry farm business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of poultry farm company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to traditional poultry, will you provide organic or cage-free poultry?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the products and services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your poultry farm company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your poultry farm located near a processing facility, near a transportation hub, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your poultry farm marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

  • Advertising in trade papers and magazines
  • Reaching out to local agriculture extension offices
  • Social media marketing
  • Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your poultry farm, including animal care / feeding, flock supervision, animal transportation, sourcing feed, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to sign your 20th production contract, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your poultry farm to a new location.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your poultry farm’s ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing poultry farms. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing farms or successfully running small businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you supply 50 restaurants, or produce 2,000 birds for processing each month? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your poultry farming business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a poultry farm business:

  • Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
  • Cost of equipment and supplies
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Business insurance
  • Taxes and permits
  • Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your farm title or lease, or blueprints of the production facility.  

Putting together a business plan for your poultry farm is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the poultry farm industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful poultry farming business.  

Poultry Farm Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my poultry farm business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Poultry Farm Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of poultry farm business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a poultry farm business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of poultry farm businesses?

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Poultry Farm business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Business Plan Template & Guide For Small Businesses

Farming South Africa

tswana chicken business plan

Chicken Farming South Africa – Free Business Plan

Chicken Farming Business Plan South Africa – In this article we have put together two simple chicken business plans for both small scale farmers and intensive or larger scale poultry farming. A small scale business plan will guide you how to farm with chickens and a more advanced plan feature points that you can present to the Bank for a loan or Government Funding

  • Backyard or Small Scale Chicken Farming Business Plan
  • Intensive or larger Chicken Farming Business Plan

Table of Contents

Breakdown of a Backyard or Small Scale Chicken Farming Business Plan

  • Housing Cost
  • Bedding Cost
  • Feed and Water Cost

Health and Treatment Cost

Marketing and marketing cost.

We will look at the basics and profitability of small scale farming.

But let me explain why you need a business plan. A business plan is a written tool about your business that projects 3-5 years ahead and outlines the path your business intends to take to make money and grow revenue. Think of it as a living project for your business, and not as a one-time document. Break it down into mini-plans – one for sales and marketing, one for pricing, one for operations, and so on.

A good business plan guides you through each stage of starting and managing your business. You’ll use your business plan for how to structure, run, and grow your new business. It’s a way to think through and detail all the key elements of how your business will run.

Setup and Cost

You need to determine how many chickens you can operate with. When building your coop you need to construct the building to easy extent it if needed as your business grow. Housing should be protected from strong winds and must be waterproofed.

Day old chicks are not cold tolerant and you can lose your stock if they are not protected against bad weather. Make sure that your coops are also protected against rodents and do not store feed in your coops.

Planning the cost of your housing carefully will save you money as you will not buy unnecessary material and pay extra wages to redesign your housing if errors were made.

Plan your bedding well before the chicks arrive. You can get bedding at your closest sawmill or at pet stores or even make wood shavings yourself. Bedding is a nominal cost and you will need to maintain it as long as you have chickens.

Bedding is not expensive and can be resold as manure after your farming cycle. Bedding can be bought in bulk and stored in a dry place which are rodent free.

Feed and Water

Watering Systems are expensive and need to be planned carefully. You need to get the right amount of bell drinkers or water holders and raise them as the chickens grow.

You will need 3 types of feeds for broilers in the form of starter feed, grower and finisher. You will find a breakdown of feeding methods on our website.

Planing your feed is crucial and having too many chicks at the startup of your business you don’t want to run out of cash to buy feed for the chickens.

Work out how much starter, grower and finisher you are going to need. You can use this Feeding Calculator for Layer and Broiler Chickens

You need to plan for chickens getting sick. Talk to your state vet before starting your business. Virukill is a must for any chicken farmer to disinfect their coops floors and walls. You can also use it to wash their drinkers and feeders.

Marketing is an essential part of your business. Plan ahead on how to market your business. Advertising in news papers or on social media is a good way to create public awareness and almost guaranteed to bring clients to you. There are many free methods of marketing but it is time consuming and not always an effective strategy to market your business.

You have to decide how much help you are going to need and budget for wages. Chickens take time to return your investment and running out of cash means that you are going to run out of workers.

Selling your products are not always easy. We have put together a paragraph on how to sell your chickens and eggs.

4 Best Ways to Sell Chickens in South Africa

Poultry Farming Business Plan Outline – For Bank Loans or Government Funding

You need to follow these points to create a full and complete business plan to present to your Bank for a loan or to apply for Government Funding.

  • Mission Statement
  • Keys to success
  • Location and facilities
  • Industry Analysis
  • Challenges facing the poultry industry
  • Market segmentation
  • Target market segment strategy
  • Market trends
  • Startup costs
  • Product description
  • Future products
  • Service Description
  • Future services
  • Competition
  • Competitive edge
  • Marketing strategy
  • Pricing and promotion strategy
  • Web strategy
  • Sales strategy
  • SWOT analysis
  • Socio-cultural
  • Technological
  • Management team
  • Organizational structure
  • Hiring Plan
  • Projected Profit and Loss
  • Projected Cash Flow
  • Projected Balance Sheet
  • Financial risks
  • Health risks
  • Technological risks

YouTube Channel:  Farming South Africa Facebook Page:  Farming Life Back To Home Page:  Farming South Africa

Keywords for this post: Farming South Africa Farming Magazine South Africa Online Farming Magazine South Africa Agriculture South Africa Farming News South Africa South Africa Farming

33 Replies to “Chicken Farming South Africa – Free Business Plan”

I would like to be connected to the suppliers of poultry equipments. Batery cages, incubators, etc. I am planning a start up for egg, meat and chick production.

Please advise in what province country you stay, that way, suppliers can get hold of you.

Thank you very much for the good information about chicken farming. I have learnt a lot and I am looking forward to starting poultry farming soon.

Hi i would like to be connected to the suppliers of chicken poultry equipments which includes the housing. as i am in the pipeline of starting my own broiler production in south africa. i am currently staying in gauteng and would start the business in limpopo. (south africa).

I wanna start with a small scale so l can be good at managing it say about 500 broilers. I need to be assisted in draftibg a bplan to obtain funds to start my buildings and move it up and l will expand from my earnings

Hi good evening I am interested in chicken farming want start my business with 2000 chickens for egg production but need help and assistance to abtain land

Hello, please advise if you have been assisted as i also require some assistance in drafting a business plan,

i would like to start my own poultry farming business. i want to start by broilers then layer. i am struggling to draft a solid business plan. can you help me with a business plan. i want start by farming and raising 500 birds.

HI , I NEED HELP ABOUT BUSINESS PLAN .

I WOULD LIKE TO START A POULTRY FARMING . AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONECTED TO CHICHEN POULTRY EQUIPMENT,WICH INCUDES THE HOUSING ,INCUBACTOR ,ND BATERY LAYER CAGES. I WANT TO START MY OWN BROILER ,LEYER CHICKEN ,EGGS,MEAT ND CHICK PRODUCTION.

I need all the information I can open get before I begin. Please help me by sending me information on how to raise broilers to maturity. You can help me with off of broilers or begginera books

Good day I would really like to start my own poultry farming can you please assist with a solid business plan.

hy i would like to start a chicken layer farm, can you help with bussinees plan.

I really need help how to draft a proper business plan for layers and broilers. Please help with business plan for 750 layers and 700 broilers

Need all the finances and any form of assistance with our Layer farming Biz.

Assisting in designing and building Poultry Farm in Protes Gle, Soweto, Johannesburg. Looking for suppliers of related products

I need help with business proposal cos I’ve started with selling chickens to the market

May you please assist me with Broiler/ Layers fertilized eggs and chicks suppliers for small scale farming based in Witbank Mpumalanga province or Bronkospruit Rural.

Hi I need your assistance with a business plan for a chicken farm as well as financial forecast , I’m based in Brits.

Hi I’m starting a broiler chicken farm. Starting with 150 000 chicks. Incubators for 50 000 eggs. I need a business plan Quotes for my infrastructures as well as automatic feeding system.

Kind regards Austin 0671583665

Hi. My name is Muzi Mndawe I need to start a chicken farm business. Starting with 500 chick and egg layers. So I need help I stay in mpumalaga around Mbomnela

Hi I’m Ntombi in Khayelitsha CT, I would like to find out how do I go about farming chickens, selling and also assistance in making a business plan and acquiring funding.

Good day I need to start poultry project

I need help in starting an egg production company

Please could you assist me with a poultry farming project for layers and broilers. Thank you kindly.

I want to start a small scale poultry project ( egg production) . can you help me to develop a business plan and solicit start-up funding . Thank You

Hi I am located in Protea Glen, Soweto and looking to start chicken farming business , please advise how and where do i start, even interested in learning more about chickens as well. PLEASE ADVISE..

Hi! I have an incubator and a Hatcher for chicken eggs and would like to be assisted with buyers for 1 day old broiler chicks as I don’t have facilities for growing these chicks.

Hello, i am looking for suppliers of Ross Broiler Day Old Chicks in the Vaal, Vanderbijl area. Please advise.

We want to start a a chicken farming business. Can you help with the business plan and the starting costs then if the funding are accepted we will need help to put the all farm in place.

Hi, I want to bay a farm and start a poultry farm in the north wets area, need some help with a business plan and start up for the farm, I need help please.

I am looking at busying a fully operational chicken farm around Pretoria not exceeding R4m please assist if you can.

I would like to be connected to the suppliers of poultry types of equipment. cages, incubators, etc. I am planning a start-up for egg, and chick production.

my name is Jeanette iam startup in layers your help will be highly appreciated

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

PoultryCare

Chicken Farming Business Plan For Beginners

How to start poultry farming business – chicken farming business plan for beginners.

If you are interested in being a poultry farmer, you must want to know how to start a poultry farming business for beginners, this article tell you the chicken farming business plan which could be helpful for you.

Why to Start Poultry Farming Business Plan

A Poultry farming business can be called one of the most lucrative in the world if it is managed properly. The poultry farmers now we have are not enough that’s why chicken farming business has become so much profitable. It has become the finest opportunity of making a good amount of money in a short period of time. This article will focus on the process of poultry farming, the process of poultry from small farm and how to make it a big one.

1. Fast Reproduction and Large in Numbers

A healthy layer chicken almost lays an egg every day or 4 eggs in a week sometimes it lays 7 eggs in a week too, these all depends on the quality of your birds. Some birds can lay 325 eggs in a year. And it takes 21 days to hatch. Technically this means that a layer chicken is able to produce another layer twice in three days. So, if you have 500 healthy California white birds they are capable of giving you 12,000 chicks within 40 days.

2. A Fast Growth Rate

The most interesting thing about the poultry is its high growth rate. It takes about 21 days when the eggs are hatched. After their birth it takes about 27 to 28 weeks when they are fully ready for the market. That means a poultry farmer starts earning his income in just 31 weeks after he has successfully started his poultry farming business. According to the calculation he will be able to double his income in a year. However there are some uncertainties in this business, mortality and diseases are some of them but it can be reduced by taking proper managements and vaccination.

3. Sales at a Very Profitable Price

The market price of a bird is not so low you can a good profit from it. The price of a fully grown healthy chicken is about 10 to 11 dollar in the market. So if you are the one who produce 12,000 chickens in 40 days in his farm, you obviously are making 120,000 dollar when they are sold completely.

4. The Egg Market is Also Large

The poultry egg market is also good and very profitable. With the meat business, the poultry eggs are another source of good profit. You can earn about 2 to 3 dollar for each crate of smaller eggs and 3-4 for bigger one. Every crate has 30 eggs. So if you have 500 layers in your farm and they lays 12,000 eggs in a month and if you want to sell all of them then you are making 1,500 dollar per month.

Before Starting Your Poultry Farming Business Plan

Before you start your chicken farm business, you have to make a poultry farming business plan, it is very important for all types of business. A business plan is like a road map which tells you where you are going with your business. A business plan will tell you at which point you are now in your business. Your poultry farming business plan should include the following points.

1. Select The Type of Poultry Bird

The first step of starting a poultry business is the selection of bird type. Here you will choose the type of birds is that layer chicken or broiler. You can choose any of them it totally up to you. There are some other types of birds that you can bring in your consideration. They are the duck, goose, turkey etc.

2. Select The Cage Type of Your Poultry

Another important factor consider before baking the final plan of your chicken farm is to select the chicken cage type and size. Maybe you are thinking that, this is not that much necessary to think before starting the business, but believe it actually is. Estimating over your cost over the chicken cages will affect both positively and negatively on your entire poultry business plan. So go through the cage type on our website and choose the best type of cages you need.

3. Sort out The Area of Interest

You can’t start poultry business without a goal. You have to choose a path where you want to flow your business. This will concentrate your focus in one point and will ensure higher level of professionalism but if you want to work with two areas then no problem. Here are some niches of poultry farming.

  • Layer Chicken Breeding : These are mainly used for egg production.
  • Broiler Breeding : It is used for chicken meat production.
  • Hatchery : Is for hatching new chicks.
  • Poultry feed : It produce feeds for other poultry farms.

You can choose any of them. You can choose breed layer and broiler together if you want to.

4. Specify Poultry Location

Another important sector of poultry farming is choosing the location where you will set up for your business. It has a direct impact with the start up cost. My preferable place for a poultry farm is a rural area with a road nearby. This will reduce your cost of land and labor. When you start your poultry farming business you may not want to spend all of your money for a land in urban area. There are some other difficulties in urban area with poultry farming. Govt. will not allow you to make a farm in a residential area for health issue. So it is better to select a perfect land for your business in a rural area.

5. Investment Capital

After you have specified your location now you know how much capital you are required to start your chicken farming business plan. Write down all of your capital you need and manage the source where to get manage it.

Like every business the bigger your business plan the bigger you have to invest. You have to decide how much capital you can afford for this business.

Poultry Farming Business Plan – How to Get Going?

You have all of your business plans ready but if you don’t apply it then all are useless. We consider you have your capital ready if you have that then start for the next steps.

Step 1: Buy The Land

Like we suggested you earlier you have to choose a land which is a remote place from city. But remember don’t choose any place which is too far from the city and which don’t have any well transportation system.

Step 2: Build The Required Structure

A good housing system is very important for your poultry farming business. A good housing system not only save your chickens from danger but also increase your profit in poultry business. Every poultry housing systems are classified according to the management system, scale and the use. The common types of poultry housing systems used are

  • Half litter
  • Deep litter

Step 3: Buy Cages

Purchasing chicken cages is a very important part of the business as many of the affecting factors directly depends on the size, orientation, strength and layout of the chicken cage. Make proper measurements and analyze your poultry size and budget before buying the chicken cage. Here are the available chicken cages we offer – layer chicken cage (battery cage) , baby chick cage , broiler cage , commercial quail cages and commercial rabbit cages , etc.Hightop Poultry Equipmentis one of the leading chicken cage and poultry farm equipment manufacturer in China,contact usnow to get the free layout design according to your chicken house and birds quantity.

We have got another article in this blog describing the usage and utility of each of the cage types and surely that will help you to choose the best fit of your poultry.

Step 4: Buy Birds/Chicks

It is perfect decision to choose day old chick to start your poultry business. Before you buy these chicks find a reliable Hatchery where you can get healthy chicks. It will not cost you too much.

Step 5: Other Items and Accessories You Need

There are some otherpoultry cage accessorieslikedrinkers,feeders, Parches, crates, nests,lighting system,egg incubator,waste disposal system, etc.

You have to consider these costs too. And as an eventual part of plan, we also provide you the best poultry farm equipment like –Automatic egg collector,automatic feeding system,automatic manure removal machine,disinfectant fogging machineand cooling system, etc. in a very affordable price and top quality.

Challenges in Poultry Business Startup

Poultry farming is one of the most profitable business in these days. But you have to know the risk of this business. Though there are no businesses which are beyond risk and challenges.

1. Lack of Government Support

From our previous experiences we all may think that govt. will help us at our critical time in this business. But don’t be sure about it. Prepare yourself that govt. will not help when you need them. Think that you have to run your business alone without the help of any one. Take a backup for sudden loss. It may help you to run your business properly and if you get help from the govt. think that it is a bonus.

2. A Very High Starting Capital

It is said money is everything. So without a proper funding you will not be able to run your business. Like other business, poultry farming business also needs proper funding. Without it you may not be able to add extra facilities which will increase your production rate.

You need proper funding to purchase land, poultry farm equipment, food for your chick and you need to pay your labor. In all sector you need a good capital. So you should do a research on your cost and capital you have then you should start your poultry farm business. We can provide you the poultry cage and chicken farm equipment with good price, help you to save money.

3. Disease Out Breaking

A dirty environment in your firm will invite many diseases and infections. Poultry are very sensitive to the environmental changes. If the poultry farm is not taken care of properly the birds will easily be exposed to different kinds of bacteria. You have to keep your poultry farm clean as much as possible. Automatic manure cleaning system,disinfectant fogging machineandventilating systemcan help you.

You must not bring any contaminated equipment, footwear or even vehicles. Also do not allow any visitors in your poultry farm environment.

4. Other Influencing Factors

There are some other factors that can affect your poultry farming business like proper vaccination. You have to be able to afford it may become difficult for you if you are a small scale poultry farmer. So the thing you have to do is gather some other farmers like you and buy the vaccine.

Another challenge in poultry farming is the high cost of poultry food. So it is seen that most of the farmers who have a little capital, economize or ration the food. It affects the profit in a large scale.

Want to buy chicken cage and poultry farm equipment to start your own poultry farming business? Please feel free to contact us.

PoultryTech Summit & expo 2024

Related Posts

Ai and robotics: shaping the future of layer farming, innovations in layer farming automation: a glimpse into the future, from famous to feathered: the star-studded world of celebrity layer farmers, achieve celebrity-grade egg production: transforming your layer farm with poultryerp, egg-clusive celebrity henhouses: a glimpse into the glamour of egg farming, smart feeding: enhancing layer farm productivity with ai, join with our whatsapp channel for daily poultry tips click here.

Join with our PoultryCare WhatsApp Channel

  • JOIN BIZNA CLUB
  • AGRIBUSINESS
  • SAVINGS & INVESTMENT
  • REAL ESTATE
  • IMMIGRATION
  • PAID CONTENT

Logo

The best chicken farming business plan (Updated Plan)

Best Chicken Breeds in Kenya

Chicken farming business plan: before you start a business, you must have a business plan that will help you execute your idea properly. When it comes to chicken farming, things are not any different. Here is the business plan you need to as written by Dr. Watson Messo, a Vet at Kenchic :

The best chicken farming business plan:

The Executive summary

It is extremely important to visualise what you want to do in business. If you want to do broiler production, ask yourself how many broilers do I want to keep per cycle?  what is the customers’ preference in the market? If you want to sell eggs or meat, how many restaurants, supermarket, bars are you targeting?

Put these down in a summary. Indicate your initial investment capital, or do you intend to borrow for the construction of chicken house/unit.

What about capital to buy poultry equipment and the working capital to keep the process going until the products hit the market. Can you work out your expected profit margin during the peak period of demand and low period.

tswana chicken business plan

Business idea

Clarify your business idea with certainty and without any ambiguity. Write something like, I want to rear 500 broilers per cycle, 7 cycles per year. I will locally produce, process pack and sell the meat at slaughter weight of 1.75kg live weight at the restaurants and hotels within Siaya and Bondo district. Clarify that you will produce meat or eggs of high quality as preferred by the customers.

Project description

Describe how you will put your ideas into reality by designing and constructing the units, the labour source, your financial sources, where to buy chicks, feed etc. Describe sources of funding, where to get water, who will be in-charge of what, where are you going to construct poultry unit, is it full time engagement or part-time.

Do your market research and analysis diligently, know who your competitors are, your target markets, list the hotels and restaurants and bars in your locality. Seek to know the owners or managers by name and mobile numbers. Print some leaflets and introduce to your friends and relatives first before you seek other target groups.

Execute operation plan

Draw a calendar of events as you plan to operationalise every activity. Seek assistance from experts and experienced farmers on construction of sheds, where to buy quality chicks, feed availability etc. Seek knowledge on chicken growing, egg production or meat processing and grading, transport, pricing and labelling and marketing. Take time to learn poultry brooding, rearing, production and marketing.

Peris Mbuthia: How I saved Sh. 25 million to start my business

Financial planning

Draw up cost of construction, buying equipment and working capital for buying chicks, feed, packaging costs, vet cost etc. Project your profit and loss account, projected balance sheet. This is especially important if you intend to get bank loan or funding from financial institutions. After putting everything in writing then you will be able to see clarity in what you want to venture into without uncertainties.

Connect With Us

Latest stories, catherine macharia: poultry farmer buying day-old chicks at sh95, selling them for sh400, how to increase your poultry production for more profits, sanaipei tande: lessons i’ve learnt from venturing into chicken farming, meet farmer minting profits from rearing over 2,000 kienyeji chickens, how i make sh. 50,000 net profit every month from selling eggs, ahmed jabri: how i moved from 1,500 chicks to producing 20,000 chickens monthly, i turned my chicken farm from losses to making up to sh. 126,000 monthly, making money from the most expensive birds: these birds fetch up to sh320,000, what you need to know before starting a chicken hatchery business, related stories.

Bizna Digital Services is a Business Enterprise Development portal that supports access to better goods and services by marketing and promoting businesses.

  • Our Profile
  • Privacy Policy

Latest from Bizna

Kenyans have now defaulted on loans worth more than sh. 630 billion, etihad airways suspends return of abu dhabi-nairobi direct flights indefinitely, uber and bolt warn they will quit kenya if proposed tax is passed.

© 2023 Bizna Digital Services. All Rights Reserved.

tswana chicken business plan

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

  • We're Hiring!
  • Help Center

paper cover thumbnail

Laying performance and egg traits of indigenous Tswana chickens under traditional management

Profile image of Andries Bolowe

There is limited information on laying performance and egg characteristics of indigenous Tswana chickens (ITC) under traditional free range system. A structured questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 26 farmers in Oodi, Morwa and Bokaa villages in Kgatleng district. The survey data revealed that on average, 81% of the farmers did not know the age at first egg of ITC and that on average ITC laid 7 eggs per week over an average laying period of 2-3 weeks. The average number of eggs incubated by ITC was found to be 15 eggs/hen and more egg production and more chicks are hatched in winter than in summer. This study also evaluated egg quality characteristics of ITC relative to commercial layer chicken (CLC). A total of 100 eggs obtained from 8 ITC farmers and 108 eggs from two CLC farms were analysed for external and internal egg quality traits. Eggs of ITC had significantly higher (P<0.001) values for egg length (5.68±0.04mm versus 5.58±0.04 mm), yolk weight (16.24±0.37...

Related Papers

Edward Moto

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of farmers management on performance of Kuroiler chickens in five selected villages of Babati district. Parameters evaluated were growth performance, egg production and egg external quality. The results showed that there was variation of weight gain and average daily weight gain between farmers (P < 0.001). This might be contributed by farmers management, age of the chicken and due to the interaction effects of farmers management and chicken age. The rate of weight gain was slightly variable across farmers (P < 0.05) and action sites (P < 0.05), mainly due to management and age. The chickens attained promising live weights ranging from 1,342.3 to 2,691.7 g at 18 weeks and 1,535.9 to 3,039.1 g at 20 weeks. Egg production was also affected by management especially feeding and nutrition, in which most chicken started to lay eggs at the age between 18–20 weeks. Egg laying was characterised by an increasing trend progressively with da...

tswana chicken business plan

simushi liswaniso

This study was conducted to understand egg quality traits of Zambian indigenous chicken eggs in Kabwe as a way to create an inventory of the genetic potential of these chickens. This is the inventory that may be used to design breeding programs for the improvement of egg quality traits of indigenous free-range chickens in Kabwe, Zambia. 316 eggs of uncharacterized indigenous chickens were collected from around small scale farmers and used in this study. Egg weight was 48.63g, egg length and width were 54.26mm and 40.22mm respectively. The egg weight had positive correlation with all traits measured, meaning that if selection is made for any of these traits it would result in a corresponding increase in egg weight. Three principal components were extracted that accounted for 79.05% of the total variance. We hypothesized that PC1 was a size factor and PC2 shell quality factor. These results indicate that there exists high potential for egg quality improvements in Kabwe through proper ...

Veterinary Integrative Sciences

legesse tunsisa

Ageze Abraham

International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences

Mestawet Taye

Traditional chicken production plays a key role in the livelihood of the rural residents in developing countries being an immediate income source and by improving the nutritional status of the rural household (Melesse, 2014). Chicken products are the primary affordable sources of animal source food in rural household since they cannot inquire the cost of small and large ruminants’ price. Chicken production is thus vital to meet food security by producing a high quality animal source protein and being income source to most rural populations (Melesse, 2014). Moreover, traditional chicken production is environmentally friendship and cheap protein producing system to utilize waste scavenging feed resources. Scavenging chicken production is very essential by producing eggs attributed with better quality in some egg quality traits such as shell thickness, yolk colour and albumin index than in commercial production with least cost (Cicek and Kartalkanat, 2009).

Tropical Animal Health and Production

Alexander Kahi

African journal of agricultural research

Tadelle Dessie

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

I.U. Sheikh , Joga Dev Mahanta

Agriculture Journal IJOEAR

The aim of this study was to characterize indigenous chicken eggs and create an inventory that will set a base for designing breeding programs to improve egg quality traits. 338 eggs of mixed breeds of indigenous chickens from small scale farmers in Lusaka were collected and used in this study. A number of external and internal traits were measured manually. The eggs had a weight of 49±0.44g with a length of 54.55mm and 40.31mm wide. Other traits measured included egg shell weight and length, with the egg shell accounting for 12.78% of the total weight of the egg. The egg albumin and egg yolk weighed 26.21g and 16.55g respectively. The egg weight positively correlated with all the traits studied. A principal component analysis on these traits extracted three principal components that accounted 75.80%. The diversity shown by these eggs shows a huge potential for improvements of egg quality characteristics through proper selection and breeding.

Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences

Kefyalew Berihun Reda

This study was conducted to assess indigenous chicken incubation, brooding hen and chick's husbandry practices of farmers at Hulla, Aleta Wondo, and Dale districts representing highland, midland, and lowland agro-ecologies, respectively. From each agroecology, two kebeles were purposively selected based on potential poultry production and road availability. About 256 households were purposively selected from six kebeles for survey interview. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and SAS version 9.0 software packages. The result indicated that all the respondents in the study areas incubate eggs only laid at home. The majority (75.8%) of the respondents in all agroecology did not select eggs for incubation. Majority of the respondents (61.3%) in all agroecological zones stored incubated eggs for two weeks before the incubation. Another majority of respondents (66.8%) in all agroecological zones provided water to brooder hen in the afternoon only. All of the respondents in the study areas incubated eggs and rear their chicks naturally using broody hen. About 62.4, 51.0, and 52.0 % of respondents in highland, midland, and lowland agroecological zones, respectively, responded that the handling problem was the main cause of the failure to hatchability. Almost all of the respondents in the study areas provided free access to water to their chicks. The average number of eggs set per hen was 12.46±1.50 (mean±SD) with no significant difference between agroecological zones. The hatchability of the eggs in the study areas was 83.55% and there was no significant difference between agroecological zones. In conclusion, regardless of the agroecological differences, farmers incubated eggs and brood chicks naturally by using broody hens, and they stored incubating eggs for a long time without considering storage conditions. Therefore, promoting incubation and brooding technologies (mini-hatcheries, sandwich incubator, hay box brooder) is necessary to improve the productivity of local chicken

RELATED PAPERS

Professor Wael Fahmi

Edilber Chipana Pari

Physics and Chemistry of Minerals

Francesco Pagliaro

Rujee Rattanasathien

Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry

Ilknur Bingül

Diseases of the Esophagus

Sofia Espinoza

Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Sompol Prakongpan

Strength of Materials

Jafar Eskandari Jam

firas AL-Horamee

Jackson Jack

Catarina Branco

Electronic Imaging

Olga Ormandjieva

Nesrin Uygun

Verena Kasper-Marienberg

2018 Technologies for Smart-City Energy Security and Power (ICSESP)

ramakanta jena`

International Journal of Networks and Systems

WARSE The World Academy of Research in Science and Engineering

Schizophrenia Research

Ali Saffet Gonul

Australian Journal of Chemistry

Jonathan White

Judy Leongson

John Harvy Arcia Grajales

Robert Blodgett

Extravio Revista Electronica De Literatura Comparada

Carmen Morán Rodríguez

RELATED TOPICS

  •   We're Hiring!
  •   Help Center
  • Find new research papers in:
  • Health Sciences
  • Earth Sciences
  • Cognitive Science
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Academia ©2024

1Library

  • No results found

Poultry Production: Reasons for keeping Tswana Chickens

5.0 data analysis, 5.2.1 poultry production: reasons for keeping tswana chickens.

The analysis revealed poultry production as the prominent type of farming undertaken by women farmers under pastoral farming sector. The women farmers participated in poultry production both as subsistence/commercial enterprise and strictly commercial enterprise comprised of Tswana, broiler and Orpinton breeds. The women farmers’ participation in this sub-sector was reported in 7 articles.

The women farmers’ reasons for undertaking the production of Tswana chickens for subsistence/commercial enterprise included provision for their families, relieving themselves from adverse poverty, as well as motivation by peoples’ preference of chicken meat to beef. These women farmers reportedly noted that Tswana chickens can withstand harsh conditions and as such, they are easy to maintain and sustain since they are raised from free range system. Botswana Agrinews Magazine thus communicates both agri-business and personal decisions and desires to potential audiences, partners and entrepreneurs.

These findings agree with Guèye’s (2000) submission that “rural family poultry . . . contribute significantly to food security, poverty alleviation and the promotion of gender equality, especially in disadvantaged groups and less favoured areas of rural Africa” (Guèye 2000:129). Furthermore, characteristics of Tswana chickens are in harmonious relationship with those of rural family poultry as depicted in Guèye’s article. These birds are reportedly raised in free-range and/or backyard systems, they scavenge and feed on locally available resources, and supplementary feeding is sometimes provided with agricultural (by-) products especially for laying birds and poultry intended for sale. Again, the poultry keeper’s or household’s socioeconomic circumstances reportedly determine the levels of inputs used (Guèye 2000).

It is perhaps in view of these characteristics that this agricultural undertaking is reported to be easily accessible to women farmers more than is the case with smallstock and livestock keeping. Guèye (2000) states that 80% of the poultry population in Africa is found in the traditional scavenging systems. These traditional poultry production systems of Africa reportedly characterised by low-input, low-output per bird, are reported to be a feature of virtually all villages and households in rural Africa because that is where the scavenging indigenous domestic chickens are found (Kitalyi 1998). However, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations director, T. Fujita, submits that in most African countries

over 70 percent of the poultry products and 20 percent of animal protein intake, come from this sub-sector (Kitalyi 1998). This suggests that an increase in rural poultry production would yield a significant impact on household food security thereby augmenting dietary intake and income generation. Inevitably, for women, access to village chickens popularly known as Tswana chickens in Botswana (Moreki, Dikeme, and Poroga 2010), encourages involvement of women in rural development (Kitalyi 1998). The Botswana Agrinews Magazine’ s coverage of chicken farming by women farmers emphasises that it is less costly to keep Tswana chickens, as it has also been observed by the scholars above, and thus suggests venturing into this occupation for poverty eradication to target audiences.

Consistent with the findings of the current study with respect to reasons for keeping village/ Tswana chickens, Moreki (2003) reported that eighty-two percent of poultry rearers/keepers were women farmers who kept village chickens for meat, as source of income, because it was customary, and because they were easy to keep. However, Moreki’s (2003) study revealed some additional reasons for keeping Tswana chickens than what the current study did. These chickens were reportedly kept for their eggs, as a respectful gesture to slaughter a chicken when greeting visitors, healing rituals, as a hobby, pest control, bartering, as means of paying debts, recycling waste, and exhibition at shows and trade fairs (Moreki 2003). The aim of the Botswana Agrinews Magazine seems to be informing the target audiences that these birds can also be used for multiple purposes to alleviate poverty as Moreki (2003) has rightly pointed out.

Elsewhere, in South Africa, Mtileni, Muchadeyi, Maiwashe, Phitsane, Halimani, Chimonyo and Dzama (2009) reported that women owned the majority of indigenous chickens under subsistence farming systems in Limpopo, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The reasons for keeping indigenous chickens were reportedly for household meat, egg consumption, to a less extent for manure, and cultural ceremonies and income generation (Mtileni et al. 2009). In Namibia, Bamhare (2001) submits that chicken rearing is relegated to women and children due to its low returns compared to other livestock. The indigenous breeds are reportedly kept for household meat, eggs consumption, to a limited extent for marketing, presented as gifts, and are suitable for rearing in isolated areas. In Zimbabwe, Muchadeyi, Sibanda, Kusina, Kusina and Makuza (2004) reported that women farmers in Rushinga District of Zimbabwe kept village chickens for provision of meat and eggs (food security), preference of chicken meat to other types of meat, welcoming special

guests, socio-cultural functions, as source of income (to buy food, pay for school fees, medical costs and village taxes), and provision of manure. Similarly, in Malawi, Gondwe and Wollny (2007) reported that in the 27 villages in Lilongwe, Malawi, local/scavenging chickens were kept for provision of meat for household consumption, contribution to socio- cultural and communal functions, as source of income or direct barter, exchange breed with other farmers, and giving out as gifts.

The findings of studies conducted in some countries in Southern Africa (namely, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi) outlined in the foregoing paragraph, are in agreement with the findings of the current study with respect to the primary use of village chickens in Botswana. These chickens are reportedly kept for provision of meat and eggs, thus, augmenting food security. Agriculture and food security is a topical issue in Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Article 4(c) urges member states to increase production of short cycle stocks such as poultry, small ruminants and piggery (SADC 2004). The Botswana Agrinews Magazine reporting further contributes to spreading this message and knowledge. This is because of the recognition of the role that these sub- sectors can play in food security. The other common reason for keeping village chickens in these five Southern African countries including Botswana, is as source of income, that is eventually used to buy food, pay school fees, purchase school requisites, means of paying debts, and for other needs in the household. Moreki et al. (2010) contend that rearing of village poultry is appropriate and affordable in single headed households as it does not need a lot of capital, requires little space and needs less labour compared to other livestock. The other names for village poultry according to Moreki et al (2010) include; rural, backyard, indigenous, scavenging, traditional, local, native or family poultry. These names have been used widely in this chapter.

  • Studies on Media Coverage of Agriculture and Women in the Agricultural Sector
  • Studies on Women, Business and Agriculture Sector in Botswana
  • The New Paradigm of Development
  • Horticultural Farming
  • Field Crop Production
  • Poultry Production
  • Commercial Smallstock Farming
  • Organic Farming
  • Significance of Support
  • The place of WID, WAD and GAD in Agriculture
  • Poultry Production: Reasons for keeping Tswana Chickens (You are here)
  • Constraints in Commercial Poultry Rearing
  • AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH
  • ATTITUDES OF BOTH WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE and MoA WORKERS
  • Themes promote women farmers’ participation in the agricultural sector
  • RECOMMENDATIONS

Related documents

The 5 Minute Business Plan

Turn your idea into a business

Turn your idea into a business

Search This Blog

Monday, july 3, 2017, tswana chickens 1 page business plan.

Tswana chickens has a clear business objective to produce Indigenous chicken products. These products have been developed over 1 year with a core focus on addressing the key customer problem and associated opportunities.

The Business Objectives As a key component of our growth strategy, we consider it critical to identify and outline our business objectives, and align these objectives with clear and measurable development milestones. Our key long term business objective is to grow revenue. Rapid revenue growth is considered the most critical and measurable business goal. At this stage of our development, we consider this to be more important than profitability growth, although both are important long term objectives.

The Customer Tswana chickens has been created with a clear focus on the needs of our customers. Through a structured customer discovery process, we have validated the key customer problem as Lack of a tasty, affordable and accessible Traditional chicken to the market at affordable prices. This is a critical issue for our selected target market of Hotels and restaurants.

The Value Proposition  

Tswana chickens is uniquely positioned to deliver value to Hotels and restaurants. "Tswana chickens will Supply 300 indigenous chickens every 6 weeks." In order to be deliver on this value proposition, of a Tasty, affordable & accessible chicken. This capability has taken considerable time and resources to develop and forms the cornerstone of our competitive advantage.

Competitors We have a number of competitors within the Indigenous chicken market. We consider our key competitors to be: Small scale farmers . Our understanding of these competitors has been used to refine our strategy and value proposition. We believe that we can compete effectively with Small scale farmers by Affordable price & accessible .

Key Strategies Over the next 6 months, our focus will be to Increase chickens to 300 laying hens. This task will be undertaken in the context of our broader strategy to Increase production to 1000 per 8 weeks. These strategies are a tactical implementation of our overall business goal as outlined above.

Milestones Measurement of the successful implementation of our strategies will be governed by measurable development milestones. The milestones that will be achieved over the next 2 years are: 300 hens laying eggs at 6 months Slaughtering 300 chickens every 8 weeks

tswana chicken business plan

No comments:

Post a comment.

Opportunities and challenges for the Botswana poultry industry in the 21st century: a review

Department of animal production, ministry of agriculture, private bag 0032, gaborone, bostwana [email protected].

This paper set out to evaluate the performance of Botswana’s poultry industry for a 10 year period (i.e., from 1998 to 2008) with a view to highlighting opportunities and challenges. Since its inception in the early 1980’s the poultry industry has grown to significant levels and employs about 4500 people, the majority of whom are women. The industry employs more people than the mineral sector. Currently, the value of the poultry industry (excluding ostriches) is estimated to be P1 billion (US$300 million). This indicates that the industry is playing a significant role in the country’s economy.

Opportunities in the industry are in breeding, further processing of products and pullet rearing. The main challenges of the industry include lack of slaughter facilities for small-scale broiler producers, unorganized supply of poor quality feeds and stock, delayed allocation of land by the Land Boards and inadequate extension service. To overcome these constraints, government intervention is required. Despite these constraints, the industry has grown and continues to grow robustly as epitomised by high per capita consumption values.

Key words: Chicken meat, further processed, per capita consumption, table eggs

Introduction

Of all livestock reared in Botswana, poultry (mainly chickens) is the most widespread. Almost every family owns chickens, which provide a valuable source of family protein and additional income. However, officially beef production accounts for the largest proportion of the agricultural sector's contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) though this is doubtful given the robustness and level of sophistication of the commercial poultry industry. The poultry industry is one of the major agricultural industries in Botswana and its value is estimated to be P1 billion (US$300 million).

Globally, the poultry sector is characterized by faster growth in consumption and trade than any other major agricultural sector. Structural changes in poultry production and marketing have been driven by the growing demands of urban markets. While the majority of poultry in developing countries are still kept by smallholders, a strong and internationally linked poultry industry has evolved by utilizing economies of scale and technology. Experiences in recent years have shown that smallholder poultry production systems can offer a useful entry point for development programmes addressing extreme poverty and food insecurity, especially where family poultry and small commercial flocks are the domain of women (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO 2008).

Commercial poultry production in Botswana has developed rapidly during the past thirty years, and chickens have become of great importance to the country's agricultural economy. As a result, t he industry contributes a large portion of the country’s supply of animal protein. The development of the industry is attributable in large part to the advisory work that has been carried on for many years and which in more recent years, has been significantly extended (Animal Production Annual Report 1985). The industry’s growth was hastened by the establishment of the then Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) scheme in 1982, which had two main objectives: employment creation and economic expansion or diversification (Ministry of Finance and Development Planning 1989). The FAP scheme endeavoured to address gender imbalances by giving women more grant (15%) than men. In FAP, one could obtain up to 90% grant depending on the number of jobs created and the location of the business with the rural areas given more grants than urban centres.

Currently, Botswana is self-sufficient in both table eggs and chicken meat, contributing not only to food security but also to rural employment (Anon 2008). However, the country imports virtually all the pullets (young layers) from neighbouring countries, notably the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and Zimbabwe. There are only two hatcheries in Botswana which can produce about 95% of the country’s day old broiler chick (DOC) requirements, indicating that 5% of the DOCs are still imported. According to Kelebemang (2008), the industry in 2008 employed about 4500 people (the majority being women) compared to 3050 in 2007. This represents an increase of 47.5%. The objective of this review is to highlight the performance of the poultry industry with a view to identifying the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

Main poultry production systems  

As in most developing countries, the main poultry production systems in Botswana include family poultry (also referred to as backyard or indigenous system) and commercial system. The commercial system can be further categorized into small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale with modern technology. In Botswana, small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale enterprises vary in size from 100 to 20 000, 20 001 to 50 000 and >50 000 birds, respectively. In family poultry production, birds are mostly of local or native types (indigenous) that roam the villages or farms freely in search of feed, whereas in the commercial system exotic and high producing birds are intensively reared and fed complete feeds. Over 90% of eggs and meat come from medium and large-scale commercial farms while the remainder comes from small-scale farms.

According to Shaner et al (1982), the term “small-scale'' refers to those operations in which the farmers frequently have difficulty obtaining sufficient inputs to allow use of the technology available to medium-scale and large-scale farmers. Small-scale enterprises are found mostly in the rural villages where production inputs are difficult to obtain and marketing outlets are not well organised. In contrast, large-scale enterprises are concentrated along the railway line and in urban centres where there is access to production facilities and marketing outlets.

Per capita consumption of poultry meat and eggs  

In 2008, the per capita consumption of poultry meat and table eggs was estimated to be 39 kg and 67.2 dozen eggs per person per year, respectively (Table 1). From 1998 to 2008, on average per capita consumption of poultry meat and eggs increased by 2.84 kg and 2.92 eggs per person per year, respectively. It is clear from Table 1 that per capita consumption of meat declined significantly in 2005 due mainly to outbreak of avian influenza in ostriches in Zimbabwe and RSA which resulted in imports of broiler chicks being banned from the two countries. An outbreak of Newcastle disease (NCD) in Botswana and RSA also contributed to the decline. The decline in per capita consumption of eggs observed in 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2006 can be attributed to outbreaks of NCD in Botswana and RSA, as well as, avian influenza in RSA and Zimbabwe (Poultry Annual Report (PAR) 2000, 2004, 2005).

The performance of the industry  

Egg production.

As shown in Figure 1, egg production increased over time with the highest production achieved in 2002.

However, there was a decline in 2004 due to Avian Influenza outbreak in RSA and Zimbabwe in 2003 which resulted in a ban of poultry and poultry products into Botswana. Also, there was an outbreak of NCD in Botswana in 2004 (PAR 2005; Moreki 2006). The ban affected imports of pullets from neighbouring countries. For the first time, 60 000 dozen eggs were exported to Namibia in 2006. In 2008, egg production was estimated to be 9 558 100 dozens. From 1998 to 2008, egg production increased by on average 515432.27 dozen eggs per year.

It is clear from Figure 2 that egg imports declined over time. There have not been imports of eggs for the past five years, i.e. 2004 to 2008.

This indicates that the country is self-sufficient in table eggs. The increased egg imports in 1999 and 2003 were ascribable to outbreaks of NCD and avian influenza. As Botswana depends heavily on RSA for its supply of pullets, the ban that was placed on poultry products’ imports from RSA resulted in few pullets being imported, thus giving rise to decreased egg production in the country.

Meat production

Chicken meat production increased linearly over time and the rapid increase is observed from 1997 to 2004 (Figure 3).

T hereafter, a decline occurred due to the outbreak of avian influenza in ostriches in Zimbabwe and RSA. This indicates our dependency on neighbouring countries for point of lay pullets. In 2008, chicken meat production was estimated to be 66086 tonnes. From 1998 to 2008, chicken meat production increased by on average 4930.82 tonnes per year.

Poultry meat imports  

The poultry meat imports are given in Table 2. It is clear from Table 2 that the majority of the imports were further processed chicken meat (FPC) and turkey meat. This probably indicates that the industry should diversify. It is perhaps time to start encouraging further processing of poultry meat and turkey production in the country. This should result in creation of jobs, especially in the rural areas where unemployment levels are high.

Challenges to commercial poultry production  

Commercial production, especially small-scale poultry enterprises are faced with many challenges including:

poor quality raw materials used in the manufacture of feeds. In most cases, raw materials used in feed manufacturing are not screened which allows for adulteration of some basic raw materials for feed formulation. Adejoro (1991) states that frequently moisture content, aflatoxin level and other microbial contaminants of raw materials are never evaluated prior to purchase and use resulting in livestock, especially poultry suffering from metabolic disorders most of which are a result of poorly processed raw materials;

supply of poor quality chicks and complete feeds is the major constraint to maximum performance (PAR 2000). Reddy (1991) stresses that there is no strict and compulsory quality control measures either in the hatchery or on feed millers;

high feed costs (Kelebemang 2008);

lack of close cooperation between government authorities and farmers in providing veterinary care, marketing facilities and in obtaining information on feed from farmers who could possibly contribute towards improvement in future programmes;

delayed allocation of land for poultry businesses by Land Boards (PAR 2000);

  lack of slaughtering facilities, especially for small-scale poultry producers (PAR 2000, 2001);

  unorganized marketing (PAR 2000);

lack of serviced land, e.g., electricity, water and telephones (PAR 2000, 2001);

  importation of strains of birds without any strict legislative control to outbreaks of diseases that either were not known or did not exist before;

Inadequacy of breeding stock, thus leading to imports of birds and hatching eggs;

halaal requirement by the majority of retailers denies smalls-scale producers access to the market as they do not have money to pay Muslim slaughters; and

Inadequate extension service due to shortage of transport resources (PAR 2000).

Opportunities  

Production of further processed chicken (FPC) meat products such as powdered eggs, liquid eggs, pre-cooked meat products, franchise products (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Chicken Licken, etc.) (Moreki 2006).

Establishment of pullet rearing facilities in the country will go a long way in saving the country the much needed foreign exchange and creating employment for citizens (Kelebemang 2008)

  Expanding broiler breeding facilities with a view to meeting the country’s hatching egg requirements.

Economic crisis is provides an opportunity for the local poultry industry to consider exporting.

Conclusions  

Generally, the poultry industry is performing well despite a myriad of challenges. It is apparent that lack of slaughtering facilities for small-scale poultry producers, disease outbreaks and unorganized marketing are some of the major challenges facing the industry. The outbreaks of avian influenza in the neighbouring countries and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in some parts of Botswana, respectively had a negative impact on the movement of poultry and poultry products into the country and across the country. However, FMD outbreaks some parts of the country (e.g., Boteti, Gantsi, Matsiloje and Selebi Phikwe) together with increased producer price of beef resulted in increased demand of chicken meat.

The poultry industry plays a significant role in the economy of Botswana by way of creating employment (especially to women) and also in alleviating poverty in the rural areas. The per capita consumption of chicken meat and eggs increased linearly over time.

References  

Adejoro S O 1991 Strategies for animal health care management in the tropics. World Poultry-Misset. 7(4): 84-85.

Animal Production Annual Report 1985 Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

Anon 2008 Botswana Reviews (28 th Edition). p.76.

Department of Animal Production 2010 2008/09 Annual Report for the Department of Animal Production, Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

FAO 2008 Poultry in the 21st Century: avian influenza and beyond . Proceedings of the International Poultry Conference, held 5–7 November 2007, Bangkok, Thailand. Edited by O Thieme and D Pilling. FAO Animal Production and Health Proceedings, No. 9. Rome. p.1. http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0323e/i0323e00.htm

Kelebemang G N 2008 2007/08 Poultry and Rabbit Annual Report. Department of Animal Production. Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

MFDP (Ministry of Finance and Development Planning) 1989 Financial Assistance Policy: Small-scale pamphlet. Gaborone, Botswana. 1-20.

Moreki J C 2006 Poultry Annual Report. Department of Animal Production. Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

Poultry Annual Report 2000 Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

Poultry Annual Report 2001 Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

Poultry Annual Report 2004 Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

Poultry Annual Report 2005 Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

Poultry Annual Report 2007 Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture. Gaborone, Botswana.

Reddy D C 1991 Poultry production in developing versus developed countries. World Poultry-Misset 7(1). 8-10.

Shaner W W, Philipp P F and Schmehl W R (Editors) 1982 Farming Systems Research and Development: Guidelines for Developing Countries. Westview Press. Inc. 1-39.

Received 6 March 2010; Accepted 8 March 2010; Published 1 May 2010

Tales of the Tswana Chicken

Botswana Gazette

Once upon a time, not so long ago, the Tswana Chicken reigned supreme. Every lapa, masimo, moraka – and even the homes of dikgosi boasted a brood of chickens – and they were truly valued members of the family. The Tswana chicken was held in such high esteem that when visitors came, it was the Tswana chicken which was called upon to make the supreme sacrifice. At the time the Tswana Chicken was such a valuable and cherished member of the household that no one stole chickens. This must be true because have you ever heard of anyone being punished for stock theft of chickens. Rich people kept Tswana chickens; poor people kept Tswana chickens; members of royal families kept Tswana chicken.  The Tswana chicken was revered because of its independence and it ran free; feeding itself, keeping the yard clean of insects and bugs. The Tswana chicken could multi-task, providing eggs, meats of different kinds and colour; there were parts of the Tswana chicken prized delicacies – the feet, the gizzard and the heart, liver and kidneys. Indeed, the Tswana Chickens were very hardworking, waking early in the morning to ensure that we all got to school and work on time. Independent, productive, hard-working, resilient and loyal. This is how we used to remember our Tswana Chicken which kept us alive during both floods and drought and was prepared, and willing, to make the ultimate sacrifice. Compare the noble chicken, against the fickle goat who always ran away, or the ox which trampled on our fields, destroying our crops. Indeed, the Tswana Chicken was an essential member of every household, throughout the land, among rich and poor alike. Gradually however, a whispering campaign began against the Tswana Chicken. Years before the existence of social media trolls, murmurs began to circulate that the Tswana Chicken, far from being diligent, innovative and hard-working, was in fact stubborn, lazy and un-productive. Characteristics of loyalty and equality were gradually morphed into an unflattering perception that the Tswana Chicken was useless and no longer tasty or desirable. Indeed, the whispering campaign against the Tswana Chicken took hold so fast that young women (and old ones), who had spent an unsatisfactory night began to call their partners “Tswana Chickens.” At the back of this campaign to bad mouth our cultural icon, were the notorious FDI affiliate, known as the Broilers. No opportunity was lost to pour scorn on our revered Tswana Chicken which soon became synonymous with low productivity, unskilled, stubborn and undesirable. The Broilers quickly invaded Botswana, chasing away the Tswana Chicken armed with the FDI playbook (Frustrate Domestic Initiative). The Broilers live in huge collectives – owned by a few wealthy FDI affiliates. They cannot survive in our natural environment and need special homes to be built and provided with designer scientifically formulated food, also provided by the FDI henchmen. No longer are visitors greeted by a Tswana chicken which makes the ultimate sacrifice. Now, visitors leave unsatisfied, without the ritual chicken, because the scientifically stuffed, genetically modified, chlorine washed apology for a chicken, the infamous Broiler, which lives in a freezer, takes too long to be prepared. How, if you want to visit you have to call ahead, so that the Broiler has time to de-frost. This is changing fundamental rules of hospitality embedded in our culture of the Tswana Chicken which had the same place in our rituals as tea, in the Japanese tea ceremony. However, there are signs of rebellion against the invasion on the alien FDI affiliated species – the Broiler which threatens of very way of life. Behind closed doors, more and more people are whispering “Tswana Chickens Lives Matter”. From behind raised hands can be heard “Oh, I wish I had a tasty Tswana Chicken.” Or “Mmm eggs from Tswana Chickens are so tasty.” Hidden deals are taking place under the very noses of those who DISSed the Tswana Chicken. Even in Phakalane, a flourishing smuggling industry is emerging with Tswana Chickens sneaking in through the back door in Glen Valley. It is said that a Tswana Chicken has even been heard telling children to get ready for school again. The age of renaissance for the Tswana Chicken is approaching. In the high class Chesanyama in Yeoville, Berea, Rocky Road and Hillbrow, as Sophiatown those in the know call out the “Tswana Chicken Lives”. They don’t call out for the Zimbabwe, Zulu, Pedi, or even the Xhosa Chicken. The Tswana Chicken lives on. And young men are now proud to be called Tswana Chickens. © tbc 2017 www.tsabadiri.co.bw

Lekaukau: From Stanchart CEO To Cresta Board Chair

Did support for local artists grow in 2017.

IMAGES

  1. The 5 Minute Business Plan: Tswana chickens 1 Page Business Plan

    tswana chicken business plan

  2. DailyNews

    tswana chicken business plan

  3. Tales of the Tswana Chicken

    tswana chicken business plan

  4. SAMPLE POULTRY BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE FOR LAYERS POULTRY FARM If you

    tswana chicken business plan

  5. BUSINESS PLAN FOR POULTRY FARM

    tswana chicken business plan

  6. Poultry farm business plan pdf

    tswana chicken business plan

VIDEO

  1. poultry farm business, poultry business, how to start poultry business start up idea @BUSINESSDOST

  2. Chicken Business 💵 #business #investment #chicken #earnmoney

  3. Poultry Farming Business Plan by Dr. Arshad

COMMENTS

  1. Free Range Chicken Farm Business Plan [Sample Template]

    Below are the sales projections for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC it is based on the location of our business and other factors as it relates to free - range chicken farming start - ups in the United States; First Fiscal Year-: $250,000. Second Fiscal Year-: $500,000. Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000.

  2. Starting Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan (PDF)

    Pre-Written Free Range Chicken And Egg Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements. For an in-depth analysis of the free range chicken production business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive business plan.

  3. Chicken Farm Business Plan

    A comprehensive business plan for beginner and experienced Chicken Farm entrepreneurs. This business plan provides a blueprint for how to start and manage your Chicken Farm business. Our detailed research and analysis, including interviews with entrepreneurs and stakeholders, will ensure that you plan your future business for success.

  4. Chicken Farming in Kenya: How to start a profitable poultry business in

    If you are ready to get started in poultry farming in Kenya, these are the basic requirements you need to set up your farm. LAND: The no 1 thing you need to get right in poultry farming in Kenya is land. a plot of land of 120 x 60 square meters is okay for setting up medium scale poultry farm in Kenya, at least for a start.

  5. How to Start Free Range Chicken Farming Business (HD Quality)

    Timestamps:0:00 Why Free-Range Chicken Business?0:11 What You Need To Build an Effective, Sustainable Poultry Business?0:27 How To Start Free Range Poultry F...

  6. How to Start a Chicken Farm Business: A Beginner's Guide

    3. Create a business plan for your chicken farm. Write an outline for how you plan to run your chicken farm, as well as your long-term goals for the next 3-5 years. Include information like your history, structure, objectives, vision, products, target demographic, and marketing strategy in the plan.

  7. Poultry Farm Business Plan Template & Guide [Updated 2024]

    Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows. Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your poultry farm, including animal care / feeding, flock supervision, animal transportation, sourcing feed, etc. Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve.

  8. Assessment of management practices of Tswana ...

    The objective of this study was to document management practices, economic benefits and challenges in indigenous Tswana chicken production in Jackalas No.2, Moroka and Tsamaya villages of North East District of Botswana. Structured questionnaire, oral interviews and field observations were used in collecting data from 50 farmers from the three villages for six successive weeks (i.e., November ...

  9. Chicken Farming South Africa

    Chicken Farming Business Plan South Africa - In this article we have put together two simple chicken business plans for both small scale farmers and intensive or larger scale poultry farming. A small scale business plan will guide you how to farm with chickens and a more advanced plan feature points that you can present to the Bank for a loan ...

  10. Traditional poultry production and commercial broiler ...

    The first study evaluated the production potential of indigenous (Tswana) chickens under an extensive free-range management system in the Gaborone agricultural region of Botswana. The second study was a survey of 25 randomly selected, commercial small-scale broiler farms in the Southern region of Botswana. ... In Botswana, chicken has only ...

  11. PDF Technical Guidelines for Broiler Production

    which the chicken houses are cleaned, disinfected and allowed to rest for 2 weeks. At 5 to 6 weeks the broilers reach an average live weight of 2 kg and are selected, slaughtered, packaged and sold to different market outlets. A complete cycle is therefore 8 weeks long, making it 6 to 7 complete cycles annually. Health and Common Diseases

  12. PDF TECHNICAL GUIDE FOR EGG PRODUCTION

    270.9 tonnes of chicken meat. Scheduled Payment P72,861.87 Scheduled Number of Payments 7 Actual Number of Payments 7 Total Early Payments P0.00 Total Interest P124,112.81 Total Payment Principal Interest Ending Balance P72,861.87 P43,917.85 P28,944.02 P342,002.41 72,861.87 47,211.69 25,650.18 294,790.72

  13. Chicken Farming Business Plan For Beginners

    Step 3: Buy Cages. Purchasing chicken cages is a very important part of the business as many of the affecting factors directly depends on the size, orientation, strength and layout of the chicken cage. Make proper measurements and analyze your poultry size and budget before buying the chicken cage.

  14. The best chicken farming business plan (Updated Plan)

    Clarify your business idea with certainty and without any ambiguity. Write something like, I want to rear 500 broilers per cycle, 7 cycles per year. I will locally produce, process pack and sell the meat at slaughter weight of 1.75kg live weight at the restaurants and hotels within Siaya and Bondo district. Clarify that you will produce meat or ...

  15. PDF Guidelines for Livestock Management and Infrastructure ...

    5.2 Tswana chickens This package assists resource-poor farmers to rear Tswana chickens. The grant will also be used to purchase feeds, veterinary requisites, stock and equipment. Table 2 gives maximum grant for Tswana chicken package. As indicated in Table 2, a farmer will be assisted to buy 21 hens (female birds) and 4 cocks (male birds).

  16. Botswana: Commercialise Tswana Chickens

    Serowe — Serowe-based head of department of animal production, Ms Tsholofelo Mukama has appealed to Batswana to keep Tswana chickens for commercial purposes. Speaking during a Tswana chicken ...

  17. Chicken Poultry Farm Business Plan Copy , archive.nafc

    Chicken Poultry Farm Business Plan ... THE GOGO'S PARK poultry is a mixed chicken farm focused on both egg and meat production including Tswana breeds that provides for a large market range. It will also produce manure as a by-product. It will be based in Maun. The founder has noticed the health implication of red meat and is

  18. (PDF) Laying performance and egg traits of indigenous Tswana chickens

    The albumin weight of ITC (26.20±0.44g) reported in the current study is higher than that of the Fulani-ecotype chicken (20.33g) and similar to those of dwarf Bitwel and naked neck Sudanese native chicken breeds which averaged 22.09±0.22 and 24.41±0.22g, respectively (Fayeye et al., 2005; Yousif and Eltayeb, 2011).

  19. Poultry Production: Reasons for keeping Tswana Chickens

    However, Moreki's (2003) study revealed some additional reasons for keeping Tswana chickens than what the current study did. These chickens were reportedly kept for their eggs, as a respectful gesture to slaughter a chicken when greeting visitors, healing rituals, as a hobby, pest control, bartering, as means of paying debts, recycling waste ...

  20. Tswana chickens 1 Page Business Plan

    Indigenous chicken Business Plan Tswana chickens 1 Page Business Plan Overview. Tswana chickens has a clear business objective to produce Indigenous chicken products. These products have been developed over 1 year with a core focus on addressing the key customer problem and associated opportunities. The Business Objectives

  21. Tswana Chicken Production Guide -...

    Tswana Chicken Production Guide Traditional Tswana chickens offer several advantages over the commercial layers and broilers. They are hardy chickens with very good survivability.

  22. Opportunities and challenges for the Botswana poultry industry in the

    In 2008, chicken meat production was estimated to be 66086 tonnes. From 1998 to 2008, chicken meat production increased by on average 4930.82 tonnes per year. Poultry meat imports . The poultry meat imports are given in Table 2. It is clear from Table 2 that the majority of the imports were further processed chicken meat (FPC) and turkey meat.

  23. Tales of the Tswana Chicken

    The Tswana chicken could multi-task, providing eggs, meats of different kinds and colour; there were parts of the Tswana chicken prized delicacies - the feet, the gizzard and the heart, liver and kidneys. Indeed, the Tswana Chickens were very hardworking, waking early in the morning to ensure that we all got to school and work on time.