Chicken Growing or Meat Poultry Farming is a lucrative business in addition to time freedom, but how does it work? What are the things that need to be considered?
Marketing broiler chickens have great demand throughout the world and that’s why big companies in some countries like Philippines, such as Magnolia, Bounty Fresh, etc., like to outsource the growing period of their chicken supply – and this is where the grower-contractors come in.
The client provides the flock, feeds, vitamins and vaccination while the contractor provides the land, housing, utilities, permits and licenses, and manpower for the care and supervision.
Here are the lists for those who want to venture in this business:
Land: The growers or contractors must own at least 2,000 square meters of land, though bigger is better. In this business, location of the chicken housing must be far from residents due to flies swarm as well as to air and water sanitation. This required remote location is beneficial to the growers though since valuation of this kind of agricultural land is not pricey.
Accessibility: Though the location of the land is remote, accessibility to it is a must so the logistics of flock replenishment and flock harvest is possible.
Housing: The contractor shall provide the housing under his expense. Normally, clients have their required grow out houses designs. Some grow out houses are raised few meters from the ground basically for their droppings and ventilation but some are not. Chickens are being grown for 30 to 35 days under congested condition and ventilation is absolutely necessary to avoid burns and death. Heating system is also needed during the first two weeks or more as needed. It is also equipped with mechanical systems for feeding and drinking.
Stocks: The number of chicks supplied by the client will depend on the size of the housing. An area ratio of 7 to 10 square inch of space per chick and half a square foot of space per grown chicken are required. Some contractors can only accommodate 4,000 heads while others have 20,000 or more.
Feeds: High quality feeds are the most important things in a meat poultry farming or chicken growing business. Chickens need high ratio of protein as well as vitamins A, B2, D3, B12 and K for their speedy growth. Potassium, Iodine, Manganese Sulphate and Zinc Carbonate are also administered in their feeding for the same reason. Even disinfectant and vaccination are being mixed and administered for disease prevention and thereby lowering the mortality rate.
Sanitation: Daily routine of dropping cleaning and management is required. However, after the harvest massive cleaning and sanitation of the house and its surroundings must be made before another flocks are delivered. A grower should have an average of 4 to 5 grow outs a year.
Utilities: Water and Electric utilities are indispensable.
Permits and Licenses: You can procure the list of requirements from your local government units.
The grower-contractor is being paid for his care and supervision every harvest of either per chicken head or per kilo. For an average of 4 to 5 grow outs per year, contractors can easily yield $20,000 to $100,000 income each year depending on their accommodation size.
Hopefully i want to venture in this when i go back to my homeland - Philippines. The income mentioned here is very realistic in this business. So what do you think? Is it feasible?