If you are on this page, chances are that you are interested in poultry investment in Nigeria. Should this be the case, we can assure you that you are on the right page. In this article, we will discuss all that you need to know about poultry investment in Nigeria. This includes what it is, how to start it, and the benefits you can get investing in this business. Without further ado, let’s get to business.
Poultry Farming in Nigeria
The fact is, year after year, the demand for livestock products is fast expanding in Nigeria and across Africa
Basically, this is as a result of the rapid population growth and urbanization. In fact, as at the time of this article, we consider poultry farming one of the fastest growing segments in the Agricultural industry in Nigeria.
In fact, from a market size perspective, the egg production in Nigeria is by far the largest in Africa followed by South Africa. Amongst all the different poultry birds that exist chicken is the most common one. You can either get a good number of chicken for meat or for eggs.
Investing in poultry business is a very lucrative one. You can decide to invest in Chicken, geese, turkeys, and chicken). So, since you have an idea of how this business runs, the next thing you need to know is how to start it.
How to start poultry farming in Nigeria
As we have mentioned earlier, this investment is very lucrative. You can get great returns from this investment if you do all things right. Here are some major steps to starting a poultry investment in Nigeria.
1. Choose the type of poultry bird you want to rear
One of the first things you have to consider before venturing into this business is the type of poultry breed you wish to farm. Basically, there are three types of breed that are commonly reared among farmers. These are broilers, cockerels and Layers.
Broilers are mainly reared for meat production, and their growth rate is pretty fast. In fact, in the space of 6 weeks they grow up from about 40g hatch weight to about 1.5kg – 2kg. This is one of the reasons why they are in high demand.
Cockerels on the other hand are also mostly reared for meat. They are similar to the broilers in this, but the only difference is that the growth rate of cockerels are slower.
For layers, they are mainly reared for egg production and meat. Layers are in high demand by farmers. This is mainly because they are multipurpose. In fact, they lay eggs at 17-19 weeks and do this till about 72-78 weeks.During this period, you can expect an average of an egg daily.
The choice is yours to make, you can go for broilers, cockerels, or layers depending on your budget plan and some other factors best known to you.
2. Choose a suitable farm location
When starting a poultry investment, the location is one of the most important things you have to put into consideration.
A good poultry farm site compulsorily must be away from a busy environment. It should be a calm and pollution free environment. Also, the farm must have a clean and fresh drinking water source which must be nearby.
Asides from the above, it is also essential that the site must be free of poultry enemies and must be easily accessible from main roads.
3. Good Housing
All factors are important, but this is the most important. A good poultry housing is necessary for the protection and survival of your poultry birds.
Kindly note that the type of house you choose to build for your poultry birds must depend on their breed and your farming method. Also, ensure that the house is spacious enough, and it permits the free movement of the birds. It should be ventilated and have an adequate protection against sunlight.
4. Feeding and Medication of your poultry bird
Many farmers run into big losses because they do not pay rapt attention to this. To be candid, this determines whether you are successful at this business. If you don’t feed your poultry birds well or give them proper medication, the mortality rate is definitely going to be high. Therefore, ensure that you give your poultry birds good, quality and nutritious feed. On the aspect of medication, ensure that they receive proper medication and vaccination as at when due. This will help to protect them against infectious diseases and every other known disease that are harmful to poultry birds.
5. Sales of the Poultry bird
This is another important aspect to consider. Having an excellent marketing strategy is a very important thing. As we have stated earlier, this business is very lucrative. Therefore, pay attention to your marketing strategies. Do not be all caught up in the operational aspect of your business alone.
How much do I need to start poultry farming in Nigeria?
To start a poultry business in Nigeria, you will need as little as #50,000 to start. This should cover the cost of buying your day-old chicks and feeding them. In fact, in the space of 6 months you should be able to get about a 100% return on your capital investment. No other business in Nigeria can give this much. This is why poultry investment is the most lucrative.
Conclusion:
Poultry investment in Nigeria is lucrative, you can get good returns from investing in this business. To start this business unlike several investments does not require huge capital. WIth as low as #50,000 you should be able to start something.
