I often get asked which poultry project one can undertake and would like to address this as well as get your thoughts on the different available options.
Poultry is seen as an easy project as it has low entry requirements particularly where one is working with smaller numbers. It has a shorter turnaround time and quick returns when you look at broilers which generally are ready for marketing starting from 5 weeks, depending on the customer requirements. The rising costs of living generally has contributed to more people seeking to grow their own broilers even though they may not have adequate technical knowledge for this.
The available options for poultry are broiler production, layers (point of lay pullets) and egg production, road runners, hobby poultry like bantams and similar, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl, and peacocks. Some of these are more for hobby and the love for these animals than as a commercial venture.
Selection of one option is determined by several things that include
- Availability of land and housing for the project
- initial costs of the requirements,
- technical knowledge though this can be gained as one progresses-ideally one needs to get training prior to engaging to understand what is at stake and undergo refresher courses to ensure best performance
- size of the operation and possible growth potential
- market for the products
- doing it as a passion project
| Poultry type | Pros/Advantages | Cons/Disadvantages |
| Broilers | · Short rearing period-5 weeks to slaughter
· Low input requirements for small numbers · Readily available market though needs to be established well in advance · Rapid turnaround period · Sale of live as well as dressed birds, and offals separately · Sale of used litter at end of flock
|
· Market can get flooded and if one has no readily available market will eat into profits
· Attention to details is essential to avoid losses, from day old to slaughter · Small profit means small numbers take longer for a good return, work on volumes is best when one has the market · High mortality and low weights if not done correctly, can be very costly errors in this short period
|
| Layers | · Two-pronged approach for the business-point of lays and egg production
· Sale of used litter during and after end of flock · Sale of point of lays at 16-18 weeks of age · Sale of eggs-daily income once they start laying · Sale of spent hens at end of lay · Lower mortality once all vaccines are done correctly · Long laying period up to 90 weeks of age, some farmers can stretch further
|
· Long rearing period-point of lay at 17 weeks onwards
· High initial outlay before income starts coming in · High costs for vaccines, critical to have technical knowledge on administration for effectiveness
|
| Free Range | · Low costs, mostly chicks and feed
· Can be left to roam the yard with a little supplementation of feed · Low-cost housing requirements-some use a small shed for the night only, others add a free-range area to the protected area · Sale of chicks at day old or different ages · Sale of point of lay pullets and breeding cocks · Sale of live and dressed birds once ready · Sale of table and hatching eggs · Low mortality, higher disease resistance · · |
· Long growing period
· Slow growth to get to saleable weights · Prone to predators especially when left as free-range · Market needs to be established prior to project starting |
| Hobby poultry-bantams, peacocks | · High value of the live birds if breeding for sale
· Low housing costs as usually keep only a few birds that run around the yard · Ornamental and fun to have around the yard · |
· Prone to predators as they move outside
· High input costs for live birds especially for the rare species |
| Ducks, turkeys, Guinea fowl, | · Relatively new in poultry production
· Specialised market and tastes · Low competition from similar producers · |
· Market must be sought prior to engaging to ensure they can be sold when ready
· Turkeys mostly seasonal at Christmas, not popular at other time · Low numbers as the industry is still growing, possible inbreeding issues may arise |
Contact a Capital Foods customer support person on+263 772 133 272/4 or customercare@capitalfoods.co.zw