🏠 Introduction
Poultry farming is one of the most profitable agricultural ventures in Nigeria. Whether you’re raising birds for meat (broilers), eggs (layers), or both, starting a small-scale poultry farm can generate income within weeks. With Nigeria consuming over 1.5 million metric tons of poultry meat annually (CBN, 2022), there’s huge local demand waiting to be met.
This blog will show you step-by-step how to start poultry farming from scratch — using research-backed information, practical advice, and tips tailored to Nigeria’s climate and economy.
✅ Step 1: Choose the Right Poultry Type
There are different types of poultry birds. Choose based on your goals, space, and budget:
| Poultry Type | Purpose | Market Time |
| Broilers | Meat | 6–8 weeks |
| Layers | Eggs | Start laying at ~20 weeks |
| Cockerels | Meat (slower growing) | 5–6 months |
| Turkeys/Ducks | Festive sales or niche market | 5–7 months |
🔍 For beginners, start with 100–200 broilers or 50–100 layers.
✅ Step 2: Prepare the Poultry Housing (Pen)
Your birds need shelter to protect them from:
- Rain, sun, and wind
- Predators (snakes, rodents)
- Disease from dirty environments
Tips for Poultry Housing:
- Ensure good ventilation and lighting
- Use concrete, bamboo, or wood floors — easy to clean
- Separate pens for chicks, growers, and layers
- Maintain 1–2 sq ft per bird for broilers (FAO, 2011)
- Install feeders and drinkers at appropriate heights
📌 Disinfect the pen before bringing in any birds.
✅ Step 3: Source Day-Old Chicks (DOCs)
Buy your chicks from reputable hatcheries or trusted farms. Healthy chicks should:
- Be active and alert
- Have clean, closed navels
- Respond to noise and movement
Grazers Haven Ltd supplies healthy, vaccinated broilers, layers, and turkeys with guidance for first-time farmers.
✅ Step 4: Develop a Feeding & Medication Schedule
Feed quality is critical — it determines how fast your birds grow or how many eggs they lay.
Feed Types:
- Starter Feed (0–4 weeks)
- Grower Feed (5–6 weeks for broilers)
- Finisher Feed (7–8 weeks for broilers)
- Layer Mash (for laying hens)
🔬 Feeding accounts for up to 70% of total poultry production cost (NAPRI, 2020).
Health Tips:
- Follow a vaccination schedule for diseases like Newcastle and Gumboro
- Deworm every 4–6 weeks
- Provide clean water at all times
- Use multivitamins during stress (e.g., after transport)
✅ Step 5: Monitor Growth and Clean Regularly
Daily Tasks:
- Remove wet or soiled litter
- Check for sick or weak birds
- Refill feed and water
- Clean feeders and drinkers
Weekly Tasks:
- Add fresh sawdust or bedding
- Adjust feeding and spacing as birds grow
- Record feed usage, weight gain, and mortality
🧠 Keeping good records helps you know when to sell and when to restock.
✅ Step 6: Plan Your Sales and Marketing Early
Don’t wait until the birds are fully grown before planning how to sell them.
Who Can You Sell To?
- Market women
- Food vendors and restaurants
- Households
- Schools and churches
- Butchers and meat vendors
- Festive bulk buyers
Use WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook to promote your birds. Offer preorders to reduce post-harvest stress.
💸 How Much Can You Make?
| Item | Cost per Bird (Estimate) | Sale Price | Profit/Bird |
| DOC + Feed + Care | ₦2,500 | ₦4,500–₦6,000 | ₦2,000+ |
📈 Raise 100 birds = ₦200,000+ potential profit per cycle (6–8 weeks)
🧽 Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Overcrowding birds
❌ Ignoring proper vaccination
❌ Dirty pens or feed trays
❌ Buying unverified chicks
❌ No sales strategy before harvest
🛠 Tools You’ll Need to Start
- Housing structure or coop
- Feeder trays and drinkers
- Brooding lamp (for chicks)
- Thermometer and hand sprayers
- Starter feed and vitamins
- A scale and record notebook
🐓 How Grazers Haven Ltd Can Help You Start
We support beginners and aspiring poultry farmers with:
- Quality chicks (broilers, layers, turkeys)
- Starter kits (feeders, vitamins, bedding)
- Organic poultry feed
- Farm setup and training consultations
- Vaccines, dewormers, and supplements
- Ongoing phone/WhatsApp support
📞 Ready to Start Poultry Farming?
We’ll help you grow from first-time farmer to confident producer.
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 WhatsApp: +234 905 088 8482
🌐 Website: www.grazershavenltd.com