8 Proven Ways to Market, Sell Broiler Chickens Anytime

Years in the business has provided tips on how to sell your broiler chickens, and targeting the best market for you. You can even sell all at once and be asked to bring more. I promise you that by the time you are done with this reading, you will be smiling. So, if you are looking for where you can sell your broiler chickens or the best way to market your chickens this December, this is probably all you need. Because your miracle strategy may be locked somewhere within this post, I advise you to read it carefully.

*Table of Content*

Why Some Farmers Find it Hard to Sell their chickens

1. Target a Market Larger than Your Supply

2. You Will Sell Your Broiler Chickens as a Competitor

3. Bulk Sales is the Magic of Selling Broiler Chickens

4. Use Social Media to Sell Your Broiler Chickens

5. How to Sell Broiler Chickens with Early Advert

6. Market Your Broiler Chickens on Afrimash

7. Market and Sell Chickens to Processing Plant

8. Using Middle Men or Brokers

*Why Some Farmers Find it Hard to Sell their chickens*

While lack of planning is the chief reason why many poultry farmers are unable to sell their chickens, let’s quickly see what most farmers do wrong. Again, please follow closely and read carefully.

*1. They Put Marketing Last*

This is an important fact to consider when thinking about how to sell your broiler chickens. Although it is easy to get tempted to start your broiler farming without market analysis, please don’t be tempted. Effective market analysis will help you to understand your market and to know who will buy your product.

*2. Failure to Understand Buyer Personality*

If you live in an environment where a lot of people prefer to eat local chickens, selling your broilers in the same area may be difficult. Except you are targeting a different market, you may not like what you get during sales. Also, there are people who prefer 3-months-old broilers to those ones raised within 8 weeks. Your understanding of who your buyer is will help you to know what they want. If you are able to give your buyers what they want, then selling your broiler chickens will be fun.

The list of errors committed by farmers goes on but I will stop there. Now, let's talk about what you can do to sell your broiler chickens.

*1. Target a Market Larger than Your Supply*

In selling your broiler chickens, you need a fairly large market. I mean, don’t start counting the number of members in your community or church group and thing they will all buy. You should target a market that is big enough, such that even if 1-5% of them buy your product, things would have moved.

*2. You Will Sell Your Broiler Chickens as a Competitor*

Interestingly, everywhere remains quiet until the sales period when people start to bring out their chickens to sell. To many, it is during this time that they remember they have competitors. You need to plan ahead and try to be two steps ahead of your competitors. Because you may not always be able to offer a very competitive price, you need to look for ways to convince your customers to choose you. Are your chickens very big? Are they very clean? Do you offer delivery? Do you slaughter and dress? These are some of the things you might want to consider to stand out in the competition. If you have raised your chickens organically, this is the time to get the bounty that comes with Organic Chicken

*3. Bulk Sales is the Magic of Selling Broiler Chickens*

Yes! Bulk sales can be very rewarding. First, with bulk sales, you get to sell all your chickens faster and you can start raising another batch. Without bulk sales, you keep feeding the remaining chickens, which mean more rearing capital. However, one thing you should know about bulk sales is that birds go at a lesser per/unit price. This is because people who buy in bulk are re-sellers or restaurants.

*4. Use Social Media to Sell Your Broiler Chickens*

Thanks to technology, you can join farmers groups on Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp and market your product. You can use WhatsApp status update, Instagram, and more. Awareness is the key strategy here. The more people become aware, the greater their chances of patronizing you.

*5. How to Sell Broiler Chickens with Early Advert*

Don’t wait until the rush hour. One thing you should know is that human beings are the most unstable in thinking. This minute, they are thinking to buy, and the next minute, they have even forgotten about the product. This is why you need to start advertising early and continue to do it consistently.

Sometimes, you just have to be aggressive at it.

*6. Market Your Broiler Chickens on Afrimash*

*7. Market and Sell Chickens to Processing Plant*

Similar to selling in bulk, the is one of the fastest way to sell your chicken, so it’s like I’ve kept the fastest for the last. In marketing your chickens, a lot of factors should be considers. And this is where nearness to your target market comes into play. Imagine that you have a processing plant less than 5 kilometers from your farm. That is a huge advantage because you can easily sell your broilers or layers to them. But don’t worry, even if you don’t have any one near you, they can come for your chickens and buy them from your farm.

One of the advantages of this method is that the processing plant can absorb any quantity of chickens you have to sell. Whether it is just 50 pieces or thousands, processing plants are always ready to buy. But let’s be realistic here. You know it is hard for them to come all the way from 20 KM away for 50 birds, except they have another larger deal close to your farm.

*8. Using Middle Men or Brokers*

Almost every business has middle men across its value chain. People that connect the buyer to the seller. They exist in the poultry sector too. In fact, they run most of the business activities and they take most of the gain, which is why I don’t like using them. But they have their own advantages. When you are stuck, chances are that your broker will get a buyer for you. Some brokers will offer you N 600 per KG live weight of broiler, which is not the best for someone like me.

But don’t get me wrong. It can save you when things go pretty bad, and your birds are just eating without anyone coming to buy.

Already, the border closure is giving poultry farmers some level of hope concerning December sales. So, let’s stay positive and hope that consumers make a switch from frozen chicken to live broiler chickens. Whichever direction things go, the tips above will help you to market your broiler chickens and make great sales.

Guidefreak.com

8 Foundational Structure of Poultry Layer Farming Operation

1. *Brooder House*

• This is where young chicks (pullets) are housed until they grow strong enough to be moved to the main layer house. The brooder house should have proper insulation, heating, and ventilation to keep the chicks warm and comfortable. Maintaining the right temperature and providing easy access to food and water is crucial in this stage.

2. *Layer House*

• The layer house is where mature hens lay eggs. It must have adequate space, ventilation, and lighting to optimize egg production. The design should include nesting boxes where hens can comfortably lay eggs and roosting areas for them to rest. Proper manure management systems, such as droppings boards or belts, should also be in place to keep the area clean and reduce ammonia buildup.

3. *Feed Storage Facility*

• A feed storage facility ensures that poultry feed is protected from moisture, pests, and contamination. Proper storage conditions are essential to maintain feed quality. The structure should be dry, well-ventilated, and easily accessible to minimize feed wastage.

4. *Water Supply System*

• A reliable and clean water supply system is critical for poultry health and egg production. It includes a water tank, water lines, and automatic or manual drinkers. Drinkers should be regularly cleaned and placed at appropriate heights for easy access by the birds.

5. *Ventilation and Lighting System*

• Ventilation is vital for regulating temperature and ensuring fresh air circulation. Good ventilation reduces heat stress, moisture, and the buildup of harmful gases like ammonia.

Additionally, lighting plays a key role in egg production; an automated lighting system that mimics natural light cycles can help maximize laying performance.

6. *Egg Collection System*

• An efficient egg collection system helps minimize egg breakage and improve productivity. This could include manual or automated systems, depending on the farm size. The system should be designed to ensure that eggs are collected regularly, cleaned, and stored properly to maintain their quality.

 

7. *Manure Management System*

• Proper manure management is essential to keep the environment clean and reduce the risk of disease. Systems like deep litter, composting, or manure belts can be used. Manure should be regularly collected and stored away from the layer house. It can also be used as fertilizer or sold to generate additional income.

8. *Biosecurity Measures and Quarantine Facility*

• A separate quarantine facility is important for isolating new or sick birds to prevent disease spread. The farm should have footbaths, disinfectants, and restricted access zones to maintain biosecurity. Regular cleaning and disinfection of equipment and housing, as well as controlling visitors, are key elements of a biosecurity structure.

*Conclusion*

By implementing these eight winning structures, a poultry layer farming operation can maintain high production levels, reduce mortality, and operate efficiently. These structures ensure that the birds are kept in a healthy environment, and proper systems are in place to maximize egg production while minimizing costs.

QUICK TIPS ON LAYER MANAGEMENT

As a layer farmer, one has to understand all the variables that may affect egg production. 

*Breed*

The decision of what breed to rear is taken by the farmer and then the hatchery supplies chicks from birds bred for optimum egg production with known potentials.

Flock management determines when and if your hens reach their egg-laying potential. 

Management also determines whether the flock production curve fluctuates erratically or follows the established pattern.

*Pullet management*

It is important to manage pullets correctly particularly in the areas of nutrition, light management and disease control.

At the point of lay, a pullet may weigh about 1.5kg. Birds that start laying before attaining the correct size may be prone to prolapses of the cloaca.

Deworm monthly after 8 weeks. De-beak between 8 and 12 weeks.

De-beaking should be done by qualified personnel. The lower beak should be longer to enable the hen ‘scoop’ feeds.

Success or failure of the layer enterprise will depend, to a large extent, on the management of the pullets.

*Light management*

Unknown to many poultry farmers, light is much more important for the hens than just for sight. Light plays a significant role in poultry reproduction, growth and behaviour.

Light controls sexual maturity in birds. Layers should be given 24 hours of light for the first four weeks. Increasing day-length (light) leads to faster sexual maturity hence earlier lay.

Pullets stimulated to lay before week 17 or 18 may never achieve their lifetime productivity potential. For maximum egg production, 16 hours of light is required at peak lay.

At no time should photoperiod be reduced during lay. A word of caution though: too much light in a layers’ house may lead to vices such as cannibalism, aggression and even egg eating.

This informs the cardinal rule of building a chicken house in an east-west orientation. 

*Nutrition*

Laying hens require balanced feed to sustain maximum egg production over time.

They require energy, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. Given that feeds account for over 70 per cent of rearing costs, many farmers attempt shortcuts.

Some give their hens ‘breakfast,’ ‘lunch’ and ‘supper,’ in which case the birds do not get enough feeds, while others add other feed ingredients to commercial feeds.

Again unknown to many, this ‘adulteration’ serves to distort the formulation and eventually, the performance of birds.

Cumulatively, each layer chick consumes about 2kg of chick and duck mash between day old to eight weeks.

One growing pullet consumes about 7kg growers mash cumulatively between 9 and 20 weeks. 

A layer bird cumulatively consumes about 50kg of mash for her entire optimal laying life of 12 months (about 140g/day).

If a farmer finds that their hens are eating more, it is most likely that they have a lot of spillage (they eat more when it is cold).

Spillage maybe corrected by raising or lowering the feeders so the feed level is the same as the back of the hens.

Water is a critical but often overlooked nutrient. Birds and indeed all animals can survive longer without feed/food than without water.

At normal temperatures, layers consume twice as much water as they consume feeds. During periods of high temperatures, water consumption may double or even quadruple.

For good lay percentages, ensure birds are supplied with adequate quantities and quality water.

*Floor space for layers*

For optimal performance, each layer requires 2 square feet of space. Incorporate perches on which birds prefer to sleep at night.

The use of perches also helps concentrate manure in single locations making cleaning easier. Moreover, chicken have a desire to perch, so providing for this natural behaviour contributes to animal welfare.

Provide laying nests covered with black polythene; a nest measuring 1ft x 1ft is sufficient for five hens.

The floor should be covered with 4 inches wood shavings to absorb moisture and cushion the birds from the cold floor.

*Identification of laying hens*

These tend to be smaller, have bright red combs/wattle; additionally, three middle fingers fit between the pubic bones in a laying bird.

*Expected performance*

Mortality at rearing should not exceed 5 per cent.

Mortality at lay should not be more than 8 per cent.

Age at start of lay is 18 to 20 weeks

Total egg production per hen for her lifetime, about 318 eggs.

*Average weekly egg production:*

• Week 19 - 6%

• Week 20 - 20%

• Week 21 - 50%

• Week 22 - 78%

• Week 23-43 - 90 - 93%

• Week 44-60 - 80-89%

• Week 61-73 - 70-79%

• Week 73 – 80 - 70 – 65%

*Reasons hens stop laying*

Normally, a hen would lay between 24 and 27 eggs in a month.

This is because it takes 26 hours for an egg to be formed. Reasons why hens would stop or reduce laying include:

1. Laying for more than 12 months.

2. Change in weather conditions leading to stress.

3. Vaccination, de-beaking and transportation stresses.

4. Disturbances like when removing litter, predators and noises.

5. Rationing feeds.

6. Feeding poor quality feeds.

7. Insufficient fresh, clean drinking water.

8. Exposure to short photoperiod hours of light.

9. Infestation with Internal and/or external parasites.

10. Disease situation.

11. When the birds are laying and eating eggs/deficiencies.

12. When other predators are eating eggs e.g cats, rats, snakes.

The good news is that a farmer can do something to address most of the causes of reduced laying.