Starting your Own Poultry Farm

I. Planning – What do you need to think about?

a. Do you have the money? If the feasibility says you need to have $10,000, I suggest you should have $35,000. A lot of feasibility studies are wrong making the next $10,000 your buffer for this mistake, while the next $10,000 is for force majeure or for things which are beyond your control like another mistake, no market, no water, diseases, labor problems, etc. My examples are not really force majeure but in reality, they are the more common reasons why farms fail. The $5K is for your family!
b. Do you have the passion? Come into this venture not because you dream about someone calling you a rich poultry businessman! Remember that when you start the operation, this will be a daily grind of determination for this is a live operation. This passion will carry you through the daily challenges which will inevitably befall you even when you are about to sleep!
c. Do you have the right place to build it? Think about this carefully by looking at the future, when your farm starts to emit smell and flies or when you become a source of envy in your community. You do not want to put all your efforts and resources in building your dreams only to be told by the community that you are not welcome anymore.
d. Do you have the technical know-how? This is the easiest among the 4 things you need to think about. If you have the passion and probably some money, this could be fixed. But you need this!

B. How to start – Making the 1st steps!

a. Make the blue-print. If you have the technical knowledge or the support technical group, begin drawing the following:

i. Capital Sources – as mentioned above, is the money ready? Whether all coming from your pocket or from the bank, the money should be always ready and not depending on monthly performances for releases. Finalize this one with certainty!
ii. Farm Design, which includes fencing and bio-security, poultry pens, office, water and power source, feed source, and residential house/s.
iii. Material Sourcing, which includes construction materials, chick suppliers, feeds and raw materials, water, medication and vaccines, and labor.
iv. Production plans, which include flock programming, feeds and formulations and production parameters.
v. Permits, which will legalize your business including future expansions.

Numbers ii, iii, and IV need technical know-how because they will spell the keys to successful poultry raising. Be sure you have it!

b. Review and rethink about letter a.
c. Review and rethink about letter b. Then finalize and GO!

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