Good day fellow Nairalanders... I am an oil and gas pipeline welder but because of the current recession am currently out of job. So i figured i should start a poultry business to help bring in some cash. So i bought 500 day old broiler chicks 505 actually, at the price of #150/chick, and i bought 40 bags of 'Top Feed starters' feed, that wont be enough but just for a start. . . The reason for creating this post is mainly to get advice from veteran poultry farmers as i am an amateur in the business and also to get buyers for my chicks when they will be ready.
.
Right now the chicks are chilling in the brooding house i made ready they are all active and theres no casulaty so far and i pray it remains that way.
.
This my whatsapp no: +234-8164349118

Have they gotten their marek? That is the first thing to do. 500 broilers plenty for a starter as the thing will shake you when they start feeding

The main chicken house is still under construction, will definitely finish it before the week runs out... It just delayed due to the extra expenses i didn't budget for like the carpenter said a bundle of Zinc was #45,000 but i came to realise it was sold for #75,000 and dangote cement we used to buy #1600 is currently sold for #2500... But God on my side the building will b completed by weekend.

okosodo:
Have they gotten their marek? That is the first thing to do. 500 broilers plenty for a starter as the thing will shake you when they start feeding

Please baba whats 'marek'

eldeeBaba:


Please baba whats 'marek'

ask you supplier if they have done it, if not consult an expert fast

okosodo:
ask you supplier if they have done it, if not consult an expert fast

ON IT

Really liking this.

Marek is for layers nt compulsory for broilers

okosodo:
ask you supplier if they have done it, if not consult an expert fast

matuskyoo7:
Marek is for layers nt compulsory for broilers

i dont take such risks. Some of these broilers will lay eggs

All these mods should take this to front page, its too early to be sleeping

Op, 500 broilers are too much for a start,they will be difficult for you to manage.
I feel you made a big mistake in buying 40 bags of starter feed, they will not consume up to 5 bags in the first 4 weeks before you change to Growers mach.Growers mach are what you need more. I will advice you go back to where you bought the feeds from and change the starters to growers mach. Finisher will also be needed from the 10th week.

You should divide the house into 2 and sort the birds based on their sizes when they get to like 6th weeks

paulavon:
Op, 500 broilers are too much for a start,they will be difficult for you to manage.
I feel you made a big mistake in buying 40 bags of starter feed, they will not consume up to 5 bags in the first 4 weeks before you change to Growers mach.Growers mach are what you need more. I will advice you go back to where you bought the feeds from and change the starters to growers mach. Finisher will also be needed from the 10th week.

You should divide the house into 2 and sort the birds based on their sizes when they get to like 6th weeks

bros,5bags for 4weeks to feed 500birds!!! haba not true! 500birds would eat 40-45bags in 4weeks.
oga, for intensive broiler farming no one keeps birds for longer than 8 weeks. The grower mash we have around are for layers not broilers.Ideal feeding program for broilers usually involves feeding of super stater from day one to day 10-14, there after feed normal starter until 4 weeks then finisher can be fed until slaughter i.e 6-8 weeks. This type of feeding program involves providing feed,water and light round the clock even at night with only a few hours rest.

@op you probably should have started with super starter . hope you have gotten a good drug and vaccination schedule and be sure to get an experienced vet to visit your farm as often as possible .Broiler business needs attention and prevention is always better and cheaper than cure.

eldeeBaba:
Good day fellow Nairalanders... I am an oil and gas pipeline welder but because of the current recession am currently out of job. So i figured i should start a poultry business to help bring in some cash. So i bought 500 day old broiler chicks 505 actually, at the price of #150/chick, and i bought 40 bags of 'Top Feed starters' feed, that wont be enough but just for a start. . . The reason for creating this post is mainly to get advice from veteran poultry farmers as i am an amateur in the business and also to get buyers for my chicks when they will be ready.
.
Right now the chicks are chilling in the brooding house i made ready they are all active and theres no casulaty so far and i pray it remains that way.
.
This my whatsapp no: +234-8164349118

See what is happening here, it will help you to achieve your aim. Prevention is over important.
https://www.nairaland.com/3380798/organic-poultry-project-broilers

choliprime:

bros,5bags for 4weeks to feed 500birds!!! haba not true! 500birds would eat 40-45bags in 4weeks.
oga, for intensive broiler farming no one keeps birds for longer than 8 weeks. The grower mash we have around are for layers not broilers.Ideal feeding program for broilers usually involves feeding of super stater from day one to day 10-14, there after feed normal starter until 4 weeks then finisher can be fed until slaughter i.e 6-8 weeks. This type of feeding program involves providing feed,water and light round the clock even at night with only a few hours rest.
@op you probably should have started with super starter . hope you have gotten a good drug and vaccination schedule and be sure to get an experienced vet to visit your farm as often as possible .Broiler business needs attention and prevention is always better and cheaper than cure.

I don't want to argue with you, for you to say 500 broilers will eat 40-45 bags in the first 4 weeks, it is obvious to me you are not a farmer.

paulavon:


I don't want to argue with you, for you to say 500 broilers will eat 40-45 bags in the first 4 weeks, it is obvious to me you are not a farmer.

...and that attidude wouldnt allow you learn.This is 2016 not 1945.Google is your friend!

please read and learn from the attachment.

@op ,while carrying out due diligence on your new farm you still need to concern yourself with finding market for your birds, do not wait till the are mature before you start looking for market. with the number you have it will not do you any good to keep them for an extra day. you should look out for people that buy per kilogram,they usually can afford to buy large quantity at once.

choliprime:


bros,5bags for 4weeks to feed 500birds!!! haba not true! 500birds would eat 40-45bags in 4weeks.
oga, for intensive broiler farming no one keeps birds for longer than 8 weeks. The grower mash we have around are for layers not broilers.Ideal feeding program for broilers usually involves feeding of super stater from day one to day 10-14, there after feed normal starter until 4 weeks then finisher can be fed until slaughter i.e 6-8 weeks. This type of feeding program involves providing feed,water and light round the clock even at night with only a few hours rest.

@op you probably should have started with super starter . hope you have gotten a good drug and vaccination schedule and be sure to get an experienced vet to visit your farm as often as possible .Broiler business needs attention and prevention is always better and cheaper than cure.w

You're correct baba my plan is to feed them continuously day and night to attain market weight at 7 - 8 weeks hopefully i have a vet dr around and am taking some online vet courses too... I have their vaccines complete in the freezer

paulavon:
Op, 500 broilers are too much for a start,they will be difficult for you to manage.
I feel you made a big mistake in buying 40 bags of starter feed, they will not consume up to 5 bags in the first 4 weeks before you change to Growers mach.Growers mach are what you need more. I will advice you go back to where you bought the feeds from and change the starters to growers mach. Finisher will also be needed from the 10th week.

You should divide the house into 2 and sort the birds based on their sizes when they get to like 6th weeks

I intented diving the house once i remove them from the brooding room as they will no longer need extra heat

choliprime:
@op ,while carrying out due diligence on your new farm you still need to concern yourself with finding market for your birds, do not wait till the are mature before you start looking for market. with the number you have it will not do you any good to keep them for an extra day. you should look out for people that buy per kilogram,they usually can afford to buy large quantity at once.

You're very correct sir
I have started looking for buyers and at this moment i have 2 buyers who can buy upto 1000 birds and still looking for others too so as to avoid disappointment

eldeeBaba:


You're very correct sir
I have started looking for buyers and at this moment i have 2 buyers who can buy upto 1000 birds and still looking for others too so as to avoid disappointment

nice one.i like your commitment. how much are your potential buyers offering ? and where is your location?

Firstly i want to congratulate you for starting. There are few questions i will ask you for now,others will follow later. 1.your vaccination and medication chart. 2. What is the direction of your pen east west or north south. 3. Your location and the block of your pen is too high.

choliprime:


nice one.i like your commitment. how much are your potential buyers offering ? and where is your location?

From what i found out from buyers and poultry farm owners its best i wait till the birds mature since they are priced based on weight... My location is Akwa ibom but i can move the birds as far as Rivers since i have a toyota pickup van.

alakara:
Firstly i want to congratulate you for starting.
There are few questions i will ask you for now,others will follow later.
1.your vaccination and medication chart.
2. What is the direction of your pen east west or north south.
3. Your location and the block of your pen is too high.

Thanks
1. Marek has already been done
For the first 1week multivatamins and antibiotics
The 2nd week anti-coccidiosis and vitamins and Gumboro vaccine
14days Lasota vaccine
21days Gumboro vaccine
30days anti-coccidiosis
.
2. The pen is NS
.
3. The ground will be filled with sand it will be just 3blocks up from the main floor

choliprime:
@op ,while carrying out due diligence on your new farm you still need to concern yourself with finding market for your birds, do not wait till the are mature before you start looking for market. with the number you have it will not do you any good to keep them for an extra day. you should look out for people that buy per kilogram,they usually can afford to buy large quantity at once.

Good advice.
but at the present cost of feed, u might not make profit by selling on per Kilogram basis.