indigenous chicken farming business plan

Kienyeji Chicken Farming

How to Produce 200 Kienyeji Chicken Every Month Like a Boss

May 7, 2019, 4:01 am 36.6k Views

Pure indigenous chicken or improved indigenous chicken locally known in Kenya as Kienyeji chicken can be raised anywhere in Kenya. All one needs is passion, a business mindset, commitment and a little capital to start. It is prudent to put in place a feasible plan in place on how as a farmer you will roll out this process seamlessly starting from housing, where water and feeds will come from, proximity to a veterinary doctor for treatment, vaccinations or to respond to emergencies and livestock officers for extension services and most importantly, the farmer should plan from the outset on marketing.

With careful planning, a farmer can start low and build his or her flock to 1000 birds or 1200 within one year by availing an average of 200 chicken for sale in the market monthly. Just as rabbit farmers plan for their flock every four to five months, beef farmers every two years, pig farmers every five months and broiler farmers every six weeks, Kienyeji chicken farmers can effectively plan production and sales very month through staggering production in ages taking into consideration the maturity period of six months for Kienjeji (indigenous chicken) or four to five months for the improved varieties. The pure indigenous chicken variety matures for meat within a period of six months and fetch between kshs.

Indigenous chicken are ready for meat at about 6 months and are sold at between Kshs. 550 to kshs 600 for hens and Kshs.800 to 1000 for cocks. This variety of chicken requires a six month plan to be able to allocate 200 birds for sale each month. Therefore the farmer needs to have parent stock which will give eggs every 21 days required for incubation. This can be purchased from breeders where pedigree and good health is taken into account. Make sure you change your cocks that act as parent stock every one year while doing the same for hens every two years. While the maturity period for improved kienyeji is faster, usually four to five months, the maturity for pure indigenous chicken is six months hence a slower way of raising chicken though their meat and eggs are very popular in the market. Farmers rearing them therefore need to exercise patience and commitment.

Follow these steps:

• Build a chicken house of approximately 60ft by 20ft and 8ft high, allowing each chicken an individual spacing of one square ft for easy movement, feeding and exercise.

• Partition the housing unit to six compartments measuring 20ft by 10ft and construct a chicken run for each of the 6 compartments. Chicken houses need not be expensive and can be constructed according to the financial ability of the farmer. This can be done using bricks, mud, iron sheets full suit or timber.

• Have one cockerel for every 8 birds or preferably1 for every 10.

• Avail your first consignment of 200 chicks and brood them in the first compartment. After a period of maturity of 2 months, free them to enjoy the chicken run. In the second month, organize another batch of 200 birds. Do the rounds until month six when you have mature chicken from the first consignment initially placed in compartment one. This method is ideal for farmers with the resources to purchase an incubator and be able to purchase eggs and hatch every 21 days. Farmers in the low income group can use the process of synchronization earlier given here in a separate article or use the process of building flock slowly using 1 cock and 10 hens.

Always remember feed costs will take approximately 70% of your expenses. It is therefore prudent to make your own feeds to help cut down the cost of feeding by almost half. You can purchase our feed formulation manual and learn the requirements needed and get the formula for chick marsh, growers marsh and layers marsh for kienyeji chicken. You will need an incubator that can hold 200 eggs at ago and hatch.

For example you can have the following simple formulation for chicks:

Maize Flour = 34 kg

Cotton seed cake or Sunflower cake = 12 kg

Ochonga/Omena = 8 kg

Maize jam = 10 kg

Lime = 6 kg

The above formulation can prepare approximately 70 kilograms of feed. Within the first two months, the chicks consume approximately 1.5 kilograms which translates to approximately 300 kilogrammes of feed over a two month period or 4 bags of 70kilogrammes feed. After they attain the age of three months, free them into the chicken run and feed them on kitchen waste and partly commercial feeds to reduce your expenses on feeding. At the age of 3 to 6 months, feed consumption will have moved to approximately 1000 kilograms or 14 bags of the 70 kilogram feed sack.

Vaccination

In the first week vaccinate the chicks against Newcastle disease (buy Newcastle lasota vaccine 200 doses), repeat Newcastle vaccine on the third and 5th week. At 4 weeks for fowl pox vaccine buy 200 doses. Repeat fowl pox vaccine at 6 weeks and Newcastle plain at 16 weeks. Notice that indigenous chicken are resistant to most diseases but this does not mean you avoid proper hygiene and good biosecurity measures.

Your birds are now mature at 6 months and the farm has chcoken of various maturity stages i.e. ranges from 1 to 6 months. With the sale of the first consignment, a new stock of chicks must be purchased to replenish the flock and keep the selling cycle moving.

Checking Your Income Vis a Vis Expenses

Your birds consumed 4 bags for 2 months and 14 bags for 4 months. In total the feed consumption is 18 bags of 70kg each. Suppose a bag of homemade feed is Kshs.1500, you will have spent Kshs.27, 000 on feed alone. Taking into consideration a 10% loss of birds from day one to maturity, the farm has a balance of 180 healthy mature chicken. Assuming a hypothetical number of 90 hens and 90 cocks and hens are sold at Kshs.600 and cocks at Kshs.800, you get 126,000ksh.

There are other expenses related to raising the chicken to maturity e.g. feeds, drugs and the services of an extension officer or veterinary doctor. The farm remains therefore with approximately kshs.70, 000 every month. The major costs associated with chicken farming is housing construction costs and feeds. In the second year when there is no house to be built, the farm begins to make good returns on investment.

Deduct feeds and other variables like drugs, vet services and vaccines and you have not less than 70,000kshs per month. It is good money by any standards. The biggest costs when starting this project will be housing costs and feeds. From the second year you will have made enough profits.

Kienyeji Chicken Farming Best Practices

How to Make Kienyeji Chicken Feeds

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Starting Free Range Chicken Farming Business in South Africa – Business Plan (PDF, Word & Excel)

Posted by BizBolts | Agriculture , All Articles , Business Ideas , Business Plans , Poultry Farming

There has been an increase in the demand for organic food, such as free-range chickens, in South Africa. A lot of people prefer chicken meat to any other type of meat. Free-range chickens are a delicacy for the local folk and it’s no wonder why venturing into the free range chicken farming business in South Africa is profitable. Free-range chickens are also known as indigenous chickens. Free range chickens are quite versatile in that they can be reared for their meat, their eggs or both. Indigenous chickens have a distinctive taste which makes them highly sought-after plus they are very nutritious. Though most people keep free range chickens at their homesteads, mainly in the countryside, you can raise free range poultry for commercial purposes. This article will outline how to start a free range chicken farming business in South Africa, and the free range chickens farming business plan – PDF, Word and Excel.

Before you start a free range poultry farming business in South Africa, there are some important decisions which you have to make. You have to decide on the size of your indigenous chicken farming business ie how many free range chickens you will have at your poultry farm.  There are many different free range chickens breeds, so you have to select which breed you will use, location of your business, and your target market. The size of your free range poultry farming business will depend on the amount of capital you have, the size of the land, and your target market. It’s important that you get a good free range chicken farming business plan before you start the indigenous chicken farming business in South Africa.

Business Model

For your free range chicken farming project, it is best if you start your free-range poultry farming business with day old chicks. With time, you may then hatch your own chicks, which can reduce your expenses significantly. Make sure that you buy your day-old chicks from a reliable, accredited hatchery or company where the parent stocks are well managed. There are a number of breeds to choose from, and the right breed will depend on your needs. Raising free range chickens for both meat and eggs is much more profitable. As much as your free-range chickens forage for food, you must supplement with feed to increase meat and egg production. A lack of feed or water will reduce resistance to diseases and parasites and result in an increase in flock mortality. Allow adult hens and cocks enough time and space to scavenge in their surroundings on a regular basis. Space is important for free range chickens. You should have 10 birds per square meter, and your housing can be barns, chicken coops, or hutches. The building cost will be based on the material you use and the number of free-range chickens you have. The difference between broiler chickens and free-range chickens is that broilers can be raised indoors, but free-range chickens spend most of the day outdoors, foraging for plants and pastures.

Market Research

The demand for free range chickens has been on the rise as people move towards healthy and organic food. Most people prefer to have organic, free-range chickens rather than broiler meat. Also, the price of free-range chickens is higher than that of broiler chickens because of their health, and free-range hen eggs are valued more than indoor layer eggs. This is because free-range eggs are rich with nutrients, and some find free-range chickens and eggs to be tastier. In order to run a successful free-range business, you need to understand the market. You must understand who you are selling your chickens and eggs to, what their tastes and preferences are, as well as their purchasing habits. There are plenty of schools, restaurants, hotels, lodges, and various other individuals who might be interested in your products. However, the only way to find out who your customer will be is through market research. You can speak to other livestock farmers, abattoirs, and supermarkets to understand what the market for free-range chickens is like. You can also read farmers’ blogs, publications, and agricultural reports in order to learn more about the industry.

Land for Free Range Chicken Farming Business

You need land – this is where you will build the free range chickens housing and where the birds will roam around. Sustainability of the land must be thoroughly assessed beforehand. The location must be very strategic i.e. near major road networks, with reliable water supply, near the market and close to cheap labour. The size of the land your require will depend on the scale of your indigenous poultry farming business.

Housing and Equipment for Indigenous Poultry Farming Business

You need proper housing for your free range poultry. When you setup housing units for your free range chickens, pay attention to spacing, ventilation and lighting as these are central to providing an optimum environment for their growth. Free range chickens like any other chicken types do not cope well with extreme temperatures. So it’s necessary to keep them in an environment that will enable them to maintain their thermal balance. Proper lighting is necessary as it stimulates the indigenous chickens to lay eggs. You can use barns, chicken runs or hutches as housing for the free range chickens.

There is need of providing adequate space for the chickens in order allow for free movement, nesting and also roosting. When keeping free range chickens indoors you must ensure a space of at least 0.1 square metres per bird. If they are crowded they will suffocate and die. When keeping the indigenous chickens outdoors, an allowance of at least a square metre per bird will be ideal.  Free range chickens need pasture to forage. This is important because free range chickens prefer to scavenge from their immediate surroundings. This is one of the major difference between free range chickens and broilers. Broilers are raised indoors in confinement, while free range chickens roam outdoors foraging for food.

Equipment required for free-range chicken farming business in South Africa includes feeders, drinkers, lighting system and nest boxes. Your commercial free range chicken farming business plan should include the costs of purchasing the equipment and the poultry housing.

Competitive Analysis

The purpose of a competitive analysis is for you to know who your competitors are, understand their strengths and weaknesses in comparison to your own, and find a gap in the market. This competitor analysis will help you recognize how you can improve your own business strategy. It will help you learn how you can outdo your competitors in order to retain your customers and attract new ones. A competitive analysis will help you figure out what your competitive edge is over others in your sector. When conducting a competitive analysis, there are certain factors that you should consider, such as who your competitor’s target market is, where their farm or offices are, and if they are your direct competitors, indirect competitors, or substitute competitors. A direct competitor can be another livestock farmer that sells the same free range birds and eggs that you offer. This would mean that your direct competitor targets the same market as you and may have a similar distribution model. Your indirect competitors serve the same customer needs but offer different products or services. Substitute competitors offer products that can be substituted for your birds and eggs. These farmers may raise broiler chickens, ducks, or ostriches for meat.

Free Range Day Old Chicks

You require day old chicks in order to start your indigenous poultry farming business in South Africa. When starting, you have to buy day old chicks. After you have started your free range poultry business, you can then hatch the eggs on your own from the eggs laid by the chickens. This will cut your business costs. When buying day old chicks it’s important to get them from reputable and professional suppliers. Getting good quality day old chicks plays a pivotal role in producing chickens with high growth potential and good quality poultry meat. Your commercial free range poultry farming business plan should include the costs of purchasing day old chicks.

Breeds of Free Range Chickens in South Africa

There are many different breeds of free range chickens in South Africa. The right free range chickens breed to choose will depend on your needs. Free range chickens can be kept for meat production, for egg production or for both. The free range chicken breeds common in South Africa include Boschveld chickens , Venda   chickens, Ovambo   chickens, Naked Neck Chickens and Potchefstroom Koekoek chickens. The other free range poultry breeds used by South Africa poultry farmers are Rhode Island Red, Australorps, Orpington, Plymouth Rocks, Leghorn and Light Sussex among others. 

Rhode Island Red Chicken Breed

Free Range Poultry Feed and Nutrition

Feeds and water are paramount for egg production, meat production, resistance to diseases or parasites and growth. In a free-range rearing system, the cocks and hens must be given adequate space to roam around and scavenge for food. Opportune times for that are early morning and late afternoon owing to less heat and more incidence of insect presence.

Supplementary feeds ought to be made available for the birds in the early morning and in the evening. Strategically provide drinking water under shady areas to avoid possibilities of heat stress. Leverage on scavenging to minimize feeding costs. However foraging pasture alone isn’t adequate for commercial free range chicken business. You have to provide the birds with supplementary feed. This includes commercial poultry stock feeds, and home made feeds such as maize, wheat, sunflowers etc.

Sales And Marketing Plan

Before you set up your free-range business, ensure that you have laid out your sales and marketing plan. After surveying and researching your market and understanding what they want, you can develop your sales and marketing plan. Make a list of potential and top buyers in your area and notify them that you will be selling to them soon. Consider partnering with middlemen because they could help you sell your products. They can buy your eggs or birds in large quantities and pay you at once or over the course of a few days. You can include hiring marketers at your farm to help you get more customers and pay them a handsome commission. You can also offer these marketers or sales agents bonuses for reaching a set target. There are also a number of restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels that are in constant need of fresh eggs and processed chickens that you can approach. They can buy your birds and eggs at a wholesale price, which is a great way to sell your chickens and eggs without much effort. Consider networking with other farmers and businesses that can help you sell more eggs and chickens. They may be interested in buying your products. You can also exchange ideas with them and learn from their experience.

Market for free range chickens and eggs in South Africa

The market for free range chicken products in South Africa is high and increasing. More people are being health conscious and moving towards organic and health food. Many consumers prefer free range chickens over broiler poultry meat. This is because free range poultry meat is regarded as highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and healthier. Thus, the demand for free range organic chickens meat continues to rise in South Africa. Free range chickens have a higher price than broiler chickens, as they are considered to be more superior.  Free range chickens eggs are also considered to be healthier as compared to the ordinary layers eggs. You can supply your indigenous chickens to individuals, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, butcheries and organisations.

Keys to Profitability

Setting up a free range farming business is not difficult, and some tips to help you run a successful business include staying up to date with industry trends. You must be up to date with market trends because people’s interests change. Nowadays, a lot of people want food that is ethically produced, and the demand for organic food is on the rise. This was not the case a few years ago. Lowering your prices is another way to become more competitive. Make sure that your prices reflect the value of your birds and eggs, but they should not be too high. Lastly, consider offering delivery services to your clients. Customers will appreciate the convenience of having their birds or eggs delivered to their offices or homes, especially if they are bulk orders.

PRE-WRITTEN FREE RANGE CHICKEN FARMING BUSINESS PLAN (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL): COMPREHENSIVE VERSION, SHORT FUNDING/BANK LOAN VERSION AND AUTOMATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For an in-depth analysis of the indigenous poultry farming business in South Africa, purchase our indigenous poultry farming business plan. We decided to introduce the business plans after noting that many South Africans were venturing into the free range poultry farming business without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the business, the risks involved, profitability of the business and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of their businesses.

Our business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run a free range chicken farming business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the free range poultry farming business plan will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the free range poultry farming business. The business plan is designed specifically for the South African market.

USES OF THE FREE RANGE POULTRY FARMING BUSINESS PLAN (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

The free range chickens farming business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your indigenous chicken farming business
• As a free range chicken farming project proposal
• Assessing profitability of the free range poultry business in South Africa
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

CONTENTS OF THE FREE RANGE CHICKENS FARMING BUSINESS PLAN (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

The business plan includes, but not limited to:

• Market Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• 5 Year Automated Financial Statements [ Income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, monthly cash flow projections (3 years monthly cash flow projections, the remaining two years annually),break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortisation]
• Marketing Strategy
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements
• Free range chickens farming guide (Technical Details of how to house, feed and raise the free range chickens)
• Operational Strategy
• Why some South Africans in the free range chickens business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your free range chicken farming business in South Africa
• Directory [Contact Details for South African suppliers of feeds, equipment, free range day old chicks, abattoirs, poultry housing construction, contacts of poultry farming training companies in South Africa, contacts of poultry farming organisations in South Africa]

The Free Range Poultry Farming Business Plan package consist of 5 files

• Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – 99 pages)
• Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – 99 pages)
• Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan Funding Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – 49 pages)
• Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)
• Poultry Abattoirs in South Africa -Supplementary PDF File

Testimonial 7

Thank you BizBolts for the business plan. I received the business plan immediately after payment, it was money well spent ! I was able to easily edit the business plan. After using the BizBolts business plan, I can wholeheartedly recommend their products and skills.

Testimonial 1

Many thanks to the BizBolts team for putting together a fantastic business plan, I could not have done this business plan on my own. I managed to get funding from investors to start my butchery business using your business plan.

Testimonial 3

The business plan has a highly professional look and feel. The research really helps me look deep into the market that I am targeting, it’s well suited for the South African market. The business plan clearly outlined everything I need to start the business and the costs. It’s now easier to budget and plan. Thank you very much.

Testimonial 6

It is with excitement and pleasure to inform you that I have been successful in securing a loan from my bank. This would not have been possible if not for the BizBolts Business Plan. Thank you for your help, my dreams are now coming true.

Testimonial 4

The business plan was very helpful, you did a great job of taking ideas and putting them into words as well as pointing out other aspects of the business plan I wouldn’t have thought of. I got funding using your business plan and it’s now 4 months since I started my poultry business, and everything is going well.

Testimonial 2

I am extremely pleased with the business plan and financial statements. The business plan is very detailed & it meets my requirements. I feel better equipped with tools that can help me secure funding.  I would have no hesitation of recommending your business plans to other people.

Testimonial 5

The BizBolts poultry business plan led us down the path from start to finish. Contact details of suppliers of key requirements were included in the business plan. It helped us crystallize our strategy, and the business plan was well received by the bank.

GET THE FREE RANGE CHICKEN FARMING BUSINESS PLAN (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL) - R500 Only.

We decided to make the business plan affordable to anyone who would want to start the business, and the price for the pre-written business plan is only 500 Rand.

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About The Author

BizBolts (Pty) Ltd is a business research company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We sell prewritten business plans for various industries including livestock production, crop farming and retail businesses. BizBolts also publishes articles on business ideas, business news, business tips, personal finance, and entrepreneur profiles.

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Secrets behind successful indigenous (roadrunner) chicken production

By General Beven Mundida

Indigenous chicken (roadrunner) farming is increasingly becoming a well-paying and profitable venture. Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans who have ventured in free range chicken farming are able to build sustainable businesses that earn them a regular income and create countless employment opportunities.

Most roadrunner (indigenous) chicken farmers do the farming in a free-range style which is the right way to raise these chickens. They will be foraging, scratching and eating the grass and grubs along with food leftovers from the kitchen. With a small flock, the cost of feeding is relatively low which makes barriers to entry quite low.

Almost every Zimbabwean family can afford indigenous (roadrunner) chicken farming.

Under a free range mode of raising your roadrunner chickens, the farming is generally less intensive and there is very minimal interventions from the farmer in terms of the quality of the housing, the labour required to raise the chickens, equipment, vaccination along with the treatment for common diseases and conditions. While free range chicken farming is a relatively low cost and healthy way of raising your chickens, it also has its constraints. The main one is that you will not be able to keep a large flock of roadrunner chickens that will mature to market size unless you have lots of space.

Roadrunner chickens generally require a lower stocking density unlike the commercial varieties that you can squeeze in small space within a factory farming setting. Since the free range farming is also less intensive, the chickens can be prone to diseases and predation from cats, dogs, wildlife or even theft by humans. Diseases can however be controlled by following a strict vaccination routine.

Commercialization of roadrunner chicken farming will involve the following aspects:-

Business planning

This is one of the most overlooked measures but one that you should endeavour to do if you want to carry out profitable and large scale roadrunner chicken farming. Decide from the very start the type of roadrunner farming you wish to undertake. Will it be for eggs or meat? What breeds are you planning to raise? Are you going fully free-range or semi free range? Remember that longer maturity period will eat into your profits so it is advisable to go for the improved indigenous breeds that mature fairly quickly and which will have good live weight at maturity to fetch good prices.

Boshveld, Black Austrolope and Sasso breeds are also a popular choice with Zimbabwean farmers. Others consider Koekoek, Kuroiler, White Plymouth, Light Sussex and Jersey Giant?

What will be the size of your stock? Are you planning to raise 300, 500, 1000 or 5000 chickens? Where will you market your products? What will be the labour requirements? What is the cost of housing? How much will feeding cost? How are you planning to scale up your farming operations? A good business plan will serve as a lighthouse that will guide you to successful poultry farming.

Do you have proper housing to accommodate your stock? To avoid overcrowding, you must have proper housing with optimal stocking density. Make sure the house is big enough to accommodate flock and account for future scaling up in production. Budget for the poultry equipment that you will use for rearing your birds as well as the chicken run where your chicken will roam about in a free range environment.

Good housing costs money, especially if it will be a large poultry house. Check out indigenious chicken housing manual for estimate on poultry housing for various stocking densities. Talk to a poultry expert to advise you on the housing requirements for indigenous chickens.

Good poultry husbandry

Good poultry husbandry is one of the key success factors when raising your chickens. The chickens must have adequate supply of food and water, must be vaccinated in time and the housing and equipment must be cleaned on a regular basis. Good husbandry should start with the chick quality. Make sure that you procure chicks that are healthy, alert, vaccinated and of the right breed.

Ensure that the flock is exposed to at least a few hours of sunshine especially after they are 8 weeks old when they are old enough to forage on their own.

When it comes to improved indigenous chicken farming, avoid taking shortcuts. Every little detail will be important. Successful poultry farming requires a great deal of commitment.

Start with the biosecurity measures. Choose indigenous breeds that will be suitable for your target market. Buy your chicks from a trusted supplier, put in place good breeding practices, provide adequate feeding and water and ensure the chicks are vaccinated on schedule. Following these processes to the letter will drastically reduce mortality and improve the yields of your flock. Good husbandry will also mean sweet and tasty meat, nutritious eggs and efficient feed utilization that will guarantee you profitability in your poultry farming venture.

Good record keeping is also one of good husbandry practices as it enables you to monitor the performance of your poultry farming venture.

Poultry marketing

At the end of day, you have to market your products and generate sufficient sales to sustain your poultry farming operations. Depending on where you live, there are many areas where you can market your poultry products. Start with your neighbours, the local markets, clubs, hotels, schools, restaurants, catering companies and more. You can even use the internet to market your poultry through platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp etc.

Value addition

If you have sufficient resources, you can also do some value addition in order to generate more income from your poultry farming operation. You can process your meat, ensure they are halal, label and package, do cut-ups and negotiate for supply contractors with supermarkets and other major retailers.

General Beven Mundida is a Livestock consultant and can be contacted on +263 776 420 161; email: [email protected]

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Strategic Business Plan: Indigeneous Chickens in South Africa

2024, UNICAF SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATION

Businesses are paying close attention to creating long-lasting, cooperative relationships with a select group of suppliers, customers, and channel partners in order to establish sustainable competitive advantages.(Weitz & Bradford, 1999). FarTok is a small enterprise business that specialises in rearing indigenous chickens in South Africa. Since the area's growth has not yet kept up with domestic demand, the venture realized there was a need for local, fresh, and healthy chicken. (Davids, n.d.). Our goal is to keep an eye on customers' health while adapting to their changing needs and those of the market. (Ntsoane, 2023). Our venture produces indigenous chickens, while our competitors focus mainly on broiler chickens, thus giving us a competitive advantage and a high potential for survival. FarTok targets specific people—a niche market for those who are financially able to be picky and specific. The industry is confronted with obstacles such as nationwide power outages and deteriorating local infrastructure, such as roads and water supply (SAPA, 2021). These problems still hinder local poultry producers' ability to compete internationally. The venture is run by two experts in the area who possess vast knowledge and experience. The budget of this project is R3 000 000 (USD$150 000).

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Njongenhle Nyoni

Bockline Bebe

The potential benefit of indigenous chicken (Gallus domesticus) production is still under-exploited in Kenya despite the efforts by different stakeholders to mainstream this production system as a pathway to rural development. The production system is often characterized by low input-low output productivity and low commercialization of the enterprise. This study which dwells on the current management practices and challenges faced by smallholder indigenous chicken farmers was conducted to gain insights into the underlying causes of production constraints. In Western Kenya women (76 %) dominate the indigenous chicken production system. The flock composition consists mainly of chicks, hens and pullets (80 %) which reflects their retention for production purposes. Less than half of the farmers access institutional support services such as extension, training, credit and veterinary services. In addition, indigenous chicken is largely reared in a low input-low output free-range system with only few farmers (24.2 %) adopting management interventions as disseminated by extension service. To improve production and attain increased productivity, policy should focus on repackaging extension messages that considers farmers economic situations and strengthens collective action initiatives. Accessing joint input purchase and collective marketing of chicken products may further assist the farmers to increase profit margins.

Etalem Tesfaye

The present study was designed to assess the situation that characterizes the production and marketing systems of the small and medium scale commercial chicken subsector in Ethiopia. For the study total of 203 respondents were selected using a snowball sampling method and data collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Respondents grouped into the small (n=125) and medium (n=78) scales. Most of the respondents (74.4% and 84.6%) of the small and medium scale commercial chicken producers respectively were male. In the small and medium scale commercial chicken production, the respondent producers were out-growers. The majority (80.0%) of small scale commercial chicken producers had their own chicken house, while had an education status of college or university diploma/degree and were accounted for 42.4 and 60.3%, respectively in the scales. The majority (61.6%) of the small scale and (80.8%) of the medium scale commercial chicken producers were out-growers. The majority (80.0%) o...

Kenesa Teferi

Tropical Animal Health and Production

Bohani Mtileni

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Is improved kienyeji chicken farming in Kenya profitable?

Is Kienyeji chicken farming profitable? The Kienyeji chicken are also known as the indigenous, traditional, country or organic chicken in English. In this post, we will give you estimated profits and costs of raising 100 kienyeji chicken in Kenya. Besides, we give you projections for rearing 200, 500 and 1000 improved chicken such as Kuroilers Kenya.

Facts about improved kienyeji chicken farming

Why kienyeji chicken farming.

• How to estimate profits and costs in Kienyeji chicken farming

Cost of rearing 100 Kienyeji chicken in Kenya

Costs and profit for 200 improved kari kienyeji chicken in kenya, profit and cost of rearing 500 kienyeji chicken in kenya, how profitable is kenbro farming-1,000 birds, how to succeed in improved kienyeji farming.

The Kienyeji chicken farming sector is a priority value chain in 29 counties in Kenya. It receives major attention by farmers, investors and other players. Here are the key facts to remember about Kienyeji chicken in Kenya.

• Rainbow roosters
• The Kienyeji chicken mature in a short period of 4-5 months.
• The Improved indigenous chicken have higher meat and egg yields. A mature rooster can weigh up to 3 kg live weight, while mature hens weigh 1.9-2.5 kg.
• The price of a mature Improved kienyeji chicken is KES 800 and KES 600 per rooster and hen, respectively.
• The traditional chicken eggs are brown and nutritious and while their meat is deep red with yellow fat.

There are many benefits you can enjoy as a Successful Kienyeji chicken farmer compared to hybrid broilers and layers chicken farmers. They include You can earn more revenue and profits by marketing kienyeji chicken meat and eggs at a higher retail prices compared to other exotic products.

• The cost of farming indigenous chicken is lower since they are resistant to common disease chicken disease outbreaks in Kenya.
• There is a rising demand for high quality white meat and organic eggs  since Consumers believe the traditional breeds have higher nutrition and better taste than hybrid broilers and layers.

How to estimate profits and costs in Kienyeji chicken farming 

How much money exactly will you make  (profits) and spend (cost) by rearing the kienyeji chicken for profits in Kenya? To estimate, we will make the following assumptions to gauge the amounts and prices for chicken feed, vaccines and other inputs.

• The farmer’s chicken stock comprise of 50% roosters and 50% hens
• There is an estimated 10% loss of cockerels, hens and eggs during the production season.
• Ksh 800 for a mature Kienyeji rooster and Ksh 600 for mature  ex layer hens.
• Ksh 450 for a tray of Kienyeji eggs (Ksh 15/egg)
• Ksh 30 for every bag of chicken manure.
• Ksh 20 for used chicken feed bags
• Labor requirements is 1person at 4,000 monthly for 21 months.
• Fowl Typhoid
• Fowl Pox diseases.
• The cost of buying a one-day-old kienyeji chick is Ksh 100      
• 60g/chick of chick mash chicks each day from week 1-8. 
• 90g/chicken of growers mash per day from week 9-19
• 120g/hen per day from week 20-84 

The following is the expected profits and cost of raising 100 traditional chicken in Kenya. The estimates use the current market prices and the standard feed requirements. 

You will make a revenue of Ksh. 258,890 by rearing 100 improved kienyeji chicken in Kenya. These sales are for your mature roosters, ex layer hens, eggs and chicken manure as shown in the figure above.  Our estimate assumed a 10%  loss of the birds and eggs.  You can reduce these losses to make more profits by;

• observing proper feeding of your birds.
• Good hygiene and biosecurity measures in your farm like and vaccination and disinfecting your poultry houses.
• Market all the by-products like empty chicken bags and chicken manure. 
• Consider value addition to earn make more sales revenue in the long run.

On the other hand, the cost of  rearing 100 Kienyeji chicken in Kenya is Ksh 165,790. This analysis ignores the capital expenditure and focusses on cost of chicken production. As shown above, 92 per cent of the cost is  used to for buy chicken feed.

The profits of rearing 100 Kienyeji chicken in Kenya is Ksh 92,600.  These amounts on the lower side are after a further deducting of Ksh 84,000 additional cost of labour, you will get a net profit of Ksh 8,600.

If you are a beginner in poultry keeping, then you will incur an initial capital investment of Ksh 72,030. These are needed for a new kuku kienyeji chicken house, brooding equipment, and other reusable items like feeders. Luckily, you can lower the CAPEX expenditure by leasing chicken houses. 

The following is a cost-benefit/ Gross margin analysis (CBA) for rearing 200 Improved KARI Kienyeji chicken for meat and eggs in Kenya. It uses the current market prices and the above-given assumptions.

The revenue of selling mature live birds (mature cockerels and hens), poultry manure and eggs is Ksh 516,780.  The bulk of it is after selling eggs as the primary product. You can increase your profits by incubating the eggs and selling vaccinated one-day-old chicks. You would increase the price of one egg from Ksh 15 to Ksh 100.

The larger portion of the operating is buying chicken feed at Ksh 306,800. The total operating cost of the project is Ksh 330,480 to get a gross profit of Ksh 186,300.  After considering the cost of monthly labour of Ksh 4000 for  21 months, you will pocket Ksh. 102,300 net profit.

As a beginner, you will incur a one-time capital expenditure of Ksh 144,060 to make a kienyeji chicken house

The following is a projection of revenues and costs of rearing 500 Improved KARI Kienyeji chicken like Kuroilers in Kenya. The analysis uses the current market prices and the above assumptions for feed quantities and vaccines.

The gross sales revenue for 500 indigenous chicken farm is Ksh1, 294,200.  The most significant sales are from selling eggs.

The operating costs for raising 500 chicken is Ksh 810,850. It will give you a gross profit of Ksh 483,350 and a net profit of Ksh 399,350 after deducting labour costs of Ksh 84,000.

As a startup venture, you need a capital expenditure of Ksh 277,550 for a fully functional 500 chicken house.  The overall costs and profits for keeping 500 indigenous chickens are as shown above.

The following is a gross margin analysis for rearing 1,000 improved KARI kienyeji chickens like the improved KALRO kienyeji chicken or Kenbro.  It uses the current market cost, prices, and the above assumptions required for farm inputs and labour.

You will get a total revenue of Ksh 2, 223,750 after marketing your live birds, eggs and poultry manure.

The operating cost for your 1000 chicken farm is Ksh 1,620,600 excluding the one-time capital expenditure of Ksh 455,100 for beginners. The most significant expense is buying commercial chicken feed at a value of Ksh 1,501,500.

The projects’ gross revenue is Ksh 603,150. The only additional cost is labour at Ksh 168,000 getting you a net profit of Ksh 435,150. The overall benefits for keeping 1000 layers are as shown above.

 The gross and net profits of raising indigenous chicken assume the worst-case scenario. The conventional and best-cases will give you a higher income.  

Looking for the best tips to make more money in improved indigenous chicken farming? watch the YouTube Video below on the best tips to maximise profits. Thet include tips such as;

• Formulating your own chicken feed at home using cheaply available sources like maize, wheat, and sunflower seeds etc.
• Raising the improved breeds like the Improved KARI Kienyeji, kenbro or Kuroilers. They grow faster, give you more yields andyou can sell them att higher prices.

The Video below has more.

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24 Comments

I was very happy to read this report. However, its summarized information, it has reference to all necessary capital costs, operational cost, feed costs and labor costs to help one figure out gross margin and net profits, for different number of birds, say 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.

The report provides a good guideline for beginners in Indigenous poultry production.

Thank you sir

Great, helpful analyses.Thank you very much, Agcenture .

Thanks for the information.i am planning to start my own God willing next year.200chick improved kienyeji and I have only 200k I need help.i don’t know if it will work.

I like the summary content,it gives a clear projection on everything you need to know about indigenous poultry production. Thank you

Very good information.

I want to buy like 50 chicken,kuroiler layers,how do I get them in Kakamega

Quite informative, thanks.

Thanks for this information.. would like to venture in this farming. Let me know where to get the suppliers of KARI kienyeji chicks. Would like to get the vaccine schedule. Thanks

Find the vaccination schedule here. https://bit.ly/3rNeIAT

Best hatcheries you can source chicks here. https://bit.ly/43E9FAb

we also reccomend further research

I intend to start a chicken farm but I don’t know where to start.I now have picture .Thanks for your tips.Giv more plse.

Youre welcome Ainsworth, we wish you success in your farm.

Keep checking for more posts and YouTube Videos at https://www.youtube.com/@agcenture

The information /the guidelines provided is legit and I have this plan to start this business for rearing poultry ,,infact now I know how much I should have to start this investment. Thanks for your clear clarification.

Thank you Sir

Thank you for the insight. This estimates are based on what duration of keeping the chicken?

Our assumptions are for 21 months or 84 weeks

Very educative and encouraging.Keeping improved kienyeji chicken is cheaper than exotic breeds.Thanks

Sure. The kienyeji chicken are easier and cheaper to manage in terms of feed and disease management.

The post is very educative and well elaborated.

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Chicken Farming Business Plan Sample

Published Oct.28, 2013

Updated May.10, 2024

By: Cynthia Turner

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 3

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Kiley Protein farm will be a registered and licensed meat and egg producer based in Kansas City Missouri. The business will act as a model for starting up a chicken farm.  The aim of this business will be to provide the best products.

2.2 Management of Chicken Farming Business

In order to make sure that the business runs smooth and without any hiccup, Kiley Lawson, the owner of the business will hire 2 managers and a doctor. The managers will be responsible for procurement and sales, while the doctor will be the one looking after the operations of the farm. If you need to know how to start chicken farming, management is the first thing you need to learn. This is not like a business plan for bank as you need to be involved at all levels to make sure that the farm operates profitably.

2.3 Customers of Chicken Farming Business

Before we can explore more aspects of how to set up a poultry farm business, we need to see what the customers are that we are working with. The main customers of this business will be:

• Chicken retailers in the area.
• Hotels and restaurants.
• Grocery stores that sell chicken.
• End consumers.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Kiley Lawson will be the owner of the Kiley Protein Farm. Kiley has been a manager in a poultry farm for the last 5 years. She has got money in inheritance and now she wants to invest it in a good business. Having the funds and the experience in this field made her the perfect owner and chief executive of a poultry farming business.

3.2 Why the Chicken Farming Business is being started?

Kiley has noticed that there is a gap in the market. Kansas City is a big consumer of meat in the area but they have to import it from other cities as the production in the city cannot suffice the demand. Kiley wants to bridge this gap. This example of business plan for poultry farming will cover all the aspects there are about chicken farming and how Kiley will be filling the gap.

Marketing Analysis of Chicken Farming Business

Uk start-up visa business plan.

If you want to know how to write a business plan for a chicken farm, you need to run a thorough marketing analysis of the industry. If we look at the trends in the poultry industry, the consumption of meat in the US has been up by as much as 540% since 1940. This translates to a multibillion-dollar industry that has a scope for aggressive expansion just like a mushroom farming business plan .

However, this must also be noted that starting a chicken business is not an easy feat to undertake. This is mainly because the industry already has a lot of well-reputed and established brands that are providing the services.

Let’s explore more marketing factors related to this poultry farm business plan .

5.1 Market Trends

If you want to know how to open a chicken farm, you need to see the market trends. It can be seen that the chicken market has grown from $8.3 billion in 2008 to more than $40 billion in 2018. Experts are expecting another 300% growth in the sector by 2030. This means one thing; the business is a good one to enter.

5.2.1 Restaurants and Hotels

Our largest customers will be these. We will make agreements with them to be the sole suppliers of all their meat and eggs. This will make us a bunch of money and that too for a long period of time.

5.2.2 Grocery Stores

We’ll offer frozen meat products and eggs at the popular grocery store in the area. Once the brand makes a name for itself, this will become one of the most profitable segments of our market.

5.2.3 End Consumer

We will be opening two outlets to sell the product directly to the end consumer. This will not be a very profitable thing at the start but once we penetrate this segment of the market, we can make top dollar.

5.2.4 Chicken and Egg Retailers

We will provide our product to the retailers who have established sales and are selling product from other producers. We will offer it at a lower price to shift them to us.

5.3 Business Target

• To be a leading provider of meat and eggs in the US.
• To expand the business worldwide in 10 years.
• To establish a reputable brand of organic meat and eggs.
• To be the best meat and eggs provider in the state of Missouri.

5.4 Product Pricing

We will keep the prices low at the start to attract customers. This will be done for the first six months. Once we get customers and make a name of the brand then we can increase the prices gradually and adjust them where there is the perfect balance of sales volume and profit margin.

Marketing Strategy

It is of cardinal importance to make a strong marketing strategy if you have to establish a profitable chicken farming business. Your poultry marketing plan needs to focus on the strengths you have over the competition. The main advantage Kiley Protein has is that they are providing organic meat and eggs, something not many of the others are providing.

Let’s see how this sample business proposal for poultry farming covers the marketing part.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

• We are one of the very few businesses in the area providing organic meat and eggs. This is the biggest competitive advantage that we have.
• We will provide meat in varieties. Boneless, leg pieces, minced meat, will all be offered as different products.
• We will make deals with bulk customers and make long term agreements with them to be their sole suppliers.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We will use YouTube and Facebook ads to advertise out product and highlight how are we better.
• We will send salespersons to large customers (hotels and fast-food chains) to sign long term agreements.
• For the average customer, we will offer discounted rates and lucky draws on every purchase to attract sales.

Personnel plan

This business plan for poultry farm pdf also covers the staff that will be needed to run the farm and all of its operations. Just like a pig farming business plan , this business also needs quite a bit of staff to keep the farm running.

7.1 Company Staff

• Kiley Lawson will be the owner and the CEO of the chicken farming business.
• 2 Managers for procurement and sales.
• 1 Doctor to run the farm.
• 8 Handlers to feed and look after the chicken.
• 3 Drivers for the delivery trucks.
• 4 Salesmen to tun the outlets.
• 4 Delivery boys to deliver the online orders.

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial Plan

The next thing this start chicken farming business plan needs to cover is the financial plan, an estimate of all the costs involved in setting up this business. Just like a goat farming business plan , we need to have an estimate before we start it.

Here are the costs that the owner will have to arrange:

• The cost of setting up the farm and procuring the machinery.
• The salaries of the staff of the farm for the first 6 months.
• The cost of food for the chicken for the first lot (40 days).
• The cost of setting up outlets to sell the product.
• The cost of promoting the business.
• The cost of buying vehicles to transport the product to the market.
• The money needed to create an online store.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 Break-even Analysis

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 Business Ratios

Download Chicken Farming Business Plan Sample in pdf

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Producing 200 indigenous chicken every month

Can you do a successful indigenous chicken business anywhere in Africa?The answer is yes.Can you reap profits from it? Of course you can? Is it complicated? Not at all but you need enough capital to start it.

First things first. Most farmers fail in this sector because they fail to plan. If you fail to plan then you are planning to fail.Do you know where farmers fail most? They start their projects without the end in mind.

Today I will describe how you can rear 1200 indigenous chicken/village chicken/kienyeji chicken in a year successfully without a headache.With this method you can be churning out 200 birds every month for sale and laugh all the way to the bank.

The first thing is that you should have a plan. As you know broiler farmers plan for their batch of birds every 6weeks,pig farmers every 5 mths, beef farmers every 2 years,rabbit farmers every 4-5mths. Indigenous chicken are ready for meat at about 6 months and are sold at between shs.20,000 for hens and Shs. 30,000 to 40,000 for cockerels.

With indigenous chicken you will need to have a 6 months plan if you are to have 200 mature chicken for sale every month.You need to have a foundation stock(parent stock)which will be giving you eggs every 21 days for incubation.This is where you will get your parent stock or you can buy from a very good source free from diseases.

Take note than the cockerel for the parent birds need replacement after one year while hens can be replaced after two years.You will have to be patient with this business since indigenous chicken are slow growers unlike hybrid chicken and improved indigenous chicken.Before getting your return on investments(R.O.I) you will have to sweat that is undeniable but after you start selling your chicken you will remember me. Get out your pen and paper,fasten your seatbelts and travel with me to chicken kingdom.

You need a well constructed house.They will need a spacing of 1 square feet per bird. During the day they will be roaming outside so you need a chicken run with a good fence to prevent predators and thieves.The measurement of the house will be 60ft by 20ft and 8ft high from the floor to the roof. The poultry house will be partitioned to measure 20 by 10ft so you have 6 compartments and each compartment will have its individual run outside. Construct using readily available material. You can use mud, bricks, iron sheets or timber.

In the first month you will have the first batch of 200 chicken which you brood in the first house.Release them outside in the run after 2 months. The second month you have another batch of 200 chicken.You do this till the 6th month when you will start harvesting the first batch of mature chicken.

You need an incubator that can hatch 200 chicks every 21 days. Inorder to make this venture more profitable and avoid high costs of production(feeds take 70%)you can make your own feeds. You need feed ingredients such as

Whole maize = 34 kg Soya bean = 12 kg Omena = 8 kg Maize/wheat bran = 10 kg Lime = 6 kg

This will make 70kgs of feed. During the first 2mths the chicks will consume about 1.5kgs of feeds.That will be around 300kgs of feed for 2mths or 4 bags of 70kgs feed. At 3mths release them in the run and feed them on half of commercial feeds and vegetable remains and grains such as millet and broken wheat or grounded maize .From 3-6mths they should have fed on 1000kgs or 14 bags of 70kgs feed(each bird feeding on 5kgs for 4mths).

Your birds are now mature at 6 months and you have batches following at 5mths, 4mths, 3mths, 2mths and 1month. You sell your first batch and bring in a new batch to maintain the cycle. Each month you will be selling birds.

Deduct feeds and other variables like drugs,vet services and vaccines. It is good money by any standards. The biggest costs when starting this project will be housing costs and feeds.From the second year you will have made enough profits after investing and reinvesting and you can expand your business.

I believe nothing is impossible if you are committed. Chicken farming can employ you and can lift you to unprecedented heights of greatness and wealth.Let me not hear you say it can’t be done. It can be done and you know it.

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How to start a Roadrunner/Free range/Indigenous poultry chicken business in Zimbabwe and the Business Plan

Posted by StartupBiz Zimbabwe | Feb 25, 2016 | Agriculture Industry , Business Ideas , Business Plans , Starting a Business | 140

Roadrunners/Free range Chickens/Indigenous poultry chicken farming business is a very profitable business in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans love roadrunners. They have a good taste and are regarded as highly nutritious. The demand for roadrunners is high in Zimbabwe. Roadrunners can be raised for meat, or for laying eggs, or both. This article will explain how to start a roadrunners business in Zimbabwe, and the business plan.

Before you start a roadrunners business in Zimbabwe, you have to decide how many roadrunners you want to keep per cycle, where you are going keep them, and your target market. The number of roadrunners you keep will depend on the amount of land and capital you have, and also the size of your target market. You should always carry out a feasibility study, market research and write a business plan before you venture into any business. Do not make the mistake of starting a roadrunners business or any other business just because someone is doing it and he/she says it’s profitable.

What you need

Land, Housing and Equipment

You need land and housing for your roadrunners/free range chickens. The kind of housing you need and the size of the land will depend on the size of your roadrunners project. An ideal poultry farm should be sited where there’s a large availability of cheap land and at the same time should be close to your market. Chicken cannot adjust well to temperature extremes, so it is very important that chickens be housed, cared and provided with an environment that will enable them to maintain their thermal balance. The right housing should have proper ventilation and the right lighting. Ventilation is necessary so that adequate air exchange can take place. Lighting stimulates hens to lay eggs. If you want to produce eggs year-round, you will need to install adequate lighting in your facility.  You should have equipment including feeders, drinkers, lighting system and nest boxes.

Birds need adequate space for movement and exercise as well as areas to nest and roost.  For roadrunners, you should have 10 birds per square metre (0.1 square metres for each bird) in the house, and at least 1 square metre per bird in the outside run/range. The roadrunners will need pasture where they can forage for food.

Day old chicks

You need day old chicks to start with. When starting the roadrunners business with chicks, purchase 25% more birds than is expected to be needed; this allows for mortality and culling. After getting experience, you may then hatch your own chicks, which will greatly cut your costs. There are a lot of farmers who are selling day old chicks for roadrunners in Zimbabwe. You will need to make a decision on which breed of roadrunners to buy. This decision will depend on whether you are mainly raising roadrunners for meat or for eggs. The most popular breeds used in Zimbabwe are the Boschveld and the Rhode Island Red. We do not advise using the rural indigenous chicken when keeping roadrunners for business. They have no genetic identity, meaning that you can tell their expected weight after a number of weeks, how many eggs they can lay, their growth potential etc. It is better to use pure breeds like the ones listed above, which have known genetic characteristics.

Boschveld Chickens

Stock feeds

Feeding is important so as to increase the production of meat and eggs from roadrunners/free range Chickens/indigenous chicken. A lack of feed or water will reduce resistance to diseases and parasites, and subsequently increase flock mortality. In a free-range or semi-intensive poultry rearing system, adult hens and cocks ought to be given enough time and space for scavenging in the surroundings daily. The best time for scavenging is early morning and late afternoon when there are plenty of insects and less heat. Supplementary feeds should be offered in the morning and evening when the birds come back for the night. Clean water should be provided in shady areas during the day to avoid heat stress. You will also need proper vaccines and medications to prevent diseases and promote growth of your birds.

The advantage of rearing roadrunners/ free range chickens/indigenous chicken is that they will get most of their food from scavenging the surroundings, thus the feed costs are minimized. However, they can not only feed from scavenging the surroundings, if you are keeping roadrunners for commercial purposes. You will need to supplement their diet with commercial stock feeds, or your own home made feed. You can also give them maize, sorghum, wheat, rice e.t.c.

Management and Labour

The number of staff you will need depends on the size of your poultry project.  If you are keeping 50 birds at the back of your house you may not need an employee as you and your family will take care of the birds. On the other hand, if you have a poultry farm you will need dedicated staff to look after the birds, and to manage the business. You need good management skills and technical knowledge of roadrunners rearing techniques if you want to be profitable. Do your research, and train those who are working for you.

Roadrunners/ free range /indigenous chickens are in high demand in Zimbabwe, with farmers usually failing to meet the local demand. The largest buyers are Hotels, restaurants and fast food outlets. They buy roadrunners in bulky to cook meals for their customers. Customers love roadrunners, because they are nutritious, delicious and organic. Butcheries and Supermarkets are an untapped market. We would love to go into all the major supermarkets in Zimbabwe one day, and see dressed organic roadrunners on sale. We would love to see roadrunners for sale in butcheries. There is also another untapped opportunity of exporting organic roadrunners. You can also supply to individuals.  Roadrunners are more expensive than broilers because roadrunners are highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and have no chemicals injected in them. The traditional meals with roadrunners are usually more expensive in restaurants than meals with broilers.

Pre-Written Roadrunners/Free Range/Indigenous Chicken Production Business Plan  : Comprehensive Version, Short Bank Loan Version, Automated Excel Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the roadrunners/free range chickens production business in Zimbabwe, purchase our business plan. We decided to introduce the business plans after noting that many Zimbabweans were venturing into the roadrunners business without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the business, the risks involved, profitability of the business and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of their businesses.

Our business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run a roadrunners/free range chickens business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the roadrunners/free range chickens production business plan will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the roadrunners/free range chickens business. The business plan is designed uniquely for the Zimbabwean market.

Very insightful and relevant homegrown solutions. Empowerment begins in the mind and this is it…

Thanks for the business plan, it’s good, it gives me a good direction of my journey, with this I hope I will prosper,  it’s helpful i learnt a lot.

I have been impressed with the level of depth and completeness of your business plans. All product, operational, financial and marketing guidelines are there. Fantastic! Please do add more plans.

The StartupBiz business plans are excellent, well prepared, fully detailed. I had not that much of the financial knowledge of the Agri business I wanted to venture into but I can tell you right now that from the moment I went through those farm business plans I had purchased, I started having the real picture of what I was to get in to,what was needed for me to be financially successful and I would want to tell my fellow mates that if you really want the business you want to venture into to be successful I think you need to get one of the StartupBiz Business plan.You wont go wrong with those ones

I found the business plans very informative, helpful to make appropriate decisions.

The business plan I purchased was well written and you did an extensive research, I am satisfied keep  up the good work guys and I am planning to come back for more other orders.

Good job and extensive research on your business plan thank you.

I recently used their service am delighted to say I am a happy customer thank you keep it up and God bless with the business

You have been such a wonderful help.God bless you,I have somewhere to start now….it’s been a dream come true to embark on this

It is a great opportunity having you around. Your business plans are well planned after a thorough research. They have actually opened up my approach to business. Thanx

Uses of the  Roadrunners  Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The roadrunners/free range chickens production business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your roadrunners production business
• As a project proposal
• Assessing profitability of the roadrunners/free range chickens production business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

Contents of the  Roadrunners/Free Range Chicken  Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The business plan includes, but not limited to:

• Market Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• Automated Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, loan repayment calculations, start-up costs)
• Marketing Strategy
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements (e.g. type of housing required, feed required e.t.c.)
• Operational Strategy
• Why some Zimbabweans in roadrunners business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your roadrunners business in Zimbabwe

The roadrunners/free range chickens production business plan includes technical aspects of how to keep the roadrunners. It also includes a mini-directory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running the roadrunners/free range chickens business. E.g. We will provide the contact details of the companies that produce feeds, sell day old chicks e.t.c.

The Roadrunners/Indigenous Chickens business plan package consist of 4 files

• Roadrunners Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – 91 pages)
• Roadrunners/Indigenous Chickens Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – 91 pages)
• Roadrunners/Free range Chickens Business Plan Bank Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – 41 pages)
• Roadrunners/Free range Chickens Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)

The business plan financials are in USD currency. 

The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the number of birds, price per bird etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

Get the  Roadrunners/Free Range Chickens Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

We decided to make them affordable for anyone who would want a business plan, and the price for pre-written business plans is only US$10 for soft copies.

You can purchase via Paynow (Ecocash/Innbucks/One Money/MasterCard/Visa Card)  or via Paypal. You just click Buy Now  (scroll down)    and you will then be taken to payment website where you make the payment. Just follow the instructions; you will be done with the payment process in 2 minutes. We will email the business plan (PDF format, Microsoft word format, and a Microsoft Excel file with the financial statements)  to you within 24 hours, using the email address you provided when you were paying.

You can also purchase  soft copies  at our  offices  in Harare. Visit  StartupBiz Zimbabwe, Suite 201, 2nd Floor, Morgan House, George Silundika Avenue (between 1st Street & 2nd Street), Harare  . The cost of the business plan is US$10 (soft copies).

For any questions, other payment options, email us on  [email protected]  , call/whatsapp us on +263778798072  (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/263778798072 )  .

Roadrunners/Free range chickens/Indigenous Chickens  Production Business Plan 

Click Buy now to purchase using Ecocash, Innbucks, Paypal, MasterCard or VisaCard (US$10)

Click the above button

Check out more business ideas and our collection of business plans . Like us on Facebook , follow us on Twitter , and subscribe to receive notifications of new posts in your email.

A note from StartupBiz Zimbabwe: Everyday we send business updates via Whatsapp. Click the link to join: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KTPPiZpsPPS6laELHIaJ0R or send the word join via Whatsapp to  +263778798072  (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/263778798072 ).

About The Author

StartupBiz Zimbabwe

StartupBiz Zimbabwe is a business research firm based in Zimbabwe. We sell prewritten business plans for various industries including agriculture, transport, manufacturing, retail and education. StartupBiz Zimbabwe also publishes articles on business ideas, business news, business tips, personal finance, entrepreneur interviews and profiles.

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140 Comments

Hi, where can I get point of lay boschvelds.

Thomas Vhalah. Quite interesting.I have just started rearing roadrunner chickens. Can I be added to roadrunner keepers group. My WhatsApp. No. is +263772337898.

hie get in touch with me for boschveld chickens on 0773 050 118

hw much are day old chicks for boschveld .

you can get in touch on 0772822144 and we can negotiate the prices depending on the quantities you require

WANT BOSHVELD CHICKENS ON +263718664889

I want to road runner chicks

I do supply Boshveld chicks for 16 Nov collection @70c each

0772945164 am Looking for roadrunner’s a good breed

Inspiring,informative and educative. Let’s hope we act. For, u can’t cross a river by looking at the water.

Want business plan 0714440055

Very interesting, informative and educative especially for me as I am very keen to venture into diversified farming projects. please keep me posted on boschveld chickens and ducks.

i,m looking for model chicken run for Road runners

Hie can i please be added to a roadrunner keepers group ,I started keeping roadrunners in 2016 and i have been doing very well and i hope being added in the group will make it easier for me to get customers for chickens and eggs and also to learn from other keepers.

If u were added in the group of road runners pliz can l have the group link on 0779195479

Hie i offer hatching services for chicken eggs

what are your contact details

0773375682/0772650582

how much do charge per egg

can i join a group of roadrunner keepers

@Elvis Mapeta,Paddie and Elisha,can we partner

0788808113, i need bocshved or roadrunner good breed

i am looking for an incubator

http://www.surehatch.co.zw/

I have an incubator, call me on 0784240512

that was motivating. if there are any buyers for roadrunners contact 0772737103 or 0778374926

For all your hatching services may you please call me on 0773 375 682,0772 650 582

guys am seroussly looking for boshveld 0782994221 please contact me

How many days does it take for eggs to hatch in a hatchery(incubator)

It takes 21 days for chicken eggs to hatch

21 days for chicken. Is there a market of roadrunners outside Zimbabwe

Any buyers for big and good roadrunners please contact me 0717147509

i am a buyer 0782690055

what size do you buy and at how much per bird?

how much do you buy them for and numbers and size you prefer sms me on 0773516448

I looking for point of lay hens ne jongwe. kindly app me on 0775472104

+263782985794

I need bushveld type

Interested i need to start my own project

Looking for partner to do the project with have a few birds plus plenty of land live in mazowe christon bank my number 0773025427

I want to try that project how many birds do i start with

i am looking week old chicks my number 0782690055

Im Iooking for roadrunner chicks 0775633882

how much are boschveld chicks

I am looking for a cock please app me on 0712 579 000

very informative, l am doing Poultry lndustriliasation, l enjoy talking to anyone who is keen to do chickens for sustainability

How can i get in touch with you am thinking of starting ip my own poultry project and have donors on stand by to help with the capital but they have been asking questions on sustainbility

send me email [email protected]

Hi I have been doing hatching but had no market for the chicks or the grown birds . Are you still interested in the project.I am will to do on a large scale have. Capacity for 5000-7000 chicks a month.

+263782985794 [email protected] We can start talking from there

Hie Francisca. Did you finally find a market for your grown birds and chicks. Am wanting to also go into this road runner business but am concerned about the markets. Its such a waste to invest without a market

please contact me i want to start aproject for chickens for sustainability

My project is a medium size with 20 different types of hens laying eggs for reproduction and 3 different cocks, every month i produce a minimum of 250 chicks with the help of an incubator, from August 2017 i will be releasing a minimum of 200 point of lay roadrunners per month, but i have no market. is there anyone who know buyers of large quantities of point of lay road runners

My contact number is 0772587426. please inform me about buyers of point of lay roadrunners

going at how much app me 0784493574

+263782985794 Contact me on that number. Or send an email to [email protected]

Do you have boschveld,at how much pliz Contact me on 0733223990(app)

I have boschveld road runners at $7 to $8

please I need boshveld seriously may contact me 0782994221

Are Freerange/ roadrunner chickens the same as organic chickens?

Where on the value chain do you get the best returns, road runner table eggs, roadrunner fertilized eggs, incubation business, day old chicks, young chickens, point of lay, or the meat?

i went through yo notes ,thank you. after starter mash whats the next food for road runners. what kind of vaccinations should i have in stock for this project.

um looking for a business partner

i am intrested to be your partner,call/sms 0778067882

l am also looking for a partner my # 0773773068(l am in kadoma)

Im looking for a someone to sponsor mie to start the project of road runners with terms and conditions.I have got the land and i live in bindura,Mashcentral.Pliz help.

I want to start that project how many hens can I start with

can you kip boschveld for breeding

Can I be added to WhatsApp group for roadrunner chicken keepers

hie…how much are day old chicks ?help email [email protected] if you know any prices and where l can get them..thank you

Looking for black Australorps, Boschvelder, Rhode Island red or white Call/txt on 0777389419 App on 0719389419

His contact me if you wanna know deep about these babies on 0774885768

May l be added to your whatsap group of road runner chicken keeper

I want boschvelder chcks

I am looking for all types of roadrunners found in Zimbabwe and may you put me in your whatsap roadrunner keeper. every educative and interesting

I haver roadrunner can u add me on whatsapp group for communication

looking forward to start roadrunner project early next year. where can l find day old boschveld. contact 0773339221

Very educative and want to be one of the best roadrunners keeper. Add me to your whatsapp runner keepers. My whatsapp number is 0772346162

pliz add me to the road runner Chickens whatapp group im interested. wish to learn more on this project.

add me to road runner group what up 0774149338

Where can I get Boschvelder or Rhode island week old chicks? Please add me to the group

My whatsapp no is 0773288091

add me also on whatsapp group 0719001708

add me also on whatsapp group 0772980496

selling Boschveld eggs, chicks and hens and cocks contact 0784443161 or 0775609277

hatching services chicks and eggs for sell Bosch 0784443161 0775609277 GANYANI TINASHE

Am looking for roadrunner( one week old chicks). type boschveld. i am in masvingo. contact me on 775140422.may you pliz add my no on whatsapp group

add me also on the whatsup group 0775141985

Hi hw much are the boschveld chicks.add me on whatsup group 0778879328

are there any other types of road runners, how good are they. kindly add me also to keepers lists

Add me in your group. 0774029798

am keen to start the roadrunner project but have no land to work on. anyone willing to partner with me. am in Harare and I go to work.

contact me on 0782916843 lve got land um in bindura to start the project

i have land in zvimba murombedzi and banket 0779224325

Why don’t the roadrunners sit on their eggs for hatching

Very interesting plz add me to WhatsApp group +27734266754

..am also looking for partners.anyone interested ihave land in Nkayi area

anyone looking for a partner.. contact me on 0779279363

CONTACT ME ON O782891277 email address [email protected]

Thank you for the information. Kindly add me on whats group for Road Runner keepers. am looking for Kuroiler breed and Boschveld bread of 3 weeks old as soon as possible. contact me on +263774212686

Please add me to the what’s up group. My main challenge is on finding stable dependable markets. My number is 0771008597

add me if you are added to the group 0774149338

Hello everyone. i am looking for someone with point of lay Boschveld and fertilised eggs. Contact me at; [email protected]

Very nice contact me 0779245250

Lease add me to the road runner whats app group 0772806910

very informative. please add me to road runner whatsapp group. my phone nò 0772580566.

looking for day old chicks. Boschveld, rhode island contact me 0785129009

ndri kukaroi so I looking chicks kana pane Ari kuita project rema roadrunner ndri kuda vana vacho

my number is 0784597476 call or WhatsApp

How much are 4 weeks old road runner chicks. Anyone with 50+ conduct me on 0782043717

Add me in relevant grps number 0776041857

its very interesting please add me into watsapp group »»0784238970 l real like to rear roader runners but l mostly try to do it at home(Binga) please add me in watsapp group for more assistance

If there is groups for poultry keeping please add

Quite interesting, kindly add me to keepers group

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ONE OF YOU GUYS AND I REAL WANT TO BE CONNECTED .Please add me to road runner keepers whats up groups and face book . MY WHATS UP NUMBER IS 0773475093

Intrested ,pliz add me on the watsp group,my nmber is 0773049450

Please add me in roadrunner group 0777578963

please add me tour whatsapp group of buisness i nam interested in keeping poultry 0773745600

Would like to start that kind of project. Would like a bankable business proposal

add me on the whatsApp group 0772473584

i want to start this project..add me on the whatsApp group please 0715146960

please add me to the group 0779637730, i want to start a road runner project

Looking for land around beitbridge to start the project and suppliers of chicks contact me on 0772858166

0779224325 pliz add

anyone selling road runners boschveld breed?

I am looking for boschveld type around Gweru Zvishavane area get in touch with me 0718905875

I have just started keeping roadrunners. Please kindly add me to the group on 0773444049.

Very interesting pliz kindly add me as well my app number 0739202450 would love to learn more and invest on the project

i am selling day old chicks at dollar for two call me on 0776224012 those in gweru ,shurugwi and mostly Zvishavane

It’s very interesting indeed what I’m reading on all articles I also want to start a business project on agriculture and poultry but my concern is the market I also need help or even if it means that I have to go to school for that and have both certificate Thanks and regards Nobert

I am looking for 5000 boshveld chicks plzz contact me on 0785270707

I supply all live birds

looking for boshveld chicks around bulawayo

Interested add me on whatsapp group please 00 277 67 809 3900

[email protected]

I’m interested can you please add me to the group

I am looking for black Australorp chicks, at least one month up to point of lay. Contact 0773410469 (Call/App)

I am looking for a for someone who need a project manager for his or her road runner project

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Chicken Farming Business Plan For Beginners

How to start poultry farming business – chicken farming business plan for beginners.

If you are interested in being a poultry farmer, you must want to know how to start a poultry farming business for beginners, this article tell you the chicken farming business plan which could be helpful for you.

Why to Start Poultry Farming Business Plan

A Poultry farming business can be called one of the most lucrative in the world if it is managed properly. The poultry farmers now we have are not enough that’s why chicken farming business has become so much profitable. It has become the finest opportunity of making a good amount of money in a short period of time. This article will focus on the process of poultry farming, the process of poultry from small farm and how to make it a big one.

1. Fast Reproduction and Large in Numbers

A healthy layer chicken almost lays an egg every day or 4 eggs in a week sometimes it lays 7 eggs in a week too, these all depends on the quality of your birds. Some birds can lay 325 eggs in a year. And it takes 21 days to hatch. Technically this means that a layer chicken is able to produce another layer twice in three days. So, if you have 500 healthy California white birds they are capable of giving you 12,000 chicks within 40 days.

2. A Fast Growth Rate

The most interesting thing about the poultry is its high growth rate. It takes about 21 days when the eggs are hatched. After their birth it takes about 27 to 28 weeks when they are fully ready for the market. That means a poultry farmer starts earning his income in just 31 weeks after he has successfully started his poultry farming business. According to the calculation he will be able to double his income in a year. However there are some uncertainties in this business, mortality and diseases are some of them but it can be reduced by taking proper managements and vaccination.

3. Sales at a Very Profitable Price

The market price of a bird is not so low you can a good profit from it. The price of a fully grown healthy chicken is about 10 to 11 dollar in the market. So if you are the one who produce 12,000 chickens in 40 days in his farm, you obviously are making 120,000 dollar when they are sold completely.

4. The Egg Market is Also Large

The poultry egg market is also good and very profitable. With the meat business, the poultry eggs are another source of good profit. You can earn about 2 to 3 dollar for each crate of smaller eggs and 3-4 for bigger one. Every crate has 30 eggs. So if you have 500 layers in your farm and they lays 12,000 eggs in a month and if you want to sell all of them then you are making 1,500 dollar per month.

Before Starting Your Poultry Farming Business Plan

Before you start your chicken farm business, you have to make a poultry farming business plan, it is very important for all types of business. A business plan is like a road map which tells you where you are going with your business. A business plan will tell you at which point you are now in your business. Your poultry farming business plan should include the following points.

1. Select The Type of Poultry Bird

The first step of starting a poultry business is the selection of bird type. Here you will choose the type of birds is that layer chicken or broiler. You can choose any of them it totally up to you. There are some other types of birds that you can bring in your consideration. They are the duck, goose, turkey etc.

2. Select The Cage Type of Your Poultry

Another important factor consider before baking the final plan of your chicken farm is to select the chicken cage type and size. Maybe you are thinking that, this is not that much necessary to think before starting the business, but believe it actually is. Estimating over your cost over the chicken cages will affect both positively and negatively on your entire poultry business plan. So go through the cage type on our website and choose the best type of cages you need.

3. Sort out The Area of Interest

You can’t start poultry business without a goal. You have to choose a path where you want to flow your business. This will concentrate your focus in one point and will ensure higher level of professionalism but if you want to work with two areas then no problem. Here are some niches of poultry farming.

• Layer Chicken Breeding : These are mainly used for egg production.
• Broiler Breeding : It is used for chicken meat production.
• Hatchery : Is for hatching new chicks.
• Poultry feed : It produce feeds for other poultry farms.

You can choose any of them. You can choose breed layer and broiler together if you want to.

4. Specify Poultry Location

Another important sector of poultry farming is choosing the location where you will set up for your business. It has a direct impact with the start up cost. My preferable place for a poultry farm is a rural area with a road nearby. This will reduce your cost of land and labor. When you start your poultry farming business you may not want to spend all of your money for a land in urban area. There are some other difficulties in urban area with poultry farming. Govt. will not allow you to make a farm in a residential area for health issue. So it is better to select a perfect land for your business in a rural area.

5. Investment Capital

After you have specified your location now you know how much capital you are required to start your chicken farming business plan. Write down all of your capital you need and manage the source where to get manage it.

Like every business the bigger your business plan the bigger you have to invest. You have to decide how much capital you can afford for this business.

Poultry Farming Business Plan – How to Get Going?

You have all of your business plans ready but if you don’t apply it then all are useless. We consider you have your capital ready if you have that then start for the next steps.

Step 1: Buy The Land

Like we suggested you earlier you have to choose a land which is a remote place from city. But remember don’t choose any place which is too far from the city and which don’t have any well transportation system.

Step 2: Build The Required Structure

A good housing system is very important for your poultry farming business. A good housing system not only save your chickens from danger but also increase your profit in poultry business. Every poultry housing systems are classified according to the management system, scale and the use. The common types of poultry housing systems used are

• Half litter
• Deep litter

Step 3: Buy Cages

Purchasing chicken cages is a very important part of the business as many of the affecting factors directly depends on the size, orientation, strength and layout of the chicken cage. Make proper measurements and analyze your poultry size and budget before buying the chicken cage. Here are the available chicken cages we offer – layer chicken cage (battery cage) , baby chick cage , broiler cage , commercial quail cages and commercial rabbit cages , etc.Hightop Poultry Equipmentis one of the leading chicken cage and poultry farm equipment manufacturer in China,contact usnow to get the free layout design according to your chicken house and birds quantity.

We have got another article in this blog describing the usage and utility of each of the cage types and surely that will help you to choose the best fit of your poultry.

Step 4: Buy Birds/Chicks

It is perfect decision to choose day old chick to start your poultry business. Before you buy these chicks find a reliable Hatchery where you can get healthy chicks. It will not cost you too much.

Step 5: Other Items and Accessories You Need

There are some otherpoultry cage accessorieslikedrinkers,feeders, Parches, crates, nests,lighting system,egg incubator,waste disposal system, etc.

You have to consider these costs too. And as an eventual part of plan, we also provide you the best poultry farm equipment like –Automatic egg collector,automatic feeding system,automatic manure removal machine,disinfectant fogging machineand cooling system, etc. in a very affordable price and top quality.

Challenges in Poultry Business Startup

Poultry farming is one of the most profitable business in these days. But you have to know the risk of this business. Though there are no businesses which are beyond risk and challenges.

1. Lack of Government Support

From our previous experiences we all may think that govt. will help us at our critical time in this business. But don’t be sure about it. Prepare yourself that govt. will not help when you need them. Think that you have to run your business alone without the help of any one. Take a backup for sudden loss. It may help you to run your business properly and if you get help from the govt. think that it is a bonus.

2. A Very High Starting Capital

It is said money is everything. So without a proper funding you will not be able to run your business. Like other business, poultry farming business also needs proper funding. Without it you may not be able to add extra facilities which will increase your production rate.

You need proper funding to purchase land, poultry farm equipment, food for your chick and you need to pay your labor. In all sector you need a good capital. So you should do a research on your cost and capital you have then you should start your poultry farm business. We can provide you the poultry cage and chicken farm equipment with good price, help you to save money.

3. Disease Out Breaking

A dirty environment in your firm will invite many diseases and infections. Poultry are very sensitive to the environmental changes. If the poultry farm is not taken care of properly the birds will easily be exposed to different kinds of bacteria. You have to keep your poultry farm clean as much as possible. Automatic manure cleaning system,disinfectant fogging machineandventilating systemcan help you.

You must not bring any contaminated equipment, footwear or even vehicles. Also do not allow any visitors in your poultry farm environment.

4. Other Influencing Factors

There are some other factors that can affect your poultry farming business like proper vaccination. You have to be able to afford it may become difficult for you if you are a small scale poultry farmer. So the thing you have to do is gather some other farmers like you and buy the vaccine.

Another challenge in poultry farming is the high cost of poultry food. So it is seen that most of the farmers who have a little capital, economize or ration the food. It affects the profit in a large scale.

Want to buy chicken cage and poultry farm equipment to start your own poultry farming business? Please feel free to contact us.

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Unlock the future of poultry technology with insights from poultrytech summit & expo, ai and robotics: shaping the future of layer farming, innovations in layer farming automation: a glimpse into the future, from famous to feathered: the star-studded world of celebrity layer farmers, achieve celebrity-grade egg production: transforming your layer farm with poultryerp, join with our whatsapp channel for daily poultry tips click here.

Starting Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan (PDF)

In a world increasingly mindful of ethical and sustainable farming practices, the free range chicken farming business stands as a beacon of opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking not only financial success but also a chance to make a meaningful impact. With low startup costs, strong market demand, and the potential for rapid growth, starting a free range chicken farming business offers a compelling proposition that merits serious consideration.  To build a successful, sustainable free range poultry farming business, you require sufficient knowledge of how to efficiently raise free range chickens, good business management skills, and a good free range poultry farming business plan. This article will outline how to start a free range chicken & egg production business, and the free range chicken farming business plan – PDF, Word and Excel.

This article and business plan is about free range poultry farming.  We also have articles and business plans for

Poultry Egg Farming Business  

Broiler Poultry Farming Business

Click the links above to go to the articles and business plans. 

Free range chicken and backyard chicken production is a lucrative business, but there are some essential decisions that you need to make before you venture into the business. You have to decide on the scale of your free range chicken farming business (the number of chickens that you will keep and eggs that you will produce), location of the free range chicken poultry farm and products (meat, eggs or both).  The amount of capital that you have and your target market will influence those decisions. If you do not have a lot of capital, you can always start small and grow your free range chicken farming business overtime. You also need to carry out market research (Who are you going to sell the birds and eggs to? At what price? Who are your business competitors?) and write a good free range chicken farming business plan before you venture into this poultry business.

One of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates, regards free range chicken farming as a good, profitable business. He donated thousands of chickens as a means of empowering people to earn an income by starting chicken farming businesses. In his article on his website, “Why I would raise Chickens” , Bill Gates says chickens are a good investment which can generate a lot of income for the people, as they have a multiplicative effect, due to the fact that they lay and hatch eggs frequently, thus multiplying the size of your flock quickly.

Market Research

Before starting your free range chicken farming business, it is essential to delve into comprehensive market research. This critical step can significantly impact the success of your venture by providing you with a deep understanding of the market dynamics, consumer preferences, and industry trends. Research potential suppliers for chicken feed, equipment, and other essentials. Additionally, determine the most efficient distribution channels to get your products to your target market, whether it’s through local markets, farmers’ markets, or direct-to-consumer sales.

Selecting the appropriate free range chicken breed is a crucial aspect of market research for your chicken farming business. This decision hinges on several factors, including the availability of the breed in your region, the specific demands of the market, and your business goals. Different chicken breeds excel in various areas, with some being more suited for meat production, while others are renowned for their egg-laying capabilities. Your choice should align with your target market’s preferences and your intended product offerings. By conducting thorough research on the strengths and availability of different chicken breeds, you can make an informed decision that maximizes your farm’s efficiency and meets the demands of your customers, whether you aim to supply meat, eggs, or both.

An essential aspect of market research for your free range chicken farming business is gaining a deep understanding of pricing dynamics within your target market. This involves not only comprehending the prevailing prices of free range chicken and eggs but also identifying your potential customer base, their purchasing habits, and the quantities they typically order. By gathering this information, you can effectively position your pricing strategy to align with the expectations and affordability of your customer demographic. This knowledge empowers you to set competitive and profitable prices while ensuring that your offerings cater to the preferences and purchasing patterns of your target audience, ultimately enhancing your business’s chances of success.

Land for Free Range Chicken Farming Business

You need to have land for your free range chicken farming business. There are several factors that you should take into consideration when selecting the land to run your free range poultry farming operations from. These factors include the available utilities, neighbours, local topography, prevailing winds, condition of roads, available existing buildings, and local government laws and regulations. Free range chickens make noise and produce odours, so your chicken farm should be located some distance away from residential areas. Low lying land close to streams is prone to flooding, so you should avoid such kind of land topography. Land which is level is better, as hilly land increases the construction costs of free range poultry housing due to grading that would have to be done. Consider the available utilities, it’s better to choose a location that has a good water supply and is connected to the main electricity gridline.  Also consider the conditions of the roads – vehicles will use the roads to deliver chicks and feed to the chicken farm as well as deliver chickens to the market from the farm. Thus you will need to choose a location with good roads for your free range poultry farming business. Also consider if the land will allow you to expand in the future, eg is there enough space to construct additional free range chickens houses? Depending of your choice of production system, free range chickens may require pasture to forage on and move freely around, so you should also consider if the land is suitable for free range chickens to scavenge around.

Free Range Poultry Housing

There are various housing options that you can consider for free range chickens. By definition, free range chickens must be allowed access to the outside, that is there should be space available for them to roam around freely outdoors. However, they also need proper housing especially at night. Some poultry farmers even keep free range chickens indoors all the time. Free range poultry housing may be fixed or mobile. Pasture rotation can easily be achieved when using mobile free range chicken housing which reduces damage to pasture and frequently give the chickens access to fresh pasture. Most commercial poultry farmers use fixed free range chicken housing. The free range poultry housing should provide adequate space, light, ventilation and protection to the birds. Free range chickens should have adequate space to move around even in fixed housing systems. If they don’t have enough space, the birds become stressed, cannibalism may occur, and diseases can easily spread. The free range chicken housing should have an adequate ventilation system – this can be achieved by a poultry house that has open sides. If the housing has poor ventilation, that may cause heat stress which leads to death of the free range chickens thus leading to financial loss of your free range poultry farming business. Chickens cannot tolerate high temperatures, thus why it is necessary to construct the poultry house such that its length is in an east-west orientation to avoid direct exposure to sunlight.

A well lighted housing is important for a successful free range chicken business. If the free range chicken house is dark, that leads to inactive and unproductive chickens. Free range chickens require light as it stimulates egg production, and encourages the chickens to eat feed which is good for their growth and health. Natural lighting ie sunlight is preferable as long as it does not increase the temperature of the house – thus why good ventilation system is required for the poultry housing. The free range chicken housing should also offer adequate protection to the birds : protection from predators and extreme weather conditions. Chicken predators include snakes, rats, dogs and mongooses. Your housing can be in the form of chicken barns, runs, pens, houses, hutches, cages and the cost of construction will depend on the materials used, and the size of the free range poultry house. The free range chickens and backyard chickens also need pasture for them to forage. One of the major difference between broiler chickens and free range chickens, is that broilers are raised indoors, confined to the broiler house, while free range chickens will spend most of the day outside, foraging the pasture and vegetation. The costs of constructing the housing should be include in the free range chicken farming business plan.

Equipment for Free Range Poultry Farming Business

Several equipment are required when carrying out free range chicken farming business. Free range chickens should not lay eggs on the floor, thus you should provide nests for them. Nests can be in different forms that include baskets, card boxes, wood and specially-crafted nest boxes. Ensure that your provide adequate nests – the required number depends on the number of laying free range chickens and size of the nest boxes. Feeding equipment is obviously required. Good poultry feeders should : have correct height and depth, easy to clean and be stable so that they are not knocked over by the chickens. Materials used to make poultry feeders include metal, wood and plastic. Small chicks need their own feeders separate from large chickens. Adequate drinking equipment is also required by the chickens. For large commercial free range farming businesses, you can use automated feeding and drinking systems. Incubators may also be required in free range poultry business. They are used for hatching chicken eggs to produce chicks. Free range chickens can naturally hatch eggs on their own, but the numbers of eggs which they can maintain and hatch are limited. To hatch a large number of eggs at one time you will have to use incubators. The free range poultry framing business plan should include a budget of purchasing the poultry equipment.

Day Old Chicks

You need day old chicks to start your free range chicken and backyard poultry farming business.  After getting experience, you may then hatch your own chicks, which will greatly reduce your expenses as you will no longer need to buy day old chicks. You should purchase your day old chicks from a reliable accredited hatchery or company where the parent stocks are well managed. If you are new to the free range poultry business, you should enquire from other farmers to hear where they buy their chicks from. The success of your free range poultry and backyard chicken business will partly depend on the quality of day old chicks which you buy. The free range chicken farming business plan should cater for the costs of purchasing the day old chicks.

Free Range Chicken Breeds

Major products of commercial free range chicken farming business are meat and eggs. Your choice of chicken breed will be determined by the final product that you want to sell. You can choose breeds that maximize meat production or egg production. Dual purpose free range chicken breeds can be used to do both meat and egg production. Rhode Island Red  is a popular American free range chicken breed which is very good at laying eggs as it can produce more than 260 eggs per year. The Sussex chicken breed is a dual purpose breed, which is kept for both meat and egg production. Jersey Giant is a very large chicken breed which is usually kept for meat production, though they also lay eggs. New Hampshire Red is a dual purpose free range chicken breed which grows quickly and are used for both meat and egg production.   White Leghorns breed chickens are usually used as layer birds they produce between 280-320 eggs per year, each egg weighing a minimum of 55 grams. Orpington is a large chicken breed which can be used for both meat and egg production as it can produce up to 200 eggs per year. The Boschveld  chicken breed is from Africa, and it can withstand varying climatic conditions. Boschveld  chicken breed is a dual purpose breed, which can be raised for both meat and egg production. There are many other breeds which include Golden Comet, Cornish Cross, Buckeye,  Ameraucana, Chantecler,  Barred Plymouth Rock, Croad Langshan, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Bresse,  Australorp and Dorking.

Feed For Free Range Poultry

There are different feeding systems that are used in free range chicken farming operations. Adequate feeding is important to ensure the success of the free range chicken farming business. At the same time, feeding costs should be monitored so as to maintain the profitability of the free range chicken farming business. The advantage of rearing  free range chickens over broiler chickens is that they will get some of their food from scavenging the surroundings, thus the feed costs are minimized. Free range chickens can feed on pasture and forage outside for leftover food, greens, bugs etc. In a free range poultry rearing system, adult hens and cocks ought to be given enough time and space for scavenging in the surroundings daily. The best time for scavenging is early morning and late afternoon when there are plenty of insects and less heat.

However this is usually not adequate for commercial free range chicken farming businesses. Thus you will have to give supplementary feed to the free range chickens. This can be in the form of commercial stock feeds. As stock chicken feeds are expensive, free range chickens can also be given maize, wheat, sorghum, rice and other grains. Home made stock feeds can also be used to feed free range chickens. Supplementary feeds should be offered in the morning and evening when the free range chickens come back for the night. Clean water should be provided in shady areas during the day to avoid heat stress.  You should adequately feed your free range chickens to ensure that they reach their market weight in the target period. Lack of sufficient feed causes slow growth, poor health and low egg production which reduces the profitability of your free range chicken farming business. You will also need proper vaccines and medications to prevent diseases and promote growth of your free range and backyard chickens. Costs of feed should be included in the free range chicken farming business plan.

Free Range Chicken Farming Business Model

The foundation of a successful free range chicken farming business revolves around a well-structured and sustainable business model. To kickstart this venture, you begin by acquiring day-old chicks, which serve as the future of your flock. These chicks are nurtured and raised in a suitable free range housing environment, where their growth and well-being are carefully monitored. The flexibility of this business model lies in its versatility, allowing you to produce either eggs, chickens for meat, or a combination of both, depending on market demand and your strategic preferences.

The primary expenditures in this business include the initial cost of day-old chicks and ongoing expenses related to feed and maintenance. As the chicks mature, typically reaching maturity at around 12 to 16 weeks, you can decide whether to sell them as live birds or as dressed birds for meat, tailoring your approach to meet the needs of your target market. On the other hand, if your focus is on egg production, free range chicken layers will begin laying eggs consistently from the age of 20 weeks onwards. These freshly laid eggs can then be sold, constituting a significant portion of your revenue.

The beauty of this free range chicken farming model lies in its self-sustaining nature. Over time, as your free range chicken layers continue to lay eggs, you have the option to hatch some of these eggs to produce your own day-old chicks, significantly reducing the need for recurring purchases. This cycle ensures a consistent and potentially lucrative stream of income throughout the year, making the free range chicken farming business an attractive and profitable endeavor.

Management and Labour

The number of farm workers you need will depend on the size of your free range and backyard chicken project. If you are running a small business e.g. 100 birds/cycle, you and your family may be enough to take care of the chickens. However, if you are rearing 2000 birds per cycle, you will need full time employees to manage the free range chickens.  There is need for good technical knowledge of free range chickens rearing techniques for success in the business. You also need good management skills. Salaries for all your staff should be included in the free range chicken farming business.

The amount of capital required for a free range poultry farming business depends on the scale of the project. Sources of capital include bank loans, and equity investors.Don’t have access to capital? Start small, and grow your business overtime! Free range chickens are very profitable, so if you reinvest the profits you get, you can quickly grow. You will require a good free-range chicken and eggs production business plan to guide you in your business.

Marketing Plan

Developing a comprehensive marketing plan is essential for the success of your free range chicken farming business. This plan will serve as your roadmap to reaching your target audience, establishing a strong brand presence, and ultimately driving sales. To start, it’s crucial to identify your ideal customers and understand their preferences and buying behaviors. Whether you’re targeting health-conscious consumers, local restaurants, or specialty grocery stores, this knowledge will allow you to tailor your marketing efforts effectively.

Creating a compelling brand identity is another vital component of your marketing strategy. Your brand should encapsulate the values of ethical and sustainable farming practices, which are closely associated with free range chicken products. This involves designing an eye-catching logo, selecting a memorable brand name, and creating appealing packaging that resonates with your target audience.

In today’s digital era, an online presence is paramount. Develop a professional website to showcase your products, farming practices, and contact information. Leverage social media platforms to engage with potential customers, share updates about your farm, and promote special offers. Additionally, consider content marketing to educate your audience about the benefits of free range products and position yourself as an authority in the field. Collaborating with local businesses, farmers’ markets, and restaurants can also expand your reach and enhance your visibility within the community. By incorporating these elements into your marketing plan, you can build a strong brand presence, attract loyal customers, and ensure the long-term success of your free range chicken farming business.

Market for Free Range Chickens Meat And Eggs

The market for free range chickens is high and increasing, as more people are moving towards organic and healthier food. Many people prefer organic free range chicken meat, as compared to broiler chicken meat. This is because free range chickens are highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and healthier. Thus, the demand for free range organic chickens meat continues to rise. Free range chickens have a higher price than broiler chickens, as they are considered to be more superior.

The eggs from free range chickens are also considered to be superior as compared to the eggs from commercial indoor layers chickens. Free range chicken eggs are considered to be highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and healthier. Thus, the price of free range organic eggs is higher as compared to the usual poultry eggs. You can supply your free range chicken meat and eggs to individual households, butchers, schools, restaurants, companies, supermarkets, organizations, events, abattoirs etc. You can sell your free range chicken as live birds or you can slaughter and freeze them and sell them as dressed chicken.  As you grow your business, you will also be able to export your free range organic products.

Advantages of Free Range Chicken Farming Business

One of the primary attractions of venturing into free range chicken farming is the relatively low startup costs associated with this agricultural endeavor. Compared to other farming ventures, the initial investment required to set up a free range chicken farm is comparatively modest. This affordability makes it an accessible option for individuals looking to enter the farming industry without the burden of high upfront expenses. Aspiring entrepreneurs can get started with a manageable budget, allowing for a gradual expansion of their operations as they gain experience and confidence in the business.

Another compelling advantage is the strong market demand for free range chicken products. With an increasing number of consumers seeking healthier and ethically produced food options, the market for free range chicken meat and eggs has been steadily growing. This rising demand provides a favorable environment for entrepreneurs in this industry, as it ensures a consistent customer base and potential for sustainable growth. The strong market demand not only enhances the profitability of the business but also offers a level of resilience in the face of economic fluctuations.

Additionally, free range chicken farming offers the flexibility of diversifying product offerings. Entrepreneurs can choose to focus on egg production, meat production, or even a combination of both, depending on market trends and their business goals. This versatility allows for the adaptation of the business to changing consumer preferences and market dynamics. It also mitigates the risks associated with being solely reliant on a single product category, further enhancing the business’s long-term viability and profitability.

Moreover, the potential for rapid growth is a significant advantage in this industry. By hatching their own chicks from eggs laid by free range layers, farmers can reduce the need for external purchases and increase their self-sufficiency. This self-sustainability not only minimizes ongoing expenses but also accelerates growth potential. Farmers can control their supply chain, ensuring a consistent stream of day-old chicks for future production, thereby optimizing their profits.

Pre-Written Free Range Chicken And Egg Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the free range chicken production business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive business plan. We introduced the business plans after discovering that many were venturing into the free range chicken business without enough knowledge and understanding of how to run the business, how to keep the birds, lack of understanding of the financial side of the business, lack of understanding of : the industry, the risks involved , costs and profitability of the business; which often leads to disastrous losses.

The StartupBiz Global business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run your free range chicken business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as you will be aware of all the costs involved in setting up and running the free range chicken business.

Uses of the Free Range Poultry Farming Business Plan – PDF, Word And Excel

The free range poultry farming business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives.
• Applying for a bank loan.
• Start-up guide to launch your free range poultry farming business.
• As a project/business proposal.
• Assessing profitability of the free range chicken business.
• Finding a business partner.
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save.
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation.

Contents of the Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan – PDF, Word And Excel

The business plan include, but not limited to:

• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortization)
• Risk Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• Market Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements (Including technical aspects of how to keep and rear the free range chickens, feed requirements etc)
• Operational Strategy
• Why some people in the free range poultry business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your free range poultry business

The Pre-written Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan package consists of 4 files:

• Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive Version – 93 Pages)
• Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive Version – 93 Pages)
• Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan Funding/Bank Loan Version- Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan/funding – 44 pages)
• Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel File)

The business plan can be used in any country and can be easily edited. The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the number of chickens, selling price of  the chickens etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

Click below to download the Contents Page of the Free Range Chicken Production Business Plan (PDF)

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Get the Free Range Chicken And Egg Farming Business Plan - PDF, Word And Excel

Click Buy Now  below to purchase using Paypal, Credit Card, or Debit Card. After you have purchased, you will immediately see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. You will also immediately get an email with the business plan download link. The Pre-written business plan package (PDF, Word, and Excel) costs $30 only!

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The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

We wish you the best in your Free Range Chicken production business! Check out our collection of business plans  , and more business ideas .

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Indigenous village chicken production: a tool for poverty alleviation, the empowerment of women, and rural development

• Published: 13 November 2020
• Volume 53 , article number  1 , ( 2021 )

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• Takele Taye Desta   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3474-0731 1  

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Indigenous village chickens (IVCs) greatly contribute to food security and rural development. Consequently, IVCs cover incidental expenses, economically empower women, and support the livelihood of disadvantaged groups. Interestingly, ritual practices of traditional communities across the Global South utilise IVCs. IVCs provide several ecosystem services and possess adaptation traits resulting in their being able to survive and reproduce with minimal care. Explorative behaviours and general hardiness aroused from natural selection enable IVCs to adapt to a wide range of agroecology and management systems. IVCs are mainly kept in the extensive production system with scarce production inputs. Their management history and uncontrolled mating have enabled IVCs to have unique and diverse phenotypes. Flock size is small, typically less than 100, and the family flock consists of birds of both sexes and different ages making management a demanding task. IVCs lay few eggs (~ 40 to 60 annually) and have small body weights (~ 1.6 kg for adult cock) and low growth rates; nevertheless, they offer multiple as well as unique products and services. Productivity can be improved significantly with appropriate changes to management. There is a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and practice associated with IVC production, which together with identified cost-effective interventions incorporating improvements in management, nutrition, disease control, and/or genetics have the potential to achieve profitable and sustainable production for the benefit of subsistence farmers and their families.

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FAO., 2015. The Second Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, edited by B.D. Scherf & D. Pilling. FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Assessments. Rome (available at http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4787e/index.html ).

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Desta, T.T. Indigenous village chicken production: a tool for poverty alleviation, the empowerment of women, and rural development. Trop Anim Health Prod 53 , 1 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02433-0

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Everything You Need to Know to Create a Profitable Poultry Farm

Last Updated: May 30, 2024 Fact Checked

• Choosing a Farm Type
• Establishing the Farm
• Caring for Chickens
• Growing Your Farm

Expert Interview

This article was co-authored by Alexandra Doss and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Alexandra Doss is a Poultry & Livestock Expert expert based in Ruskin, Florida. She owns and manages Stellar Game Birds, Poultry, Waterfowl LLC, a selective breeding operation with game birds, poultry, and waterfowl. With over 14 years of experience, she produces strong genetics and health in her hatching eggs, eating eggs, and live birds. The farm is FWC game farm licensed, FDAC licensed for quail, chicken, and duck eating eggs and meat, and NPIP certified. She is known as the Quail Lady and has published several books on raising Coturnix. Her work has been featured in Mother Earth News, Backyard Poultry, Grit, The Chicken Whisperer Magazine, and Community Chickens. She also has a career as a Workforce Management Supervisor and has a certificate in project ​​management. She received a BS from Oregon State in Animal Sciences. There are 22 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,754,880 times.

Running a chicken farm requires more than just agricultural know-how. If you want to be a chicken farmer, you must also think like a business person while growing your brand. Choosing a focus, establishing a brand, raising your chickens, and building your business are all part of chicken farming. Then, as your farm grows, you'll be able to market, finance, and network to grow your business. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to start a successful chicken farm business.

Quick Steps to Start a Chicken Farm

• Decide if you want an egg- or meat-production farm and choose the best chicken breeds for your focus.
• Buy the land for your farm and purchase supplies like coops, brooders, and feeders. Apply for a loan if necessary.
• Market your farm by creating a website, making ads, and attending agriculture conferences to network.

Choosing a Focus, Breed, and Location

• Although less common, some chicken farms handle both meat production and egg-laying. If you choose this option, it may require twice as much equipment and physical labor.
• Studies show that eggs from chickens raised in good environments have double or triple the omega-3 fatty acid content and a third of the cholesterol as other eggs. By creating an egg-laying farm, you can assure your customers that they weren’t fed or exposed to unhealthy chemicals. [2] X Research source

• Broiler farms typically grow between 4 and 8 flocks a year, depending on the size of the chickens.
• Large chickens are typically processed into value-added products like chicken patties and chicken fingers. Medium-sized chickens are often packaged as boneless breasts or whole rotisserie chickens. Small chickens are often sold as fast food products. [4] X Research source

• Egg or meat processing: Processing poultry products for taste, quality, and safety
• Marketing poultry products: Promoting poultry products through advertisements to increase revenue
• Chicken breeding: Raising, breeding , and selling chickens for pet owners or other farmers

• If you want to start an egg-laying farm, for example, you may want to choose a layer breed like Rhode Island Red, Hamburg, or Sussex chickens. [7] X Research source
• Some good broiler breeds include the Cornish Cross, Bréese, Buckeye, and Delaware chickens. [8] X Research source
• You can find a list of popular chicken breeds and their specialties at https://chickenbreedslist.com/ .

• The further you move from your city or town, the cheaper the land will be.
• If you can't find land near the city limits, look for land in the countryside where you'll have plenty of space to farm.
• Poultry expert Alexandra Doss recommends that you “have at least an acre or so” of land for a chicken farm, but “a quarter of an acre is fine for a few chickens, too.”

Establishing Your Chicken Farm

• If you choose agriculture or poultry science, add a business minor (or vice-versa) to take classes on marketing, leadership, and other relevant topics.
• Get your degree online if you don't have time for a traditional four-year degree.
• Other ways to learn about poultry farming include taking a training course or consulting an established farmer for advice and mentorship.

• If you’re starting a farm in the United States, consider applying for an LLC, which has many benefits for startups.

• If you're running a meat productions farm, for example, you could include your plans for raising and butchering chickens, revenue goals or the first year, and plans for marketing your poultry products in stores.
• Business plans are useful for attracting investors or business partners down the road.

• Bring a business outline, evidence of your credit history, pay stubs, and anything else requested by the bank to your meeting.
• Start with a loan for the minimum amount of equipment and chickens for your farm. You can always get a larger loan as your business grows.

• Lighting instruments
• Waterers or heaters
• Waste disposal system

• Start with a small farm so you don't have to pay workers until your chicken farm business is successful.
• If you need to hire more workers, try to hire those with years of experience in poultry farming for better stability. You’ll also likely need an administrative manager to keep an eye on daily business.

Raising and Caring for Chickens

• Extensive: A cost-effective system in which your chickens roam freely on the ground and just have a shelter.
• Semi-intensive: In this system, you’ll breed half your chickens in cages and the other half will roam freely on the ground. This system protects the chickens from predators and bad weather.
• Deep-litter: This system is best for broilers. The chickens can move freely on the ground made of straw, sawdust, and leaves. This system allows you to easily feed them and reach their eggs without unnecessary hurdles.
• Slatted or wired: This system includes creating small houses with wooden slats or wired mesh flooring. The slats are 4 feet above the ground and you can easily feed the chickens and collect eggs . This is ideal for adult birds as the houses have a low temperature.
• Battery-caged: In this system, you’ll place the birds in metal cages and separate them into groups. Each cage has its own food and water containers and provides nests for the chickens to lay eggs in. This is the most effective system for egg production, but it may be too expensive for a new business.
• Build the chicken coop or cage at about 4 sq ft (0.37 m 2 ) per chicken. [17] X Research source
• Clean the chicken coop or cage regularly to prevent the chickens from spreading diseases.

• When buying chicks, always do some research beforehand to make sure the breeder is dependable. You don’t want to invest a ton of money on chicks just to discover they’re sick or malnourished.
• Make sure you have the brooder ready before buying and stocking the chicks.

• You can also give chickens corn, halved grapes, or cabbage as a treat, but avoid feeding them these treats more than several times a week as it's less healthy than chicken feed. [19] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source
• Nearly 70% of your production cost comes from supplying poultry feed.
• As you become more experienced, consider learning how to prepare your own feed . Until then, buying it from the market is fine.
• If your chickens aren’t fed properly, they’ll produce fewer eggs and become susceptible to various diseases.
• If you use ingredients like maize, ensure the moisture content is never above 10-11%, as this may lead to fungus. To prevent this, purchase your feed from a reliable company.

• As there is currently no effective treatment for poultry diseases, vaccinate your chickens to keep the diseases from spreading. Some common vaccines include RDV, Fowl Pox, Cholera, and Mycoplasma. Consult with your vet to get your chickens vaccinated.
• Not all vets have experience working with chickens, so locate a poultry vet ahead of time. [22] X Trustworthy Source The Humane Society of the United States National organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfare Go to source

Growing Your Poultry Farm

• If you notice that you're spending too much on chicken feed, for example, shop around with different suppliers to find cheaper feed.
• You can also hire an accountant or financial advisor to keep your records organized for you.

• Creating a logo for your business can also provide visibility for your brand. Make sure it aligns with your business (for example, you could never go wrong with incorporating a chicken into your logo) and put it on your website and business cards.
• If you don’t have a large budget, however, don’t splurge on a logo when you can invest your money into your actual business.
• Make use of social media, as well. Consider making a Facebook, Instagram, and even a TikTok account to spread the word about your business. Be sure to post regularly!

• Connect with your friends and neighbors, too. Even if they’re not farmers themselves, they may know people who are interested in buying from you or investing in your business.

• If you're running a chicken breeding farm, for example, you may want a loan to buy better egg incubators.

Community Q&A

• If you're not up for starting a chicken farm from scratch, you can also invest in or buy an existing franchise instead. [27] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Independent U.S. government agency focused on consumer protection Go to source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Research methods that successful chicken farms use as a guide for your business. Popular poultry farms include Cargill Meat Solutions, Hormel Foods Corp, Tyson Foods, JBS USA, and Smithfield Foods. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling chickens. Live poultry often carry salmonella. [28] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about poultry, check out our in-depth interview with Alexandra Doss .

• ↑ https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KWCS.pdf
• ↑ https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/many-benefits-backyard-chickens
• ↑ https://www.ciwf.org.uk/farm-animals/chickens/meat-chickens/
• ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/new-farmers-guide-to-the-commercial-broiler-industry-poultry-husbandry-biosecurity-basics/
• ↑ https://www.poultry.care/blog/how-to-start-a-successful-poultry-care-farming-business
• ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/poultry-species/chickens/en/
• ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/234/69325/Chicken_Breed_Chart_to_Help_Choose_Your_Chicken.pdf
• ↑ https://www.ciwf.org.uk/media/5235306/The-life-of-Broiler-chickens.pdf
• ↑ https://withmydegree.org/can-degree-agriculture/
• ↑ https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan
• ↑ https://www.osha.gov/poultry-processing
• ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/management-and-housing/en/
• ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-biosecurity/keeping-backyard-chickens
• ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/adopting-and-caring-backyard-chickens
• ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/decreasing-daylight-and-its-effect-on-laying-hens
• ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g8903
• ↑ https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/what-kind-of-records-should-i-keep
• ↑ https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmers/build-knowledge
• ↑ https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan
• ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/poultry-species/en/
• ↑ https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/consumers-guide-buying-franchise
• ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/animal/backyard.html

About This Article

To start a chicken farm business, decide if you want to focus on eggs, meat production, or another specialty niche, then obtain the necessary equipment. Next, choose a chicken breed that matches your farming goals and set up coops or cages to keep them in. Feed and care for your chickens daily and be sure to separate any chickens that seem ill from the rest of the population. Don't forget to market your business by creating a website and advertisements! For more tips on choosing the best breed for your goals, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Poultry Farm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Poultry Farm Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their poultry farms. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a poultry farm business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Poultry Farm Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your poultry farm as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Poultry Farm

If you’re looking to start a poultry farm, or grow your existing poultry farm, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your poultry farm in order to improve your chances of success. Your poultry farming business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Poultry Farms

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a poultry farm are personal savings, credit cards, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans, bank loans, and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and USDA FSA loans are the most common funding paths for poultry farm.

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How to write a business plan for a chicken farm.

If you want to start a poultry farm or expand your current one, you need a business plan. We detail each section of a traditional business plan for a poultry farming business.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of poultry farm you are operating and its status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a poultry farm business that you would like to grow, or are you operating poultry farm businesses in multiple locations?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the poultry farm industry. Discuss the type of poultry farm you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of poultry farm you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of poultry farms:

• Breeder Farms : this type of poultry farm produces hatching eggs for delivery to the hatchery. After the 21 day incubation period, the hatchery then delivers the baby chicks to the broiler houses.
• Broiler Farms: this type of farm produces a 2.5 lb. to 8 lb. bird in 4 to 8 weeks which is processed for various types of retail sale to consumers, grocery stores or fast food chains as whole birds, cut-up breast, wings, thigh, drumsticks, deboned breast meat, or further processed pieces.
• Pullet Farms: this type of poultry farm produces pullets and roosters to be delivered to a breeder hen house at 20-22 weeks old when they are sexually mature to breed and lay eggs.

In addition to explaining the type of poultry farming business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of chickens and/or turkeys produced, number of production contracts, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the poultry farm industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the poultry farm industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your poultry farming business plan:

• How big is the poultry farm industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your poultry farm business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your target market.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your poultry farming business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: processors, grocery stores, and restaurants.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of poultry farm business you operate. Clearly, processors would respond to different marketing promotions than restaurants, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most poultry farm businesses primarily serve customers living in their same region, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other poultry farm businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes producers of other meat such as beef, pork, or fish, as well as producers of meat alternatives. You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other poultry farms with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be poultry farms located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What kinds of poultry do they produce (breeders, broilers, pullets)?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you use superior production methods?
• Will you provide services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a poultry farm business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of poultry farm company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to traditional poultry, will you provide organic or cage-free poultry?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the products and services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your poultry farm company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your poultry farm located near a processing facility, near a transportation hub, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your poultry farm marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in trade papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local agriculture extension offices
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your poultry farm, including animal care / feeding, flock supervision, animal transportation, sourcing feed, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to sign your 20th production contract, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your poultry farm to a new location.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your poultry farm’s ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing poultry farms. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing farms or successfully running small businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you supply 50 restaurants, or produce 2,000 birds for processing each month? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your poultry farming business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a poultry farm business:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of equipment and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your farm title or lease, or blueprints of the production facility.  

Putting together a business plan for your poultry farm is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the poultry farm industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful poultry farming business.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Poultry Farm business plan?

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Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Poultry Farm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Poultry Farm Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Poultry Farm business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Poultry Farms.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Poultry Farming business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Smith Poultry Farm is a new farm business located in Mason City, Iowa. The business is a newly established farm founded by John and Sue Smith. As native Iowans, the couple has spent their life in the farming industry as their families have established farms throughout Iowa. Currently, there is a poultry shortage throughout the midwestern United States as some farms have been forced to shut down their business due to rising costs, labor shortage, and higher technology standards. John and Sue have decided to take this opportunity to alleviate the poultry shortage as well as finally establish the farm they have been planning to do for the past six years.

As native Iowans, John and Sue have already recruited a team of farmhands that have extensive experience working in poultry farms. Most of them have been recently laid off from other poultry farms that have shut down their operations.

John and Sue plan on starting with 5,000 chickens, 500 turkeys, and 100 ducks on 10 acres of land. Their business operations will be centered around daily processes and procedures to tend to the chickens and prepare them for packaging for resale and distribution.

Product Offering

The following are the products that Smith Poultry Farm will provide:

• Chicken for consumption
• Turkey for consumption
• Ducks for consumption

Customer Focus

Smith Poultry Farm will target all residents residing in northern Iowa and throughout the state. They will target families, individuals, supermarkets, large retail chains, and restaurants.

Management Team

Smith Poultry Farm will be owned and operated by John and Sue Smith. They will recruit a very experienced and knowledgeable operator to manage the day-to-day operations of the poultry farm.

John Smith was born and raised on a local farm and has been working in farms most of his life. He left to pursue his agriculture degree from Iowa State and returned to work full-time at his father’s large farm. That farm produces beef, poultry, pork, and vegetables. Once he married Sue, the couple decided that they would begin to save up to pursue a farm of their own.

Sue Smith was raised on a farm as well. Once she graduated from high school, she attended Iowa State to pursue a degree in Business Administration. It was there where she met John and planned for their future farm where he would manage the farm operations and she would be in charge of the financial management and administration of the poultry farm operations.

Success Factors

Smith Poultry Farm will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Ownership has extensive experience and knowledge in the poultry farming industry.
• Owners will invest in the latest technology and equipment to make their poultry farm the most superior in the Midwest.
• Smith Poultry Farm will breed high quality chickens, turkeys, and ducks in order to produce the freshest and quality poultry.

Financial Highlights

Smith Poultry Farm is seeking $500,000 in debt financing to launch its property management business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the farm land and purchasing the necessary equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, mortgage, and marketing costs for the poultry farm. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Purchase 10 acres of farmland: $100,000
• Farm equipment, supplies, and materials: $100,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $50,000
• Working capital: $100,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Smith Poultry Farm.

Company Overview

Who is Smith Poultry Farm?

Smith Poultry Farm is a new poultry farm business located in Mason City, Iowa. The business is a newly established poultry farm founded by John and Sue Smith. As native Iowans, the couple has spent their life in the farming industry as their families have established farms throughout Iowa. Currently, there is a poultry shortage throughout the midwestern United States as some farms have been forced to shut down their business due to rising costs, labor shortage, and higher technology standards. Growing up in the farming industry, John and Sue have decided to take this opportunity to alleviate the poultry shortage as well as finally establish the farm they have been planning to do for the past six years. The couple plans to raise chickens, turkeys, and ducks to produce poultry for food consumption as well as eggs. Once the business is established, the couple will add more birds to the farm and purchase additional land.

As native Iowans, John and Sue have already recruited a team of farmhands that have extensive experience working in poultry farms. Most of them have been recently laid off from other poultry farms that have shut down their operations. John and Sue have already identified the lead farmhand who will assist John in the day to day farm operations oversight.

Smith Poultry Farm History Smith Poultry Farm is owned and operated by John and Sue Smith, Iowa natives who have extensive experience in farm operations and business administration. John has worked for his father’s large farm for most of his life and wants to finally pursue his own poultry farm since a number of poultry farms have ceased operations due to increased labor and distribution costs. John has already pursued a number of local grocery stores, large retail stores, and restaurants to have contracts to be their sole poultry distributor.

Since incorporation, Smith Poultry Farm has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Smith Poultry Farm, LLC to transact business in the state of Iowa.
• Has 6 contracts in place to provide poultry for local restaurants, grocery stores, and large retail chains.
• Reached out to numerous individuals and households to purchase their household’s poultry directly from Smith Poultry Farm.
• Began recruiting a staff of farmhands to assist in the day to day operations of the poultry farm.

Smith Poultry Farm Products

The following will be the products Smith Poultry Farm will provide:

Industry Analysis

Customer analysis, demographic profile of target market.

Smith Poultry Farm will target all residents of  Mason City and the surrounding states. The target market will consist of households, grocery stores, restaurants, and large retail chains.

The precise demographics for Mason City, Iowa are:

• 503,642 residents
• 310,000 households
• 1,000 restaurants
• 500 grocery stores
• 6 large retail grocery stores

Customer Segmentation

Smith Poultry Farm will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Individuals and households
• Grocery Stores
• Restaurants
• Large Grocery Chains

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Smith Poultry Farm will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Myson Poultry Farm

Myson Poultry Farm is a modern, multi-national, protein-focused food company that produces approximately 20% of the beef, pork, and chicken in the United States. Along with its subsidiaries, the company operates a food company worldwide. The company began during the Great Depression when the eldest Myson began selling chickens. A few decades later, Myson’s son grew it into the large company it is today and is one of the largest poultry producers and distributors in the world.

By investing in technology, Myson was able to grow the brand. Through the development of better feeds and better disease control methods, chickens were maturing more quickly. These improvements, combined with increased competition, meant lower prices for consumers and households were able to purchase their poultry products in larger quantities.

Iowa Poultry Farm

Iowa Poultry Farms started in the 1920s when Liam Nelson sold and traded eggs by the dozen as a means to put food on the table for his family. Four generations later, the Nelson family has grown the business year-over-year to continue to meet the changing needs of the egg and pullet industry. More than 90 years of experience has established Iowa Poultry Farm as a well-respected pullet and hatching business as well as a reliant commercial egg producer under the current leadership.

The strength of Iowa Poultry Farm began when master plans for growth from the late 1980s to present day have produced new and improved pullet production facilities that have the capacity to accommodate the growth of the majority of the pullets in NPF’s proprietary facilities. Recent capital development has been invested in hatchery and breeder facilities that have the capacity to produce up to 9 million female chicks per year as well as supplementary aviary growing facilities for both cage-free and floor-grown conventional pullets.

Iowa Poultry Farm continues to innovate as a pullet and hatching business under the leadership of Frank and his son, Brett.

Good Cluck Poultry Farm

Good Cluck Poultry Farm maintains more than 50,000 breeders on its company owned farms. The company currently hatches and sells 79 standard chicken breeds/varieties, 58 breeds/varieties of bantams, 9 breeds of ducks, 3 breeds of geese, and 4 breeds/varieties of guineas. In addition, Good Cluck has available, as a service to its customers, 9 heritage breeds of turkeys, pheasants, and chukar.

Good Cluck certainly has good luck. While many hatcheries have been forced to close, Good Cluck Poultry Farm has become a leader in producing non-commercial poultry annually, selling more than six million items of baby poultry.

Good Cluck’s full list of products are white egg layers, brown egg layers, colored egg layers, standard assortments, broilers, crested chickens, feather legged bantams, bantam assortments, clean leg bantams, ducks, geese, guineas, turkeys, pheasants, chukar, and supplies.

Competitive Advantage

Smith Poultry Farm will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Ownership has extensive experience and knowledge in the poultry farming industry and has over 20 years of experience managing poultry farm operations
• Smith Poultry Farm will breed high quality chickens, ducks, and turkeys in order to produce the freshest and quality poultry.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Smith Poultry Farm will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• All farming practices will utilize the latest technology and equipment for safe breeding practices, production, and distribution of all farm animals.
• The farm will only breed the highest quality poultry.
• Unbeatable pricing to its clients and customers – Smith Poultry Farm does not mark up its poultry products at a large percentage. All poultry will be on par with competition.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Smith Poultry Farm is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

John Smith has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by living and working in the midwestern farming industry. Since a number of local poultry farms have ceased operations, they have committed to John that Smith Poultry Farm will be their poultry supplier. They trust his work ethic and commitment to the local community.

Professional Associations and Networking

Smith Poultry Farm will become a member of American Farmland Trust, Farming NGO, National Farmers Union, and the Iowa Chamber of Commerce. They will focus their networking efforts on expanding their client network and marketing their new brand.

Print Advertising

Smith Poultry Farm will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events.

Website/SEO Marketing

Smith Poultry Farm will hire a third-party marketing company to design their print ads and design their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the poultry products they plan to offer. The website will also list their contact information and directions to the poultry farm. The marketing company will also include SEO tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “Iowa poultry farm” or “poultry farm near me”, Smith Poultry Farm will be listed at the top of the search results.

Zero po, hindi rin po kami mahilig malabas ng mga panood.

The pricing of Smith Poultry Farm will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing their poultry products.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Smith Poultry Farm.

Operation Functions:

• John Smith will be the Owner and President of the company. He will oversee all staff and manage client relations. John, along with Sue, has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Sue Smith – will oversee all administrative aspects of running the poultry farm. This will include bookkeeping, tax payments, and payroll of the staff.
• George Hargrove – Head Farmhand who will oversee the farming staff and day to day operations.
• Ben Loya – Assistant Farmhand who will assist George.
• Frank Johnson – Distribution Manager who will oversee the packaging and distribution of all poultry products.

Milestones:

Smith Poultry Farm will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

1/1/202X – Finalize purchase of farm land

2/15/202X – Purchase farm equipment, supplies and materials

3/1/202X – Finalize contracts for grocery store, chain, and restaurant clients

4/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events

5/1/202X – Purchase initial set of poultry animals

5/15/202X – Hire and train farm staff

6/1/202X – Smith Poultry Farm begins farm operations

Smith Poultry Farm will be owned and operated by John and Sue Smith. John will manage the oversight of all farm operations with the help of his lead farmhand. Sue will manage all administrative and financial aspects of the farm business.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Smith Poultry Farm are the revenues it will receive from poultry products, eggs, and the breeding fees they will charge to individuals who have high-quality chicken, turkeys, or ducks they want to breed.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff and maintain successful farm operations. The expenses will be the payroll cost, mortgage payment, utilities, farming supplies, equipment maintenance, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Smith Poultry Farm is $500,000 in debt financing to launch its property management business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the farm land and purchasing the necessary equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, mortgage, and marketing costs for the poultry farm. The breakout of the funding is below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of Poultry Animals: 5,600
• Average Revenue per Animal: $20
• Number of Poultry Products Sold Per Year: 1,000,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Poultry Farm Business Plan FAQs

What is a poultry farm business plan.

A poultry farm business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your poultry farm business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your poultry farm business plan using our Poultry Farm Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Poultry Farms?

There are a number of different kinds of poultry farms , some examples include: Breeder Farms, Broiler Farms, and Pullet Farms.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Poultry Business Plan?

Poultry farms are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.  Having a chicken farming business plan will help show investors you are well-prepared to start your own business.

What are the Steps To Start a Poultry Farm Business?

Starting a poultry farm business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Poultry Farm Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed poultry business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your poultry farm business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your poultry farm business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Poultry Farm Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your poultry farm business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your poultry farm business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Poultry Farm Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your poultry farm business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your poultry farm business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful poultry farm business:

• How to Start a Farm Business

Additional Helpful Template

Farm Business Plan

Free Range Chicken Farm Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Agriculture Industry » Livestock Farming » Poultry » Poultry Business Plan

Are you about starting a chicken farm? If YES, here is a complete sample free range chicken farming business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a chicken farm . We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample chicken produce marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for chicken farms. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

If the agricultural sector looks attractive to you,  and you don’t have enough start – up capital, then you should consider starting a free-range chicken farming business.

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Although you don’t need a college degree to establish your own free range chicken farming business, but you would need some form of informal training, you just have to acquire basic knowledge as it relates to rearing chickens, the kind of food they heat and how to source for market for your chicken and eggs.

The truth is that, when you are into free range chicken farming business; rearing your chicken in your backyard, one of the most economical ways of feeding them is to grow your own mealworms at home for them. Mealworm is perhaps the most ideal meal to feed home grown chickens and it is less stressful and inexpensive when you do it yourself.

If you are sure that this type of business is what you truly want to do after you must have conducted your market research and feasibility studies, then the next step to follow is to write a good business plan. Below is a sample free range chicken farming business plan template that will help you successfully write yours with little or no stress;

A Sample Free Range Chicken Farm Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Free range chicken farming is a method of chicken farming where the chickens, for at least a good part of the day, are allowed to roam freely outdoors, rather than being confined in an enclosure for 24 hours each day as obtainable in a standard poultry farms.

Generally, in most chicken range farms, the outdoors ranging area is fenced, in so doing, making the area an enclosure, though, free range chicken farming systems usually offer the opportunity for extensive locomotion and sunlight prevented by indoor housing systems.

Chicken meat which is in the class of white meat is generally consumed in all parts of the world and it is indeed very sweet and healthy. There are loads of free range farms that raise chickens and they are quite making huge profits from the business.

The Chicken and Turkey Meat Production industry includes free range chicken farms that raise chickens basically for meat production.

Downstream meat processors and food producers supply farmers with chicks, feed and payment, according to contractual agreements. Revenue is recorded in the final prices that free range chicken farmers receive per average weight of live chicken.

The free range chicken farming line of business in recent time has experienced positive trends in demand for chicken meat. Of course, increasing health consciousness among American meat consumers has boosted consumption of white meat such as turkey and chicken, which is also more affordable than beef or pork.

Going forward, the industry will continue to enjoy appreciable growth and free range chicken farmers will keep smiling to the bank. Falling input prices will enable free range chicken farmers to increase production volumes; on the other hand, many farms will consolidate to gain the benefits of economies of scale.

It is important to mention that in the united states; USDA free range regulations presently apply only to poultry and indicate that the animal has been allowed access to the outside and the USDA regulations do not specify the quality or size of the outside range nor the duration of time an animal must have access to the outside world (away from their cages).

There have been proposals to regulate by the USDA the labeling of products as free range within the United States. As at present, what constitutes raising an animal free range is entirely decided by the producer of that product.

If you are looking towards leveraging on the agriculture industry to generate huge income, then one of your best bet is to start a free-range chicken farming business and concentrate on the rearing and sale of chicken and egg. One thing is certain about starting a free range chicken farming business.

If you are able to conduct your market research and feasibility studies, you are more likely not going to struggle to sell your chickens and eggs because there are always food processing companies and consumers out there who are ready to buy from you.

2. Executive Summary

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is a world – class and licensed free range chicken farming business that will be based in the outskirt of Baton Rouge, Louisiana – United States. We have done our detailed market research and feasibility studies and we were able to secure 25 hectares of land to start our free-range chicken farming business.

Our free-range chicken farm is going to be standard farm hence will be involved in raising, processing and marketing chickens on a commercial level; we export live chickens, processed chickens and eggs to other countries of the world.

We are in the free-range chicken farming line of business because we want to leverage on the vast opportunities available in the agriculture industry, to contribute our quota in growing the U.S. economy, in national food production, and also to export live and processed chickens from the United States to other countries and over and above to make profit.

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is well positioned to become one of the leading free – range chicken farming business in the United States of America, which is why we have been able to source for the best hands and machines to run the farms with.

We have put process and strategies in place that will help us employ best practices when it comes to raising healthy chickens as required by the regulating bodies in the United States of America.

At Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms, our customer’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients. Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is a private registered free range chicken farming company that is owned by Mr. Douglas Mendez and his immediate family members.

The free – range chicken farm will be fully and single handedly financed by the owner – Mr. Douglas Mendez and his immediate family members at least for a period of time. He is well experienced and highly qualified to run this type of business.

3. Our Products and Services

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is a standard free range chicken farms company that is committed to raising chickens for both the United States’ market and the global market. We are in the free – range chicken farms line of business to make profits and we are going to do all we can to achieve our business goals, aim and objectives.

These are the areas we will concentrate on in our free – range chicken farms. If need arises we will definitely add more poultry produce to our list;

• Raising, processing and marketing chickens on a commercial level; we export live chickens, processed chickens and eggs to other countries of the world.
• Broiler chicken production
• Roaster chicken production
• Fryer chicken production
• Cornish hen production

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision as a company is to become one of the leading free range chicken farming brands not just in the United States of America but also on the global stage.
• Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms is a world class and registered free range chicken farms company that is committed to raising chickens for both the United States’ market and the global market. We want our chickens to flood the nooks and crannies of the United States and other countries of the world.

Our Business Structure

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farm is a family owned and managed free range chicken farming business that intends starting small in Baton Rouge – Louisiana, but hopes to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading free range chicken farms and commercial poultry farms in the poultry industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is the reason why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

At Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, and creative, result driven, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stakeholders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Operating Officer

Free Range Chicken Farm Manager

Human Resources and Admin Manager

• Accountant / Cashier
• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Free Range Chicken Farms Utility Employees

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer

• Relates, and applies the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Accountable for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Reports to the board
• Responsible for the planning, management and coordinating all farm activities across the various sections on behalf of the organization
• Supervise other section manager
• Ensure compliance during project executions
• Providing advice on the management of free range chicken farming activities across all section
• Responsible for carrying out risk assessment
• Using IT systems and software to keep track of people and progress of the location and growth of chickens in our free-range chicken farm
• Responsible for overseeing the accounting, costing and sale of chickens in our free-range chicken farms
• Represent the organization’s interest at various stakeholders’ meetings
• Ensures that farming goals desired result are achieved, the most efficient resources (manpower, equipment, tools and chemicals et al) are utilized and different interests involved are satisfied.
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Accountant / Cashier:

• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Accountable for developing and managing financial systems and policies

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Achieves external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Model demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of the business
• Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develop, execute and evaluate new plans for expanding increase sales
• Create new markets cum businesses for the organization
• Empower and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Field Workers / Contract Staff

• Responsible for daily collection of eggs
• Responsible for feeding chickens as instructed by the supervisor
• Responsible for cleaning the free-range farm environment
• Change the water for the chickens as instructed by the supervisor on a regular basis
• Handles farm implements and machines (hatchery) as instructed by the section manager / supervisor
• Assist in handling the chickens during sales
• Carries out task in line with the stated job description
• Assist in transport working tools and equipment from the free-range chicken farming location and back to the designated store room
• Handles any other duties as assigned by the line manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC do not intend to launch out with trial and error hence the need to conduct a proper SWOT analysis.

We know that if we get it right from the onset, we would have succeeded in creating the foundation that will help us build a standard free range chicken farming company that will favorably compete with leading free range chicken farms and commercial poultry farms in the United States of America and in the rest part of the world.

We engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured free – range chicken farm that can favorably compete in the highly competitive commercial poultry farms cum free range chicken farms in the United States and the world at large.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC;

Our strength as a free range chicken farm is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants) in the industry; both suppliers of poultry feeds and medications and buyers of chickens and eggs within and outside of the United States of America.

We have some of the latest chicken farming hatchery, tools and equipment that will help us raise chickens in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship (network) and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in Baton Rouge – Louisiana in our payroll.

Our weakness could be that we are a new free range chicken farms company in the United States, and perhaps it might take us sometime to attract big time customers in the industry. We are aware of this and from our projection we will overcome this weakness with time and turn it to a major advantage for the business.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities that are available to us as a standard free range chicken farm rearing cannot be quantified, we know that there are loads of households, and businesses such as hotels and fast food restaurants that can’t do without daily supply of chicken meat. We are well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity

Some of the threats and challenges that we are likely going to face when we start our own free range chicken farming business are global economic downturn that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), unfavorable government policies and the arrival of a competitor (a commercial farm that engage in the rearing chickens and other birds) within same location.

There is hardly anything we can do as regards this threats and challenges other than to be optimistic that things will continue to work for our good.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The Chicken Meat Production industry and free range chicken farming business has greatly benefited from campaigns advertising the health benefits of chicken meat and eggs as a good source of protein.

No doubt, the increased demand of chicken and eggs from households and food related businesses and of course the growing popularity of specialty and processed and canned chicken meat have rapidly improved revenue growth for the industry.

In the face of this growth, profit margin has suffered from rising feed costs and also regulations regarding animal welfare.

As a matter of fact, one of the new trends is that with the recent advancement in technology, free range chicken farmers can now comfortably monitor the flow of their chickens within the set perimeters / range as required by the regulatory authority, and they can as well successfully predict and produce the quantities of chickens or even eggs per time. This has indeed helped them in proper planning and budgeting for the business.

8. Our Target Market

Naturally, the target market of those who are the end consumer of free range chicken farm produce and also those who benefits from the business value chain of the free – range chicken farming business is all encompassing; it is far – reaching.

Every household consumes produce from free range chicken farms be it chicken or egg. So also, almost all hotels and fast restaurants sell chicken meat and eggs. In essence a free – range chicken farmer should be able to sell his or her chickens and eggs to as many people as possible.

In view of that, we have positioned our business to attract consumers of chickens and eggs not just in the United States of America alone but also other parts of the world. We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that we meet and surpass the expectations we set for the business. Below is a list of the people and business that we will market our chickens and eggs to;

• Individuals
• Restaurants
• Fast food eateries
• Agriculture merchants

Our competitive advantage

It is easier to find entrepreneur flocking towards an industry that is known to generate consistent income and most especially if the start – up capital for such business is minimal and this is why there are loads of free range chicken farmers in the United States of America and of course in most parts of the world.

For example, Statistics has it that there are 2.2 million farms in the United States of America, covering an area of 922 million acres. These goes to show that there are appreciable numbers of farmers in the United States of America but that does not mean that there is stiffer competition in the industry.

As a matter of fact, entrepreneurs are encouraged by the government to embrace free range chicken farming cum poultry farming and egg production business. This is so because part of the success of any nation is her ability to cultivate her own food and also export food to other nations of the world.

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is fully aware that there are competitions when it comes to selling chicken meat and eggs all over the globe, which is why we decided to carry out thorough market research so as to know how to take advantage of the available market in the United States and in other parts of the world.

We have done our homework and we have been able to highlight some factors that will give us competitive advantage in the marketplace; some of the factors are effective and reliable free range chicken farming processes that can help us sell our chickens and eggs at competitive prices, good network and excellent relationship management.

Another competitive advantage that we are bringing to the industry is the fact that we have healthy relationships with loads of major players (agriculture merchants) in the industry; both suppliers of chicken feeds and medications and buyers of chickens and eggs within and outside of the United States of America.

We have some of the latest free range chicken farming hatchery, tools and equipment that will help us raise and produce eggs in commercial quantities with less stress. Aside from our relationship (network) and equipment, we can confidently boast that we have some the most experienced hands in Baton Rouge – Louisiana under our payroll.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups free range chicken farming and commercial poultry farms and egg production companies in the United States) in the industry.

It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is in the free – range chicken farming line of business for the purpose of maximizing profits hence we have decided to explore all the available opportunities within the industry to achieve our corporate goals and objectives. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC;

10. Sales Forecast

Going by the market research and survey conducted, we were able to discover that the sales generated by a free – range chicken farming business depends on the size of the farm and of course the size of their marketing network.

We have perfected or sales and marketing strategies and we are set to hit the ground running and we are quite optimistic that we will meet or even surpass our set sales target of generating enough income / profits from the year of operations and build the business from survival to sustainability with the shortest period of time.

We have been able to critically examine the free – range chicken farming business and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some workable assumptions as well with respect to the nature of free range – chicken farming business that we run.

Below are the sales projections for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC it is based on the location of our business and other factors as it relates to free – range chicken farming start – ups in the United States;

• First Fiscal Year-: $250,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $500,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown that can impact negatively on household spending, bad weather cum natural disasters (draughts, epidemics), and unfavorable government policies. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are quite aware that the reason why some free – range chicken farming business hardly make good profits is their inability to sell off their chickens and eggs as at when due.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the free – range chicken farming line of business and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall business goal of Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC.

Over and above, we have perfected our sale and marketing strategies first by networking with agriculture merchants and businesses that rely on daily supply of chickens and eggs from the chicken meat production industry who are likely to become our customers.

In summary, Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC will adopt the following strategies in marketing our commercial farm produce;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to stake holders in the agriculture industry, households, hotels and restaurants and agriculture produce merchant et al.
• Advertise our business in agriculture and food related magazines and websites
• List our free – range chicken farming business on yellow pages ads
• Attend related agriculture and food expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing
• Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Any business that wants to grow beyond the corner of the street or the city they are operating from must be ready and willing to utilize every available means (both conventional and non – conventional means) to advertise and promote the business.

We intend growing our business which is why we have perfected plans to build our brand via every available means. We know that it is important to create strategies that will help us boost our brand awareness and to create a corporate identity for our free – range chicken farming business.

Below are the platforms we will leverage on to boost our free – range chicken farms brand and to promote and advertise our business;

• Place adverts on community based newspapers, radio stations and TV stations.
• Encourage the use of word of mouth publicity from our loyal customers
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; YouTube, Instagram, Facebook ,Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Badoo, Google+  and other platforms to promote our business.
• Ensure that our we position our banners and billboards in strategic positions all around Baton Rouge – Louisiana
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas in and around our neighborhood
• Contact corporate organizations, households, landlord associations and schools by calling them up and informing them of Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC and the poultry produce we sell
• Advertise our business in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site
• Brand all our official cars and trucks and ensure that all our staff members and management staff wears our branded shirt or cap at regular intervals.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Some of the factors that will help you sell your chickens and eggs at the right price that will guarantee that you make profits is dependent on your strategy while some of the factors are beyond your control. For example, if the climatic condition is unfavorable and if there are natural disaster in the location where you have your free – range chicken farm, then it will directly affect the prices of your chicken and eggs.

Over and above, if you want to get the right pricing for your chickens and eggs, then you should ensure that you choose a good location for free – range chicken farm, choose a good breed that will guarantee bountiful harvest, cut the cost of running your free – range chicken farm to the barest minimum.

And of course try as much as possible to attract buyers to your free – range chicken farm as against taking your chickens and eggs to the market to source for buyers; with this, you would have successfully eliminate the cost of transporting the goods to the market and other logistics.

We are quite aware that one of the easiest means of penetrating the market and acquiring loads of customers for our chickens and eggs is to sell them at competitive prices hence we will do all we can to ensure that the prices of our chickens and eggs of all sizes are going to be what other free – range chicken farmers and commercial poultry farmers would look towards beating.

One thing is certain, the nature of free – range chicken farming makes it possible for farmers to place prices for their chickens and eggs based on their discretion without following the benchmark in the industry. The truth is that it is one of the means of avoiding running into loss.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards / Point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for the purchase of chickens and eggs without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our chickens and eggs.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

When it comes to calculating the cost of starting a free – range chicken farm, there are some key factors that should serve as a guide. The breeds of chicken and numbers of chicken to be raised in the farms determines the total cost of setting up the business.

Besides, in setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting / leasing a big facility, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a free – range chicken farming business; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. Below are some of the basic areas we will spend our start – up capital in setting up our free – range chicken farm in the United States of America;

• The total fee for incorporating the business in United States of America – $750.
• The amount needed to acquire / lease a farm land  – $50,000
• The amount required for preparing the farm land (perimeter fencing et al) – $30,000
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $3,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
• The total cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,500.
• The total cost for payment of insurance policy covers (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $9,400
• The amount required for the purchase of the first set of chickens – $10,000
• The cost for acquiring the required working tools and equipment / machines / hatchery et al– $50,000
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000
• The cost of launching an official Website – $600
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $2,000

Going by the report from detailed research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need an average of two hundred thousand dollars ( $200,000 ) to start a standard free – range chicken farm business in the United States of America.

Generating Funds / Startup Capital for Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC

No matter how fantastic your business idea might be, if you don’t have the required money to finance the business, the business might not become a reality. Finance is a very important factor when it comes to starting a business such as free – range chicken farming.

No doubt raising startup capital for a business might not come cheap, but it is a task that an entrepreneur must go through.

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is a family business that is solely owned and financed by Mr. Douglas Mendez and his immediate family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partners which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 ( Personal savings $40,000 and soft loan from family members $10,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to retail our chickens and eggs a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Osmosis Free Range Chicken Farms®, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of six years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of farm land and building of standard perimeter fence around the range: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
• Compilation of our list of products that will be available in our store: Completed
• Establishing business relationship with vendors (suppliers of chicken feeds and drugs) and other key players (chicken and egg wholesalers) in the industry: In Progress

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