tswana chicken business plan

Starting Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan (PDF)

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

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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 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.

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)

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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.

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

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

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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

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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 1,757,482 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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/ .

• 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

• 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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

• Lighting instruments
• Waterers or heaters
• Waste disposal system

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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!

• 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.

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

Community Q&A

• 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

• 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

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

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

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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.

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