Tips For Maximising Profit In Poultry FarmingĀ 

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Whether you are an experienced farmer or are just starting out in the industry, the following tips will pertain to you. The input costs associated with poultry farming today are large, so people are always searching for innovative ways to boost profit margins and make a greater return on investment.Ā 

Today we are going to provide you with some actionable guidance on maximising your profits if you are a poultry farmer. If you occupy the meat production sector of the business, or you are an egg producer, these tips will help you to get the most out of your chickens, and turn your enterprise into one that is fruitful and profitable.Ā 

Research And Choose The Best Breeds

Your chickens are the foundation and backbone of your business. It is important that you select the right chickens from the start. By doing this, you will build a solid foundation of which your business can thrive and expand. Choosing the right breeds is not as challenging as it may appear. For the most part, it requires networking and research. There is some guidance that we have highlighted below.Ā 

  • Whether it is broiler chickens you are after (meat production) or layer (eggs), you need to conduct thorough research. Visit farmer forums, trawl the internet and reach out to individuals with experience that may be able to guide you. Any breed with a proven track record for disease resistance is a great start, and if you are searching for layer breeds, for example, they need to have demonstrated productivity in regards to egg laying.Ā 
  • Listen to what people are saying about specific hatcheries, and pay close attention. People will have experience with the hatchery you have in mind, and you will quickly be able to determine whether their chicks are productive and thus worth the investment. Similarly, purchasing chicks from a bad hatchery may incur greater losses later on if you are constantly having to treat disease.Ā 
  • As with any business, middlemen will exist who will try to sell chicks on behalf of a hatchery. Although the majority of the time middlemen are perfectly trustworthy, there are instances where they are trying only to boost their own profits. This may come at your expense. When you can, you are best to deal with hatcheries directly. This will usually be the case anyway if you are purchasing large quantities. If you are having someone source your chicks for you, ensure you do your research. Like anything, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is!Ā Ā Ā 

Optimise Your Feed Formula

Your birds will require feed and water, and they will convert and use this to generate meat and eggs. Feed accounts for a large percentage of poultry farming costs, and you need to ensure that you get the best product at the cheapest price. In doing this, you will maximise your profits significantly.Ā 

If you are just starting out, or you have experience but are concerned about your feed or feed costs, we encourage you to speak to a professional nutritionist. They will take a look at your feed, and advise you on how you can boost your formula to yield the best results. They may also have tips for lowering your feeding expanses, whilst simultaneously retaining high quality results from your feed formula.

Go Organic

Organic poultry farming has gained popularity in recent years. The basic premise of organic poultry farming is to raise chickens without any reliance on synthetic drugs, antibiotics or non organic feed. Not only is this a potentially cleaner form of farming, but it keeps costs down significantly. The key to any businessā€™s profitability is to minimise input costs. This, in turn, maximises output costs.Ā 

At some point your birds may require medication, as all animals are susceptible to sickness. Rather than relying on synthetic drugs, which are often costly, you may opt to use a mix of herbs and spices. There are guides online that will provide information on how to combat illness and provide immune support for your birds organically. By using specific herbs and adhering to tried and tested dosages, you may be able to tackle poultry illness for a fraction of the price.Ā 

Invest In Good Quality, Sturdy Buildings

Poultry housing is extremely important in poultry farming. Having adequate housing will allow your birds to remain healthy, grow fast and maximise productivity. Whether you are running a small operation or you are at the head of a large commercial project, proper housing is the key to keeping your birds happy and healthy.Ā 

Whatever the size of your enterprise, there are a number of options available to you. However, if your operation is small you may be able to construct your own shelter with limited materials. The operations that use a great number of birds may benefit from reaching out to a professional. The team at Kit Buildings Direct are a family run business with years of experience building animal shelters and housing. You can visit their dedicated Poultry Buildings page for more information.Ā 

The importance of good quality housing cannot be overstated. Regardless of your operation size, having a well constructed poultry house will pay dividends in the long run. Healthy and happy birds are going to be more productive and better equipped to fight disease, and good housing will produce healthy birds.

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Heather Jones
Heather Jones
Heather Jones is the Social Good reporter at Businessner, covering online stories about digital activism, climate justice, accessibility, and more. Outside Businessner, Heather is an avid film watcher, bread maker, concert goer, and California enthusiast. You can catch her writing from the comfort of her southern porch with a cup of Earl Grey tea.