Poultry farming means rearing different domestic birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese, mainly for their meats and eggs.
As a result of the growing population, more demand for chicken meat and eggs is increasing daily. It has made poultry farming to become one of the most demanding and lucrative ventures.
Due to this, more people have started getting involved in poultry farming. It has led to tough competition in the market.
This article will be an excellent guideline for you if you are thinking of starting a new poultry farm. Also, if you are anyone already involved in poultry farming, reading this article can provide you additional tips and ideas for your farm.
Following are the 10 essential tips for successful poultry farming:
1. Pick your Poultry Sector:
Before you even set up anything for poultry farming, you need to choose which poultry sector you want to start. Poultry farming is a broad industry
Usually, the chicken farming business operates in multiple sectors, so decide if you want to run in all industries or restrict your business to just one or two-sector sectors of your choice, especially in the beginning.
Here are the two most popular niches you can consider:
- Meat production:
Usually, Broilers are rear for meat production under a controlled environment. Their meat are juicy and tender. These birds’ diets consist of corn feed and nutritional supplements. Usually, it takes a short period of 6-8 weeks for a broiler to be ready for the market.
- Egg Production:
Layers are one of the popular breeds of chicken reared for the purpose of egg production. Layers start laying eggs from 18-19 weeks.
2. Choose the bird type:
Many types of birds are rear in poultry farming. If you are starting small, then begin by choosing two or three birds.Later, as your business thrives, you can add more types of birds to your poultry farm.
Depending on your budget, purpose, and size of your farm, you should decide the kind of birds you want to start rearing.
Mainly poultry farms raise birds such as:
- Domestic fowl
- Chicken (broiler and layers)
- Duck
- Goose
- Quail
- Guinea fowl
- Turkey
- Pigeon
- Peacock
The list in the birds is rear for meat, eggs, feathers, or keeping as a pet in the home.
3. Create your farm logo
When selecting a farm name, you may get confused by lots of farm names to choose from. But, only pick the one that fits your type of farm.
Another essential you should take is to have a unique poultry farm logo for your business. Your logo will be everywhere in your farm products when you market them.
The logo will also be your marketing material, such as visiting cards, websites, and any other places; therefore, your logo becomes a tool to show that you run a professional poultry farming business.
4. Location is important:
After you have decided which breed you will select for your poultry farming, now, it’s time you decide where you should be setting your farm location.
Here are the things you should not miss:
- Don’t set up your farm in the residential area.
- Make sure to check the security factor of the farm location.
- Focus on a site with sufficient space.
- Make sure to check the rules and laws of the farm location.
- Make sure transportation is not difficult.
5. Poultry feeds and nutrition
Providing quality feeds is one of the critical activities in poultry farming. The right feed provides all the essential nutrition important for the bird’s growth and health.
Here are things you should probably keep in check:
- Ensure the feed you provide has the proper balance of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
- Depending on the age of the birds, make sure the birds can easily eat the size of feed.
- Know that highly nutritious food helps give better meat and more eggs. This allows you to produce more and earn more.
- Focus on giving excellent and fresh drinking water along with feeds.
6. Housing
Poultry housing is the next extensive work after deciding poultry location. Poultry housing can affect the productivity of birds.
So you should at least keep in mind the following tips:
- If possible, the Poultry farm should be made in a rectangular structure that helps to aerate the farm.
- Poultry houses should be well-made enough to keep the birds safe from bad weather and harsh and cold temperatures.
- The shelter must have adequate space for birds to move freely.
- Make sure it is well ventilated and protected from harsh sunlight.
- Build proper drainage facilities.
- Lastly, make sure that your poultry house is not at risk of flooding during the rainy season.
7. Poultry equipment
You should prepare a list of items that are essential for your poultry farming. Research the equipment and tools on the internet, decide your budget, and don’t forget to compare the equipment prices in the marketplace.
Here are some of the equipment used in most of the poultry farms:
- Feeder
- Water pot
- Heater
- Cages
- Fencing
- Incubator
8. Poultry Hygiene and Health
When people don’t focus on maintaining cleanliness in a poultry farm, their birds are at higher risk of getting sick and spreading disease to the rest of the farms.
Sometimes, this even can lead to the death of a whole flock of farm birds. That’s why poultry hygiene is crucial.
Here are some of the tips you should know about:poultry hygiene and health.
- Water pots and bird’s feeder should always be kept clean.
- Water should be clean.
- To protect from certain diseases, vaccinate your farm birds by taking advice from health personnel.
- Depending upon the need, always keep the shelter of the birds clean.
- Make sure to protect the birds from insect and parasite infestation. For this, you should consult with animal doctors and personnel.
9. Seek advice from the Right People
Look for established poultry farms and make sure to visit them. If you know any one of your friends or family involved in poultry farming, ask for their bits of help and suggestions.
Otherwise, you can also ask anyone who is involved in this business for their advice. People are always ready to share their knowledge and experience.
Asking people to share their knowledge and expertise can bring you more helpful information for running a poultry farm.
It can also help you get the answer to your questions and give more clarity. It, in return, can save your valuable time, effort, and money.
10. Management and Labour for poultry farm
The number of farmworkers you need will depend on the size of your poultry farming business project.
If you are running a small poultry farm business e.g., 100 birds/cycle, you and your family may be enough to take care of the birds, but if you are rearing 2000 birds per cycle, you will need full-time employees to manage the poultry farm.
That’s about it
If you have come to this part of the article, you must have found this article helpful. It is always good to connect with other poultry farmers because their information can sometimes benefit your farm.
Lastly, I want you to always be up-to-date with current market news relating to a poultry farming business. It is important. If you are involved in a poultry farm, you know what I am speaking of.
