" I want to start a chicken business, what do I need to know"

Introduction
In this article, we are going to touch on the minimum information required by someone who is interested in rearing broilers as a business and is totally clueless on the issue. We are also targeting a small farmer with minimum capital. Detailed information is also found on this subject from your local chick supplier, inquire for brochures and assistance on your next visit. Please note that the feeds quantities and the indicated harvesting time of the birds by your supplier apply only under a dedicated set of conditions, be prepared to harvest your chicken at a later date and having used more feeds i.e budget for those additional expenses.

Why broiler chicken farming?

1. Broiler chicken is one of the most commonly consumed meats in the world and hence a readily available market (despite the fact that there are many chicken farmers).
2. Broiler chicken is easy to rear, provided you put the system right from the onset. 
3. You can keep the chicken in your back yard hence no costly space requirements.
4. You can use readily available materials to construct a low-cost fowl run to save yourself huge costs. (the construction should meet prescribed set of standards though as outlined later in this article).
5. Harvesting time of mature birds ranges from 5 weeks - 7 weeks depending on the quality of the rearing process, therefore a relatively lower turn around time for profit as compared to other investments.
6. Last but not least, you are keeping food! You are guaranteed of having meat as the farmer. Set aside a few birds to feed the body which works! (Don't eat all profits though)

Setbacks & Precautions

1. Broiler chicken need careful attention especially when they are still young otherwise you may face challenges including mortality of the birds.
2. Local whether patterns may hinder the chicken rearing process e.g very hot areas like Hwange which has average temperatures of late thirties in summer. (Don't despair though, there are economic ways to counter this challenge which we will tackle within our next articles).
3. Broilers attract thieves as they easily have a ready market and sell easily. (the last time I checked you didn't need a police clearance to sell broilers unlike when it comes to selling other livestock like cattle). Have proper security to counter this threat (we will share economic security tips in our next articles). 
4. Buy your chicks from a reputable supplier. Some diseases which threaten the life of your chicken are prevented from the hatchery and vaccines given there as well. (Pray & hope that your supplier does not make shortcuts in this area. There is no test you can do on receiving the chickens if this has not been done you will only see the consequences later on when it's too late !)

Now to the main story!

Capital requirements
We recommend that you should have enough capital to take you through at least the first 3 batches if you want to be a consistent chicken supplier ( you can start with what you have though but you may face financial challenges if your chicken fail to attract customers in time for the next batch according to your schedule). Below is a list of things you need to have

1. A fowl run 
2. Feeding containers
3. Drinking containers
4. Feeds
5. The chicks
6. Chicken chemicals (stress packs etc).

We will also tackle on these 6 points in detail within our next articles.

The direct cost of keeping the chicken mainly depend on the quantity of the chicken. Your nearest local chick/feed supplier usually has this figure. but take note of our caution of over-relying on those figures.


General upkeep of the chicken
The first thing you need to know as an aspiring chicken farmer is the type of infrastructure required to rear broilers depending on your local weather conditions. As a general guide, It is recommended to keep your broilers in a well-ventilated area but at the same time protecting them from harsh weather elements. Your local chicken supplier usually has brochures with the recommended design for a professional chicken fowl run. However due to cash challenges we recommend to have a ventilated fowl run which protects your chicks from harsh weather conditions using already available materials. However, avoid the use of materials like rubber (conveyors) as they excessively heat the fowl run in summer. Excessive heat in the fowl run can lead to stunted growth in chicken or even mortality.
It is recommended to have a fowl run which accommodates 10/ 12 birds per square meter (for grown birds).

Market

• You may target local fellow residents but avoid credit sales as much as possible, you may face challenges in getting your money in time for the next batch. Most people were forced out of this business due to bad debts!
• You may strike a deal with local fast food outlets. Be cautious again when it comes to debts. 
• You may target events including church functions. They usually take bulk orders on cash!

Pricing

There is no universal price we may recommend, however, there are certain factors which determine your pricing.

1. Your target market's financial status
2. Your desired profit
3. Competitors price 

Special notes and recommendations

1. Start small in order to gain experience and have time to study your market requirements. 
2. Your local feed supplier offers a good guide for feed quantities and maturity time for harvesting. Be careful of over-relying on these figures as you may end up using more feeds and rearing your chicken longer depending on your rearing method. Have a budget set to cover these additional expenses if this occurs. Disclaimer: we are not saying they lie but in reality, those values apply to exceptionally good farmers only under extremely good chicken rearing conditions which are difficult to achieve when rearing in the backyard. 
3. We recommend that you should have enough capital to take you through at least the first 3 batches if you want to be a consistent chicken supplier.
4. Avoid short cuts in feeds or substitution of chick feeds with other materials. Chicken lovers know the taste of a properly kept chicken! you may loose customers due to this practice.
5. Don't forget chicken need a balanced diet too! You need to budget for vitamin packs and or stress packs to aid in their full growth. Otherwise, you may see your chicken down the line having malfunctions including paralysis! (the purpose of stress pack will be fully discovered within our next articles - this is a chicken farmer's best friend).
6. Avoid unorthodox means to quickly grow your chicken. Besides this being unethical, you may harm your innocent clients (They have nothing to do with your own failures!). Your chicken may also end up looking big but not tasty. Chicken lovers notice this different taste trust me! Remember the golden rule: Don't bite the hand which feeds you!

You are now equipped with enough information to take you to your next step.


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