Poultry Farming Business in Nigeria is one of the most lucrative and profitable businesses in the West African Nation. Nigerians love poultry meat, it is the third most consumed meat in Nigeria, after beef and goat meat.
If you want to find out how to begin raising chickens in Nigeria, keep reading this blog post. It includes all the information you require to launch a chicken farm in Nigeria.
What Is Poultry Farming?Â
The raising of domestic birds for human consumption and other uses, such as meat, eggs, feathers, and manure, is known as poultry farming. Examples of these birds include chickens, turkeys, ducks, and others.Â
With so many exciting opportunities, it is a highly profitable venture that, if done correctly, will yield large profits because of Nigeria’s high demand for poultry meat and eggs.
By ensuring that local poultry production meets demand, you will also be contributing to the reduction of poultry product imports.Â
How To Get Started With Poultry Farming In Nigeria
1. Learn About The Cost Of Opening A Poultry Farm In Nigeria
The size of the farm and the scope of operations determine how much it will cost to start and run a chicken farm. A small-scale farm needs less funding because housing and food are not as expensive.
Large-scale chicken farms need to have well-built housing systems, a lot of food that is extremely nutritious, and appropriate, sometimes costly, disease and pest control measures.Â
Choose the type of farm you want to start, research the costs of all the necessary supplies, and make a budget in accordance with your needs before launching a poultry farm.Â
By purchasing a small number of birds, one can start a poultry farming business in Nigeria for less than N100,000.Â
However, even if you have an abundance of money to spare, it is still advisable to start small because medium- to large-scale farms require a lot more capital.
2. You Need To Choose The Right Bird To Rear
Depending on where they live, chicken, turkey, geese, quail, pigeons, and guinea fowl are the most popular birds raised by poultry farmers today.Â
Turkey is a close second to chicken as the most popular bird in Nigeria, so farmers who wish to capitalize on the country’s rising demand for poultry products should consider raising chickens instead of turkeys.Â
The best and least competitive market is probably raising quails, pigeons, or ducks. Finding the various bird breeds that are available and selecting the most lucrative ones for your farm to raise comes after determining what kind of bird you want to raise.Â
If you want to start raising chickens, for instance, you can decide to raise only cockerels, layers, or broilers, or you can raise a mix of all the different breeds.Â
3. Select A Good Farm Location For Your Poultry Business
A good farm site is necessary to begin a poultry farm. Poultry farms should ideally be located far from residential areas because of the foul smell that usually comes from them.Â
If you are unable to pay for a new location, you can begin with whatever space you have available in your home, but eventually, you will need to relocate your poultry farm as its needs grow and its footprint becomes more substantial.Â
Choose a peaceful area free from pollution, predators, and other hazards if you can afford to move to a new location away from your home.Â
In order to guarantee that your farm has a sufficient supply of clean water, even if you are unable to drill a borehole, make sure the location is near a reliable water source.Â
A quality chicken farm should also be easily reachable and located near good roads to facilitate the easy transportation of farm products once they are ready for sale.
4. You Need To Provide Good Housing For The Birds
You need to build a sturdy shelter for your birds on the farm in order to keep them safe and secure. In poultry farming, there are four main housing systems: the folding unit system, the semi-intensive system, the intensive system, and the free-range or extensive system.
1. Free-range Poultry Housing SystemÂ
In poultry farming, this is the oldest method of housing birds. The birds in this system are housed in a shelter at night and are free to move about the farm during the day.Â
Usually, temporary roofing supported by regular poles provides shelter. Compared to other housing systems, the free-range system requires less capital investment, making it ideal for beginning chicken farmers.Â
Because the birds can find most of their food by exploring the farm, this system not only reduces the cost of building housing but also the cost of feeding them.Â
2. Semi-intensive Housing System
This kind of housing system alternates between intensive and free-range living. This system attaches a poultry house to a small plot of land enclosed by wire mesh. A run is the term for a small piece of land. The birds use the run as a daytime habitat during the day and the poultry house as a nighttime shelter.Â
3. Folding Unit System
Although there is less space needed and the entire poultry unit can be moved, this system still includes a house for the chickens that is connected to a run.
4. Intensive System
The most effective and appropriate housing system for large-scale chicken farming is this one. This system is the only one used in commercial poultry farming.
You can apply scientific management practices, such as breeding, feeding, medication, and culling, with ease and accuracy with this system. Disease outbreaks on the farm can be avoided by using this system, which also makes it simple to recognize, isolate, and treat sick birds.
5. Feeding The Birds
You need to make sure that the birds on your farm are getting enough food, attention, and medicine when needed if you want to maximize their productivity. Every day, the birds need to be provided with clean water and high-quality food.Â
There are three main types of poultry feeds: crumbles, pellets, and mash. The most popular feedstuffs for poultry in Nigeria are maize and soybeans, both of which are inexpensive sources of protein and energy for your birds.Â
You can supplement their diets with additional feeds like concentrates, balancers, millet, fish oil, and more. Companies that sell poultry feed can provide you with all of these.
In order to properly care for chicks aged 0–4 weeks, you should purchase starter mash or feed.
The poultry house needs to be kept dry and clean at all times, and when necessary, vaccinations and medications should be administered to stop disease outbreaks.
6. Advertising The Birds And Their Products (Eggs)
Although many people only enter the poultry farming industry with the intention of making money, it is known to be a very profitable industry in Nigeria.Â
Nigerian poultry farms can have very high operating costs, so improper marketing can result in losses for the farmer which could lead to the collapse of the business.Â
You can use your social media accounts, WhatsApp groups and status updates, hire marketers, sell to lodging facilities, dining establishments, and event caterers, and promote your business online.Â
Tell your friends, family, and neighbours if you own a small-scale chicken farm where you sell chicken eggs and meat. Moreover, strive to increase sales during the holidays by providing home delivery, encouraging recommendations, and offering discounts.
The Kind Of Chicken Breeds We Have
It is important for beginners who wish to start a poultry farming business in Nigeria to understand the differences between the various breeds of chickens and the reasons why raising one breed is better than another.
Although cockerels grow more slowly than broilers, they too are raised for the sole purpose of producing meat. Broilers are young male and female animals raised for this purpose. Due to its mostly male nature, this type of chicken is kept mostly at home and is neither entirely local nor agricultural.
However, because they produce both eggs and meat, layers are valued and very profitable. The egg that these birds lay can actually bring in a sizable sum of money for you. There are two ways that you can be paid: with the produce that contains meat and eggs.
How To Prevent Disease Infestation In Your Poultry Farm
To prevent disease infestation on your poultry farm, you must follow strict procedures, such as limiting farm access to essential personnel and disinfecting all visitors and equipment before entering.Â
To lower the risk of infections, you should also routinely clean and disinfect chicken houses, feed, and water sources. In order to safeguard against common poultry diseases, carry out a proper vaccination program in accordance with the advice of your veterinarian.
Finally, to reduce the accumulation of dangerous gases, maintain adequate ventilation and practice good litter management. To stop the spread of disease, keep an eye out for any symptoms of illness in your flock every day and separate any sick birds right away.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Poultry FarmingÂ
What Is The Cost Of Rearing 100 Broilers In Nigeria?
The cost of rearing 100 broilers in Nigeria can range from ₦418,060 to ₦500,000 depending on where you get them from. It is not necessary to start a broiler farm with this much money all at once; you might only need a quarter.
Can I Start A Poultry Farm With 100k?
Less than N100,000 can be used to launch a small-scale chicken business in Nigeria. Large farms need a lot more capital, but even if you have plenty of money to spare, it is still a good idea to start small.
How Many Bags Of Feed Can 100 Layers Consume In A Month?
Surveys indicate that from 0 to 8 weeks, one layer chick consumes 2 kg of mash feed. Multiplying this amount by the number of layer chicks (100) and dividing the result by 50 yields 4 bags.Â
Which Poultry Business Is More Profitable?
In the poultry industry, broiler rearing is thought to be one of the most lucrative ventures.
How Much Will It Cost To Start A Poultry Farm In Nigeria 2024?
A typical poultry house can be built for 600,000 to 2,000,000 Naira, depending on its size and the calibre of the materials used. Building the chicken house is necessary as soon as you own the land.
Conclusion
The steps to start a poultry farming business plan in Nigeria include, Learn About The Cost Of Opening A Poultry Farm In Nigeria, A Good Farm Location For Your Poultry Business, Need Good Housing For The Birds, Feeding The Birds, and Advertising The Birds And Their Products (Eggs).
Nigerians are said to eat more than 1.5 million tons of chicken meat a year, and the country’s demand for chicken eggs and meat is reportedly still growing. This clearly shows that poultry farming in Nigeria is a highly profitable agricultural sector that is currently underutilized.