Why Most Small Poultry Farms Fail Before 6 Months and How You Can Succeed Instead

Many people who started out with the enthusiasm of starting a profitable poultry business but could not made it through even to 18 weeks when they expected their birds should start laying and cashing out big. This is not far fetched other than a wrong foundation. But the truth is, it is not business itself that failed rather it’s the system they used. In this post, I will be walking you through and talking you heart-to-heart about why most small poultry farms fail before 6 months and how you can succeed instead.”

Let me share with you how really bad it is venturing to poultry without the right knowledge which forms the solid foundation your business is built on and this, I have been a victim of such. When I started my farm, I made all manner of wrong decisions like buying the wrong chicks, using the wrong feed and also skipping a lot of vaccination and medication thinking I am cutting costs but unfortunately I had already lost almost a whole batch.

This is when I have to reach out for the knowledge I need to start with. That’s where most people get it wrong. They start with excitement but no understanding, build a pen, buy birds, and think profit will just come. But poultry is not guesswork, it’s a system. A system that rewards only those who understand it.

Three (3) Main Reasons Small Poultry Farms Fail

Lack of Knowledge (No Mentor or Guidance)

Many people venture into poultry farming because they see people around them doing it or moved by what they saw on social media. They often think it’s simple and launch out without getting a guide or someone to mentor them. But when disease strikes and mortality starts, they begin to panic. You do not need to do a trial and error method and losing huge before you learn your lesson. As a rule; training first, farming later.

Poor Management Habits

The success of any profitable business is tied to the management which poultry is not exempted. So many people don’t have time for their farm to see how things are going. They often give feed late, change water late and do not pay attention to the birds even when they are on the farm. But poultry requires both diligence and consistency.

I always tell my students even if you employ workers on your farm, you still need to see things out for yourself so as to put things in check.

Ensure that your bio-security is in place to check out introduction of disease on your farm. And management kills silently.

No Marketing Plan Before Production

You can’t wait until your birds are ready before you start looking for buyers. That’s where most people get stuck. For example, as a layer farmer, I recommend that you start doing your market research before your birds are 14 weeks old, so you can have potentials customers that are ready to pick up eggs from your farm when your birds starting laying. That’s how you do it. You plan your sales before your production.

How You Can Succeed Instead 

So, if you want to succeed, here’s what you should start doing right now even before you buy chicks.

Get trained  before you start.

Join a mentor-ship or get trained properly. Don’t learn from YouTube alone get someone who has results to guide you step by step.

Start small but structured.

Don’t be ashamed to start with 50 birds. If your system is right, you’ll multiply quickly.

Always ensure to keep proper records.

Write down everything feed intake, mortality, water usage, expenses. It helps you see what’s working.

Prioritize your market.

Your market is the end point for all of your effort put in place because that is where you turn your product into cash. Do your market research properly to know the demand before you stock up your farm. Talk to food vendors, bakeries, hotels even before your first production cycle is over.

Be consistent and observant.

Your birds talk to you through their behavior. Don’t ignore signs.

So let me say this to you poultry is not a gamble; it’s a business. When you understand it and you treat it like a business, it will reward you. And that’s what I do every day I help farmers like you build farms that last, not farms that crash.

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