Eggs are profitable
Poultry farming is one of the most lucrative businesses in Uganda and the world at large.
The increasing demand for chicken (call it chicken meat) and eggs resulting from the growing population and townships across the country provides an opportunity for new and existing farmers to cash in on this enterprise.
Apart from earning from your poultry business, eggs and chicken can provide proteins to your family members. The enterprise can also be resourceful in providing manure to your other agribusiness enterprises.
Those with limited land in towns, they can sell the manure which also lucrative.
However, there are a number of things farmers must consider to run a profitable poultry enterprise, according to Hadad Ssekabembe, an expert in poultry breeding and commercial birds. He is also a farmer and well traveled.
His experience in poultry business spans over 23 years. He was a Breeder Manager at Ugachick Poultry Breeders Uganda Limited for 19 years and has spent over four years offering consultancy services.
Whether you’re just starting out in poultry farming or you’re already in the chicken rearing business, this article can help you maximize profit from your poultry farm.
Business Plan
He says a farmer must draw a budget for his or her poultry enterprise.
Do I have the required workers? Is the available equipment? How about feeds and clean water? Is market readily available? The questions must be answered before a farmer ponders starting a poultry farm.
After looking at costs involved, ask yourself; will the business be profitable?
“It is important to look for breeds with high production of meat and eggs,” he says.
Location of Enterprise
Ssekabembe says location of your enterprise is crucial.
What’s the history of the place? How is the geography of the place? Will it be safe from the neighborhood? Is it free from noise? Those are key questions one must answer before pondering joining poultry farming business.
“Remember the [poultry] building must be facing East-West,” he says.
Choosing The Enterprise
While you can rear layers for eggs or broilers for meat, Ssekabembe says specialization is key especially at the start.
“You can’t be everywhere,” he says, adding that a farmer must decide on whether to rear layers or broilers right from the start.
“One can also choose to rear local birds. Passion is also key in this business. What’s your passion,” he said, revealing that while he is an expert in birds, he has passion for layers.
Reliable Sources Of Raw Materials
You need a reliable source of chicks. A number of farmers have made losses after procuring poor quality chicks from unscrupulous sources.
“Chicks should be free from endemic diseases like Mycoplasma,” says Ssekabembe.
Other key materials include maize, cotton and fish among others. These help in making feeds. A farmer must pay attention to the source of feeds/feed ingredients because some of them are fake.
“You must also pay attention to litter materials/beddings. Some unscrupulous people mix coffee husks with timber/saw dust. If eaten by birds, they become stunted and many farmers have been a victim,” he says. He adds that farmers should maximize feeds.
Risks
He says risks involved in business include disease outbreak, unskilled labourers and the neighborhood.
“You need professional back-ups; a veterinary doctor should be a phone call away,” he says, adding: “Everything must be done right.”
He urges farmers to stop carrying out business on telephones.
“You need proper and close supervision,” he says.
Proper bio-security
Ssekabembe says farmers should avoid visitors on their farms and employ measures (bio-security) to avoid spread of diseases.
Record keeping
A farmer should record the number of birds he starts with, mortality and closing stock of birds. Others things to record include age of birds, feed consumption per day and per bird, vaccination records/schedule and drugs administered to the birds. It is also important to look at the growth of birds; uniformity growth of birds ensures consistent production for layers as well as bulky sale for chicken.
“This should be done daily until depletion of stock,” he says.
Transportation
He says transport is key in poultry business. It helps in bringing in materials, feeds, chicks, equipment and poultry products.
Others
For poultry farmers to succeed, Ssekabembe encourages them to attend workshops and seminars, read a lot, interact with fellow farmers and also carry out home research.
In our subsequent stories, we’ll bring you detailed stories on rearing layers, broilers and local birds.
For feedback and success stories, contact: 0775170346, staddewo@gmail.com
I need to know where to get kuroilers and seso breed of chicken for meat. I also need to learn about poultry rearing before i begin. Where can i attend such on farm training?
Thanks a lot for this educative information, i like layers but am starting with Local chicken due to my limited capital
Thanks for the information on Poultry farming. Need your contacts and more information to start up the same buz as soon as
S possible. I have been fearing to venture in the same buz.
Call 0775170346/0703828741
Am told eggs from local chicken fetch more money, where is the market, and how do we get high quality local chicks with good productivity
I’m humbled by the information and knowledge given freely. I’m a teacher from a private institution and stopped earning the moment schools closed. I would now wish to risk my only savings in poultry farming; starting with broilers targeting Christmas season so as to earn a living. Advise me on the right breed, quality of feeds, number to start with etc. I have capital of 800,000 only. Kindly allow me to always consult you since I’m new in the system and i have ”one stone left in my bag” so i have to target. If possible let me know your telephone contacts for more consultations. GOD highly bless YOU.
Hello. Call me on 0775170346/0703828741
Thanks for the article so educative, l started a year back , though we had the COVID 19 challenge, l can’t turn back. Keep on the good work.
I need to see/talk to you for more advice on how I can perfect on local breeds.lukaba in bugweri district.
I have been inspired by your session on poultry business start a poultry business. I would therefore like to start after the Lockdown, thanks and I will make sure I consistently consult you since I’m just a bigginer.
Good day
thank you for your article it has been helpful
i have been in business since 2017 but have not realized profit because of lack of close supervision but with your help i have hope.
how can i get market in kampala for my eggs because i have stocked 800 birds which are now 4 months
almost starting to lay
Nice advise
I like this lesson on poultry please I wish to have direct contact after the lockdown
Thanks for the words of wisdom u have given us am also planning to start by broilers 100 of them.
Thanks God bless u
But how do I tell the right breed and high meat and egg production chicks? Help me! And what should be my maximum number of chicks to start with???
Thanks
Big up senior,sure your right
I really like to have it also
Also i want to start with hens but mind is on housing and vaccination and boosters
I am from Kiryandongo District. I am very much interested in poultry keeping thus layers but where do I find the quality breed from Mr Hadad?
Hi your article is soo good and motivated to start a project of 500 layer birds, how much capital do I need? And breed is more rewarding? ?
Thanks alot
I want to start with broilers I hear the r so delicate,some advise on this
Would like to start a business of broilers but where are the readily hatched Chicks of high quality, money available. am serious whoever gets this information can help me in the shortest time possible
0777190605, 0753445006 or
chemustomoses2019@gmail.com
I planned to start 5,000 egg layers poultry farm and i need more advice if it is possible. Thanks
I would like to rear hens at least 100 hens.
How can I start and what breed can I start with.
I have a capital of shs700, 000.
Thank you
Asalaam alaikum warahumatullah wabarakhatuh jazzakhallah khairah, I’ve been in business of poultry for quite some time, however have poor management skills help me improve them, 0772667271
Thanks so much for that am cherop isaac ready to start up bt need more knowledge and guidance from u
Am also planning to start poultry business, I need more advice on poultry management more especially on medication am around kampala, contact me on 0706937106.
Thank you for your wonderful guide sir,
I am personally interested in rearing Turkeys what can i do? if possible let us know your telephone contact.
Thank you.
Very good adivce
i would like to know more about the business cos its the only business am passionate to and willing to start in few months from now.
what breed can u recommend for a starter like me who has never learn t anything about the business and how much can it cost to start up a small project like that.
your advise is highly appreciated
I want to start but neighbors are very close,and I would like to use a no smell chemical or organic method.
Thanks 4da guides .
thanks for advice.I am in Hoima starting soon.
How do i know the best quality of chicks to start with when starting this birds rearing and what is the best minimum and maximum number to start with in layers rearing?
how can i access high quality breed of chicks
I like the advise and I wish to start a poultry keeping in nyabushozi
noted
I would like to know how much money a small chicken farm can cost when starting
Am ready to start polutery farming in kween district,uganda.
Thanks for the advise, it really helps in managing the business and knowing what to do and take on
Thanks sir, I have already started the project with over 200 birds but the quality seems to be poor because I have a poultry doctor looking after them.
The growth rate is low.
But I will always contact you for help.
Well done! Get for me price for quality layer chicks..
Thanks
Nice and very interesting , am juma in ARUA UG,l would like to start eggs selling bssn who can I get supplier and price per each tray thnx my blessed for job.
Thanks for these insights into UG poultry farming
Thanks for the good advice and education. I bought kruoiller chic’s from wrong suppliers and the motallity rate was so high, the chicks were of low quality.
I would like to start this business seriously and I like you to be close to my business farming
Thanks very much for your advice, I really want to start that business but I had feared the risk of disease outbreak, but now that you are here please I need you to help me out guide me through this
Thank u so much
I want to start the business as soon as possible.So I just needed a teacher to teach me some of the basic things I should know as a soon to be farmer.