₦airaland Forum

Kingsley10000:
THANK U SIR..'M INTERESTED 08087411113

Great!
I have left you messages

If you have enough space, why wait till after every 7 weeks or 9 weeks before you start selling your birds?

Why don't you build a system that allows you sell chickens every month or even every week or better still every day?

Why can't you create your business to meet every day demand in meat or eggs?


Did you know how much your business stands to surfer from small buyers especially those who buy less than 10 chickens and return after many days to buy same number again?

Picture this, you stock 500 birds and at harvest, you have a buyer who comes in and buys 200 birds at once and another a 100 birds all at once. In 1 day you sold off 300 birds and are left with 200 birds which finishes within days before a week elapse. What do you think this would do to your business?

Chickens are as delicate as perishable goods. The more they stay the more you spend on them and they don't take any apology plus if you feed them less during harvest, their weights starts getting light. This would mean that buyers will start pricing them low. So you have enough chickens at harvest which has delayed in sales, and to manage money, you feed them less and they become less heavier, your customers come in after long time and start pricing them low. In frustration you decide to sell off but there is another problem, these buyers buy in small quantities so that you will have to wait longer again. This would mean that you could start using the same money gotten from the sales to feed your birds. If this happens to you twice you could get frustrated out of the business just 6months of starting.

Poultry farming as well as any business has their secrets. It is only the experienced ones that can show you exactly what they have faced doing such business for years and you can avoid them and do something different so that you thrive while others are struggling.

You can take many days or time planning your business or you can simply thrive on someone's templates.�

Whatever you do, make sure your business is working.

Go and win!

joshuamoses101:
I really wanna learn sir

thanks for your interest. Follow the contacts at the signature space just below this post. You can contact me on any of them

Hey NairaLanders!

I hope you're having a great time this season?

I just want to share with you some secrets that will help you in 2018.

One of the great things you need to do in 2018 is to clearly define your goals together with all the logistics to making them happen. I will explain.

Personally I have goals for almost every aspect of my life, business, relationship, finance, job etc.

Each of these comes with their separate headings, for business, it will be *business goals for 2018*, for finance *Financial goals for 2018* just like that but this would not make any meaning if its not directed to the owner of the goals. So what I do next on the next page is to personalise each section and each goal, so I add the word "my" to each section ie *"My Business goal for 2018"*, *"My financial goals for 2018"* and so on. All these are important as they help your subconscious mind assimilate each goals and give you a spiritual energy to fulfilling them.

Now, if you write all your goals and do nothing you won't make any progress at all. I am telling you this because I have been writing and smashing most of my goals since 2007 that's 10years experience in this thing.

The next thing you do after writing and personalising your goals is to create, work out the logistics and then initiate.


Why is he teaching us about *goals* in an agribusiness foeum someone might ask?

Its simple, you can't hit a target you don't see or even know it existed. If you must grow in agribusiness, you must be strategic about it and this include setting definite goalso.


Assuming one of your goals for 2018 is to make 1million naira. What you want to do is to break that sum into daily, weekly or monthly fragments so that it total makes a million naira.

To make 1million naira in one year, you will need to make 83,333.33 naira every month or 2,778 naira every day of 2018.

Now is it possible to make 2,778 naira every day? Or 20,833.33 naira every week? I think its very possible.

You see if you break down your financial goals like what we've done above, it becomes easy for you to think *possibility*. What you do next is ask yourself how you will be making that sum daily, weekly or monthly throughout 2018. If you don't have any idea this means you have to *create* it.

Let's go into agribusiness, shall we?

Assuming your major problem in 2017 was difficulty in selling off your birds at harvest. Let me first show you the impact of this, if you stock say 500 birds, on a very good feeding program you should start selling off from 7 weeks (see I have sold off birds from 5 weeks) now if it takes you about 3 or 4 weeks to sell off 500 birds what this would do is increase your cost of production, then increase your labour, decrease your profits and reduce your turnover rates within the year.

I know you don't understand, so I will further explain. A person who raises his/her birds within 7 weeks and takes about 1 week to sell off will stock birds at least 6 times within the year (assuming he/she has built a steady business). The one who raises his birds within 9 weeks and takes 3 weeks to sell off will only be able to run 4 rounds within 1 year. In your opinion which of these category of farmers will make more MONEY? First person or second?

Let me show you�

Now, let us assume that it cost 40,000 for the first person to raise his/her birds (500) for 7 weeks and an extra 5,715 naira to maintain during 1 week sales period. This would mean a total of 45,715 naira as production cost for the period of 8 weeks. This assumption means that the farmer spends 5,715 naira every week feeding his stock.

Every Poultry farmer knows that each flock will always have some bigger than others and if you're not selling in bulk the impact of this would be really *devastating* and if you ever make mistake in choosing breeds, you could end up having more wrungs (the smallest ones that don't even grow no matter what you do) and a few heavier chickens.

Back to our illustrations....

Let us assume that the first person sold off 200 birds at 200 naira, 200 birds at 150 naira and the remaining 100 birds at 100 naira. This would mean a total of 80,000 in sales. Remember his production cost was 45,715. This would mean a profit of 34,285 naira. If this person does this for 6 times within the year, he will make a total of 205,710 naira profits.

On the same cost of production per week ie 5,715, the second person spends 51,435 raising his birds in 9 weeks and another 17,145 naira during sales period of 3 weeks. This brings the production cost to a total of 68,580 naira. This would be more because as chickens grow they feed more and drink more too but let's just use that figure.

Now on sales, let's assume he sold 200 birds at 300 naira, 200 birds at 200naira and 100 birds at 150 naira this would bring his total sales to 115,000 naira. His profit would be (115,000-68,580) 46,420 naira. Remember he can only go 4 times a year, so in a year he will be making 185,680 naira.

First person makes 205,710 naira profits within a year while the second person makes 185,680. The difference in profit is *20,030naira*.

There is no magic in this thing, if you don't know how to build your business so that it forms a systematic cash flow, you will continue to surfer in it. So sit down and do it NOW!


What if I can further help you raise a weight you can sell at almost same price as the second person in our illustrations above? You raise heavier weight chickens and sell off on time at almost same price as the one who keeps his at a longer time then you continue to turn over your business systematically and make more profits.

What if I can show you how to choose a good breed so that you have more of the bigger chickens in your flock and avoid too many wrungs?

What if I can teach you how to build different feeding programs that you can use to grow specific weights to meet your customers demands?

What if I can show you exactly how to grow heavy weight chickens with less fat and more meat so that your chickens are not just heavy but also healthy for consumption?

*What if I can just show you everything?*

Agriculture is taking a new phase in Nigeria and we are a part of the revolution.

No longer shall agriculturists be perceived poor, dirty or anything small.

No longer shall we accept any image less than GREATNESS.

We are taking over! We are bringing super technology into agriculture. We are bringing agriculture into computers and much more. We're rebranding the phase of agricultural practices in Nigeria.

We are bringing agriculture to your door step.

Do you wish to be a part of this revolution?

Join us!

#YFarm
#United4Food
#YouthAtTheCentreOfAgriture
#YFarmAgricFestiver

Few days ago, I had 2 women visit my farm. They seemed like they have found gold. We got conversing and I later found out that these women had trekked from far distance (a distance you run for NGN80 on a bike in the North isn't small) stopping at each point asking for a poultry farm where they could buy at least 4 weeks old chickens. They couldn't find any and were continued directed to my farm. I was shocked because all these years we had lots of poultry farms within the area. In fact when I joined in 3 years ago, I was almost discouraged to start because I thought the market was already crowded and it will take time for me to even get noticed talk less build a steady income poultry business.

Frankly, I never took notice of what my competition was doing or not. I don't believe that someone has to go down for you to rise. These past years, I was only focused on building that business and making sure my customers get the best prices possible. Something they can't find anywhere easily. We also make sure our birds are healthy for consumption by our customers.

One time, upon experimentation, I made a feed formula that resulted in the same weight of chickens we sell at 7 weeks in 5 weeks. We sold off those chickens at their 5 weeks! I felt I have found a breakthrough! I later discovered through my Vet. Dr. Friend, Abioye Yetunde, that such chickens can be cancerous to consumers. Abioye Yetunde, had done a review on my eBook "Excel's guide to making your poultry feeds" and mentioned this in our chats. That day, I decided NEVER to sell chickens at 5 weeks old for consumption no matter how heavy they are because it is not just about making money but what one is actually selling. So I developed other methods and now I am naming name as Adam did. Lols

No I am not trying to sell you an eBook.

After those women left, I went on asking questions. I needed to know why these farmers had closed up or didn't stock this season. I mean any poultry farmer knows that the December market is HUGE! Why should anyone not want to take advantage of it? What happened to these farmers?

I just found out that my farm that came from behind is the largest in the area. What?

Those who stocked couldn't even afford 200 birds any more and these are farms that run over 400 birds before. What the hell happened?

I will tell you what happened:

-feed prices went up increasing cost of production
-doc prices went up. DOC now sells at NGN270, NGN280 even NGN300. At NGN300 you will buy a carton (i.e 50 birds) for NGN15,000.

If one buys at that price, how much will he spend on feeds, Vaccination and medicines?

If you're buying now, how do you expect to compete with those guys who will be showing off heavier weights at incredibly cheap prices during Christmas market? How do you expect to compete with them when your birds are only 8 weeks old especially if you're unable to grow reasonable weight by then?

This thing is no joke.

Biko, if you want to farm, farm right and farm smart. Stop wasting money and energy.

I love you. I want you to succeed.

Please don't close up like others.

Live smart!!!

How to save 30% managing your poultry farm
=======================
Hello smart farmers!

Its been a while since I last made a post. I like to believe you have been practicing all you are learning from all our series? Well I do because I have received feedbacks from some persons who have actually started out farming after being inspired from reading our post here.

We have just concluded the series "practical steps to starting your own poultry farming business" and I thought the next thing you would be needing is managerial skills. I know this because I have seen a lot of farmers get frustrated out of business because they do not know how to properly manage their farms this makes them make pea nuts as profits or incur great loses. This can lead any farmer into not only being frustrated but a psychological condition that makes one loose self esteem, the vibe to try any other business and a consistent remainder (in form of shock) of failure. This my friend is bad!

One time, we wrote a business plan on layers farming for a client and the capital investment was running over NGN21.5 million. His profit came above NGN5 million in the 2nd year ending with an ROI of 27% at the end of the 3rd year. This was a standard business plan (Sorry i can't show you the financial spread sheets since they are for my client). Here is the thing, no sensible investor will agree with your hypes on an ROI of 110%. Well, if you claim its possible your cash flow will have to show it and this has to be very clear enough. Here is another thing, even if its possible to make 110% ROI don't show it!

This is why:
- Your investors will perceive you as scam;
- you give them greater bargaining power on how much they will request as interest. I mean if you're going to make that much you can't be promising them 10% interest.

Enough of this, I am digressing already. May be we will treat "how to write a poultry farming business plan that guarantee you that loan" or some title that fits. Since I know that another set back most people are having is "capital" and a good business plan written with all the necessary "ingredients" will taste so good in the read of your investors that they write you a huge sum cheque in a hurry begging you to please collect the money.

Back to the story;

Usually, after writing a client such business plan, we will provide suggestions on how he/she can cut down on cost of production. This is done at a fee but I will be explaining today's topic using some of the managerial skills I will employ, if I were to run the farm of my client.

Here is the truth, I can save at the least 30% on the capital investment. 30% of NGN21,588,631 is NGN6,467,590. Let me show you what I will do:

At the time of writing that business plan, cost of Top feeds in the east (my client location) was:
Chick mash-NGN4,000
Grower mash- NGN3,800
Layer mash -NGN3,700

A total of 9762.9 bags is needed from DOC through laying period (78 weeks).

The quantity needed according to the feed type is as follows:
Chick mash - 471.1 bags
Grower mash - 1708 bags
Layer mash - 7583.8 bags

During the same period, Top feeds (notice that I am using the same company feeds) was selling at the following prices in Niger state:
Chick mash - NGN3,900
Grower mash - NGN3,200
Layer mash - NGN3,250

I also have a seller who promises a 4% discount on every purchase of 20 bags and above.

Now, assuming I am to run that farm what I will do is simple:

1. I can decide to buy all my feeds from Niger state. If I do this, here is what will happen- I will save these:
a chick mash - NGN100 per bag
b. Grower mash - NGN600 per bag
c. Layer mash - NGN450 per bag

Bringing a total of NGN4,484,620. Money saved from all 9762.9 bags.

Now, I am very greedy so I will make sure I get that 4% discount every time and this will make me save NGN4,664,004 instead of NGN4,484,620 buying at the normal price.

2. I will not buy feeds from retailers. I will go straight to the company. Someone who is going to be buying tons of feeds isn't small. I deserve respect too. Lols
How much do you think these retailers make from selling a bag of feeds? Ok let me take the minimum. Let's say its NGN50 per bag.

Remember the total number of bags of feeds I will buy is 9762.9. If you multiply this by NGN50, you will get NGN488,145. Add it to the last money saved in (1) above NGN5,152,149. This is the amount I could save buying feeds directly from the company.

3. I told you, I am very greedy. I hope you know that, buying these feeds from the company or a retailer in Niger state will require transportation cost? I don't want to waste that money. So here is what I will do. Simply, I will buy a small milling machine (for a start) and use it to make my own feeds right in my farm. If I do this I can save almost a NGN1,500 per bag but let us assume I don't have the money for a good milling machine. I will find a miller in the east or simply come down to the north since I am sure I will find one and get labour cost cheap too. If I use a miller in the north I will save at the very least NGN500 per bag. Total bags of feeds 9762.9 * NGN500 is NGN4,881,450 saved off the normal cost of buying feeds from even the company. If you add that to the amount saved in (2) you will have NGN10,033,599.
NGN10,033,599 is 46.5% of the capital investment NGN21,588,631 and this was just saved from feeds only!

So you can propose and collect NGN21,588,631 from your investors as capital investment then keep all the money saved. Like the NGN10,033,599. This saved money can be used as alternative bail out fund if anything ever go wrong or if you experience delay and couldn't pay up your interest as promised. Rather than disappoint your investors, you simply use the money saved.
Being smart like this, you can create a plan B within the same loan or investment received.

What I have just shown you is that the bulk expenditure on the farm (layers or broilers) is on feeds. If you can manage how you source your feeds, you will save more and make more profits too. The best way to do this is to make your feeds. I am tired of some persons thinking that this is a joke or impossible. So we are making you an offer of following you down to your farm and showing you how we do this thing. This is not free!!! In fact there is no way to say it, the price is HIGH. However, if you trust us, can read and follow instructions written in an eBook. Simply opt in for the "eBook guide package" which is affordable.

For any of our services contact us using the details on the signature just below this post.

In my next post I will show you further more how I can save cost on vaccines/medication, purchase of DOC, housing etc

Live smart!

shurinz:
Following back to back.
Welldone

Thanks

hopeakpan101:
How do I produced feed by myself

Its easy. You can get our guide and learn everything from start to finish plus further guide online. To get it please reach us via the contacts details at the signature just below this post.

This will be done here only once....

This post was prompted due to the recent inquiries I have hard about estimated cost of layer farming and business plan... I am breaking the rules to make this post in that regard. So please read and ignore if not interested.

Assuming you already have a land, it will cost you N10,064,240 to start a 2500 layer farm from pullets (i.e DOC) up until laying period. That amount also include cost of raising a deep litre Pen, purchase and installation of battery cages at Point Of Lay (POL), feeds, feeders, drinkers, vaccines and medicines, cost of pullets etc.
It will take about 18 weeks for them to start laying. Transfer to the cages is done at 14-16 weeks.

During laying period, it will cost N38,220 to sustain the farm and you'd make profit of N24,280 daily running to N728,400 monthly and N8,740,800 in a year, assuming you have a favourable market. Your Hens will continue to lay for 14months plus and you'd sell spent layers at N1,200-N1,400 depending on weight. Assuming you sold only 2000 spent layers at N1,200 you will make N2,400,000 and this is extra profit.

What I have shown you is over 98% profits within 3years of stocking just 2500 layers. What if you have a strategy of increasing your stock by 500 yearly or in 6 months during lay? I am sure you can see...

Wait! Don't be too excited just yet.

What if you want all the above experience but have the following problems:
*No capital
*No skill or knowledge about poultry

Or

May be you do have the above 2 qualities but don't even know how to start since you haven't done it before.

You see, the picture I painted above is real and its even the least experience you can have if you follow all the rules. For instance, you will need to know the exact breeds to buy for optimum performance, and the daily feed requirements per chick up until POL. You also need to know all the vaccines and medications required to be administered to the chicken. Without all these, your efforts will be frustrated with poor performance of chick seen in delayed laying, small size eggs, reduced frequency of lay etc. These simple things can lead to serious loses.

Now, hold on....

What if all the night mares above can be solved?

Our "management programme and vaccination schedule guides" shows you:
-the exact quantity of feed to feed your chicks daily so that they reach the required (1.5kg or 1.7kg depending on breed) weight on time and start laying jumbo size eggs too
-the exact quantity of feed to maintain during laying period
-how to calculate the feed requirements from grams to kg so that you know how many bags to feed your chickens daily
-what to do every day towards the healthy living and performance of your chickens
-when to transfer, when to debeak etc
-how much space required during brooding, rearing (growing) and laying periods

...and lots more

How about raising funds?
We will show you a practical technique we have used to raise N250,000 with evidence of how you too can do same or get more than what we achieved in less than 1month. We will also write you a generic business plan that guarantees to winning you miracles before investors.

The business plan we will write you will have among other things:

*an exact illustration of the goals set and how to achieve them
*a clear description of the financial projections
*templete of records keeping sheets, vaccines and medication plus prices etc
*proper analysis of target market and practical promotional and marketing strategies
...plus lots more

Now, after we're done, we will send you a copy to review and start all over again if you're not satisfied.

This offers also goes for broilers farming.

This offer last 7days from today.

For price:

Call- 09056198681
Whatsapp- 09071827982

Feel free to share

See you in the series "Practical steps to starting a poultry farming business" this weekend.

**we're not only providing you broilers farming solutions but ALL poultry farming solutions.

If you stick around well enough you'd learn a lot from us.

****Again my apologies for doing this here***

Live Smart

MadCow1:
Sent

I received your email and have replied too. Please pay attention to the last reply for contact details. Thanks

MadCow1:
What will it cost to get a generic plan from you for 2500 layers and 2000 broilers..

Please send me an email or a Private message using the contact details at my signature just below this post. Thanks

MadCow1:
Hi.. Thanks for this input.

I am currently building a business plan for 2500 layer capacity farm and I am stuck with my price estimates. Can I send you what I have so far for you to review and maybe shed some light on things I may be missing or getting wrong. Also I can't seem to properly put a price on the cost of their vaccination and vitamins.

Please let me know if I can send you and email.

Yes you can but there is a length I can go for free

jfkenny:
Answer abegooo

@jf Kenny I don't buy guinea fowl. However, you may check on poultryplaza.com and see if you would get any info there

Good evening everyone!
I trust that we are doing great?
I can't over emphasize this enough: success in poultry farming starts ever before you stock and not after. There are a lot of things that leads to failures in this business. I will list some here:
a. In ability to know the right time to buy or sale
b. In ability to manage production cost so as to maximise profit

And many more.....
When we bought our present stock it sold at #115 per doc (thank God I have been carrying you through with it). Today same breed sales at #260 per doc. Just 2 weeks after the cost has more than doubled and this is even the cost of buying directly from the farm and not through an agent. Also the cost doesn't include transportation. All doc of every farm is on the increase right now.
If you don't understand these things I have been sharing with you, you will always make little or no profit. The psychological effect of always farming and making nothing or pea nuts is enough to frustrate anyone out of the business. It is the situation that makes one think that it is not possible or they are just exaggerating or lying, no profit in that shit...

If you want to farm, farm right and farm smart.

ifebrainy5:
please I want to know the price that hotels and fast food restaurants buy live broiler per kg. its very urgent

It depends on your location. Prices ranges from #1000 up wards

kripen:
I am right with you. 'PROF' 4 get about these people who are selfish, if it were to be them we would have pay through our nose to get this information which you are given out free. MAY GOD BLESS YOU THE MORE. I am into poultry farming but on a very small scale you are really teaching and telling us the nitty gritty of the biz, upon all one should start something no matter how small. In biz/ farming no one can be 100% accurate in estimation you can be above or below that is why it is called estimat, in that wise if not God no human can predict how a biz will turn to be when u know unforseen challenges do happen. PROF forget overlook these critic for if we follow them we biginers will not start something.

Thanks for the understanding and thanks for following too

Mustack:
Nice one.

Thanks

jfkenny:
Weldone sir..

Thanks

Practical steps to starting a poultry farming business- Part 4
========================

Hey SmartFarmers!

I like to call you that because it is my believe that you will become it. If you have been so far following these series and the ones before it certainly means that you're on your way to becoming a Smart Farmer like me and I can't wait to hear your testimony.

My last post was about solidifying your plans after you have done your research and built a Pen to accommodate your chicks. I want to believe you have done a lot already.

*Today we shall talk about how to choose a farm to buy your doc, pullets, POL or weeks old chicks*

What I have been sharing with you are deep SECRETS and just because they come FREE doesn't make it any less. Once you begin to search for these things by your self and apply the ones I unveil to you, you will then better appreciate what you have learnt. Most of what I teach here are no copy and paste or "Google search' words. They are my experiences of over 3 years farming and that's why they are different, will receive rejections sometimes and make one wonder if they are even possible.

It is important that you PROVE all I tell you before accepting it.

There are a lot happening in the poultry sector and how you want to model your farm depends on you. Only you can decide who to follow, the techniques to use, the business model and strategies your farm runs on.

The poultry industry is very vast and a lot of persons have created different niches in it to help make ends meet.

If you're far from the west or even in the west and are lazy or just too busy, the following are the only options you have to buy your doc, pullets, POL or weeks old chicks:

1. Agents: these represent any of the following:
a. Vet shops
b. Smart Individuals
c. Registered distributors

a. Vet shops: these are sometimes professionals who have studied Veterinary Medicine in school and have now open outlets where they sell animal drugs, feeds and provide both professional and consultancy services. Most of them also collect orders and will help you buy doc, and pullets from hatchery farms. Some of them have POL or weeks old chicks for sale. I started by using the word "some' because the market is saturated and a lot is happening these days. Just like not all chemist shops are operated by a Pharmacist so are some of these Vet shops. You have to be careful who is giving you advice and what you're using for your chicks or livestock.

b. Smart Individuals: these are mostly farmers who may or may not have enough experience but are smart. They have seen a demand in doc or pullets and know how to meet it. They simply help you buy and make gains.

c. Registered distributors: these could be farmers or Vets. who have registered with the hatcheries to help coordinate all demands and supply of doc and pullets to others within a said location.

Any of the above used will require you buy at the prices fixed by the agent and not the original price from the farm and there is nothing wrong in that since the agent will be responsible for making all the arrangement for your orders and transporting your chicks too. However, most of these agents fix prices that are too high making the farmer buy cost. Let me explain, for instance, if the original price of doc sold by CHI is #100 there is nothing wrong making it #105 or #110 but you find them selling at #150 or even #180. #80 may sound small but when you multiply that by 50 for 1 carton then you will understand what I mean. What about those who will buy say 700 chicks like us? Lols
*i just gave you an idea too**

2. Hatcheries: these are farms who after incubating eggs using sophisticated machines and techniques sell doc, pullets etc. Examples include, Amo, CHI, Zartech, Nastech, Cascada, Fidan, Max, Farm Support, Agrited, Yammy Farms, Foresight (Marshall) etc. Each of these farms have their unique breeds or borrowed breeds and methods. Most of them are not online and do not have website (I don't know why). You can buy directly from any of these farms using the following:

a. Connect with them on Facebook or visit their website. eg Agrited

b. Those who are not online have their contacts printed (Not ink written) on the cartons carrying the doc or pullet.

The advantages of buying directly from the farms is that you will get the best price and you're sure of buying their chicks.

The challenges of buying directly from the hatcheries include:

* Some of them will request that you register with them first before anything else eg CHI
* Some will not sell directly to you if your orders are below 1000 DOCs
* you will need to provide a driver in most cases.

All the above and other challenges have solutions but I have written enough already. �

*Please do me a favour, share this post or download and share the logo below*

If you make me happy I might be willing to share more awesome secrets with you.

N.B. the logo is our company's and we'd file a suit against you if caught duplicating.

Thanks

shyenar999:
Still following
Taking d front sit now

Thanks for following

Practical steps to starting a poultry farming business- Part 3
===================================

Hey guys!

I applaud you, if you have been following this series especially if you have been doing all the assignments so far. You will notice by now that all the assignments are practical requiring you to either go out or write down something. By all means you are expected to Do something. The truth is this, you can't achieve much just reading all my post unless you do something with what you read they only remain another information to you.

This episode is going to assume the following:

* that you already have a space for housing your chickens
* that you already have decided on an entry point and have the capital to carry through the expenses for the number of chickens you have decided on starting with or stocking.

Now that you have all the above ready, here is what you must do if you don't want to fail farming...

Please seat,

- decide on the hatchery farms you want to buy your doc from or the farms you want to buy your pullet or weeks old chicks from

- decide on a feeding program and a vaccination program

Usually the above are dependent on your target market.

Remember the research you made? You were supposed to find out the weight and egg sizes more demanded by the markets available at your location.

In my over 3years experience, I have come to know which farms gives me a more heavier chicken within say 8 weeks period or a 12 weeks period. I also know which will not give me that same weight even if they are left for over a year with good nutrition. I know these things because I buy from different farms sometimes same time just to compare and other times because of the market in view. The truth is this, there are a lot of factors that affect the performance (weight and egg production) of chickens but the first on the list is the genetic make up of that chicken. There is no how a chicken will perform beyond its genetic make up and there is hardly any sure way of knowing this except by experience which can be personal or observed.

I know these things can be difficult for a beginner because i was once there. If you get it wrong in the breeds or farm, the following might happen to you:

- poor growth of chickens where broilers are growing like a domestic fowl. Slow growth, less weight and their feed and water consumption is very high. This could wreck you. A psychological effect that takes only the strong to survive.

- poor performance of layers where they take too long to start laying and lay only a few when they start. Again, this is bad.

- too many wrungs in the stock.

- too many mortality of stock.

Any of the above is enough to discourage any one from going further on farming.

You don't want to miss the next episode where I will show you how to choose a good farm and buy directly from them too.

#SmartFarmer

ifysimple:
Thanks for the good work. i have bn following the thread. i have 40k and i want to start with 50 doc by first oct. this is my first time. cost of the pen house not inclusive.

Great!

Practical steps to starting a poultry farming business- Part 2

Hello everyone!

I want to thank you for following the part 1 of this series and though we didn't get a feedback on your assignment. It is my believe that lots of persons have done it or at least have in mind to do so. I say this with confidence because between the day that post was made and today, I have had a few persons PM me inquiring about a few things. I encourage you to do same if you haven't already done so.

This episode will assume the following:
* that you have been following ALL my previous series on poultry farming

* that you already have done your Research and have decided to still go on with poultry farming

If the above have been met then the next thing you want to know is discussed below:

*The Basic things you need to start up a small scale poultry farm*

1. Housing: It is important you make proper housing for your birds before they ever arrive. You need two of these housing which will be serving different purposes ie brooding room and rearing house or Pen but where u don't have the means to do this you can improvise or condition the house you already have for brooding time.

There are four systems of housing generally found to follow among the poultry keepers. The type of housing adopted depends to a large extent on the amount of ground and the capital available.

1. Free-range or extensive system

2. Semi-intensive system

3. Folding unit system

4. Intensive system: Most commercial Nigerian poultry farmers makes use of this system. It has 2 sub- classes namely:

a. Battery cage system
b. Deep litter system

Battery cage system is mostly used by Layer breeders while deep litter system is practiced by broiler breeders. This arrangement fits best. However, any one of the two could be used for either of the bird types depending on the available space, capital and technical know how. For instance, one could improvise by using a deep litter system for layers but must de-beak the hens and creatively create for them nest for laying eggs. This would drastically save the farmer cost of purchasing battery cages assuming he or she has space for accommodating the deep litter house.

Also, someone with low capital and small space can start small by building a two steps or 3 steps wooden pens covered with zincs and nets to allow for ventilation enough to house 50, 100 or 200 birds as convenient. This simple housing can be built at your backyard, compound or at an available space.

*The idea is for you to see no setbacks. Go out if you must and search for a space or be creative with what you already have. Luck will not find you seating...*

2. Drinkers/Feeders: the container where you put water for the chickens is called DRINKER while the one for the feeds is called FEEDER. You must have seen these things. If u don't have money to get them you can always improvise. Again be creative.

3. Heat source: this can be your kerosene stove, charcoal stove, uv light bulbs etc. It is used to regulate temperature during brooding time.

4. Capital: you need money for the following:
a. Purchase of the items already discussed above.

b. Feeds - you can buy or make this if u have a good formula

c. Vaccines/Drugs: you will be administering these things to your doc till they are 4 weeks or over depending on the vaccination programme chosen.
e. Wood shavings
d. DOC/POL

There could be other expenses which would be needed for maintaining and running the farm depending on the nitche and entry point you have chosen.

Remember that the housing, feeders, drinkers, and heat source are a one time expenses which could need maintenance after a long time.

You need to be creative and efficient in your management to be able to reduce cost and avoid waste.

Assignment II

*Define exactly the capital you have to start with, sketch out a plan to fit in what you have and GO OUT where necessary to find all you need*

Luck finds the prepared heart. I know it will find you.

Good luck!

Practical Steps to starting a poultry farming business- Part 1
===================

It is an error to begin a business you know nothing about. It is also an error to allow fear hold you back after you have done a enough research to set out.

This series, is going to assume that you already have done the following:

- taken a decision to become a poultry farmer
- written your business plan or atleast decided on a nitche to begin with.

With the above being clear....we can begin.

Today, I want to discuss on the very first thing you need to do once you have decided to start farming:

RESEARCH and PLAN

Your business plan is supposed to have taken care of this part but since I know lots of persons would be too lazy to do this I have decided to start right here.

Let me say here very quickly and is not because I want you being afraid, if you farm like EVERYONE else, either or all of these two will happen to you:

1. You will end up making SMALL or NO profit at all

2. The impact of No1 can get you FRUSTRATED so that you close up just when you have started or you continue to STRUGGLE and COMPLAIN about everything

I don't want anyone of the above happening to you so listen....

Success in any venture has its own unique secret. That's why you will find two people selling the same thing in the same location, one is THRIVING and the other is STRUGGLING. The difference is in what they know and are applying...

Stop browsing, take yourself, go out in your streets and beyond. ASK questions!

- ASK existing Farmers. Those in the nitche you have chosen. Ask them EVERYTHING!
*be willing to pay for their services if need be*

- ASK buyers of poultry products. Find out:
* how much they buy
* how often they buy
* what weight or egg size they buy more and why

Ask! Ask!!

Return with your results and write EVERYTHING down including the stupid or funny answers.

You want to know the following:

* if this business is already thriving in your area.
* If the profit made by the existing farmers is worth the stress
* if the business acceptability is poor in your area. What can you do to change that?
* How do you create your mark (uniqueness) in the already existing market.
* what errors the existing farmers are making and their major strength

Now, PLAN!

* draw a chart on how you intend to start. Be specific on date, quantity, location etc

* Start small but draw an expansion strategy.
* determine your cash flow and how much will be reinvested back into the business every single time.

* decide your target market and marketing strategy.

* draw out your schedule, feeding programme, vaccination programme etc

You see, success in poultry farming is determined ever before you buy your stock not while you have bought them and are ready to sell.

No! It is before!!!

The reason why we expanded so fast and continue to move up is because we don't do things like everyone else.

* our feeding programme and vaccination programme are not the same for all bird types.

* we don't grow our chickens the same way every time. Our chicken weight is specific to the weight demanded and we know what to feed to attain such weight and the period it will take.

* Our previous records are always first reviewed before restocking.

* we know when to stock. Which buyers breed gives the kind of weight we want at the time and how to buy doc at insanely CHEAP prices

How do you think we were able to move from 50 birds to 700 in such short time and stay in it when many are complaining and closing up? You think is luck? Well may be some but we take this business seriously and if you ever want to succeed in it, you too MUST!

What I have shown you today is a continuous process especially the "planning'.

I understand that most of the things mentioned here will be difficult for starters since you might not even understand the terms used or how to go about doing them. We will discuss SOME of them in this series. Stay with me. I want to literally take you by the hand and make you a MILLIONAIRE FARMER

This series is PRACTICAL! It will come with it a lot of assignments requiring you to do something.
*I want you to go out and do the research we just discussed. You can drop your findings in the comment space below**

We will continue on Tuesday 5th Sep.

#SmartFarmer