HOW TO START THE BUSINESS

Follow the step by step process for starting your new poultry farming business. Starting a poultry farming
business is easy and involved with lots of regular work at the same time. Here we are trying to include all
details you will need for the business.

Have Your Investment Ready

Poultry farming requires investment. You can arrange the money by your own or you can apply for loan
through other means but approaching a bank is not always helpful except for Both govt. and non-govt.
bank loans are not often available for starting poultry farming business. As a beginner, you should start
with a minimum number of birds which will cost you pretty less money.

Production Type
First of all determine the production type of your poultry farm. You can raise broiler chickens for meat
production purpose and choose layers if you want to produce eggs commercially. You can also start your
poultry farm for selling poultry products and breeding stocks directly to your local customers. Determine
your production purpose, select proper poultry breeds according to your desired production and go for
the detailed planning.

Poultry farming for beginners

Set Farm Location.
Selecting a good farm location for your business is very important. You should select such a location
which has all required facilities and favorable for your business. It can be slightly far from the town,
where land and labor is pretty cheap. But don’t setup the farm too far from the town. Because most of
the towns have high density population, and you have to target that market. Also try to avoid setting up
the farm in residential areas, because poultry farms produce offensive odor. While selecting the farm
location, consider transportation system and medication facilities also.

Construct House
After selecting farm location, construct a good house for your birds. Ensure all required facilities are
available in the new house. There are three types of
poultry housing system you can use. Extensive, semi intensive and intensive. For commercial production,
intensive system is most convenient. You can raise your birds in floor or in cage system. On an average,
broiler poultry needs about 2.5 square feet space and layer poultry needs about 4 square feet space. For
example, if you want to raise 200 layers then you have to ensure about 800 square feet space is available.
About 4 square feet space is required per bird in cage system. Don’t forget to add proper lighting and
ventilation system in the house.

Purchase Required Equipment

You need to purchase some equipment for your poultry farm. List of required equipment are listed below
for running a poultry farm successfully.
 Feeders
 Waterers
 Nests
 Cages
 Coops
  Crates
 Incubator
 Egg tray
 Lighting instruments
 Perches
 Brooders or heaters
 Ventilation system
 Waste disposal system
 Labour or Manpower
Based on the number of birds, you need more or less manpower/labour. As a beginner, if you start with a
minimum number of birds (200-500) then you can manage your farm by yourself easily. If you plan for
raising more birds then you will need additional manpower. Ensure cheap labour is available in your
selected area.

Purchasing Chicks
After setting everything up and having everything ready, purchase quality chicks from trusted breeder in
your area and start caring them. Set the brooder ready before arriving the chicks from breeding house to
your farm. As a beginner, it is wise to start with day old chicks instead of older chicks. If you are a
complete beginner without any prior experience, keep the number of chicks to minimum (anyhow not
more than 500).

Feeding
Feeding is the most important part of poultry farming business. After constructing house and purchasing
equipment and chicks, you have to spend a large amount of money for feeding your birds. About 70% of
your total project expenses will go towards the feeding. And the success in the business also depends on
quality and adequate feeding. You can purchase the feed ingredients from the market and prepare the
feed by yourself or purchase ready-made poultry feeds from the market. Different types of commercial
poultry feeds are available in the market for each type of birds.

Health Management
As we have mentioned above, you have to ensure proper medication system in your area. Poultry birds
are prone to various types of diseases and you have to be ready for controlling them. We know
‘prevention is better than cure’, so you have to be conscious and take proper care of your birds to keep
them safe. Vaccinate them timely and always try to provide them fresh water and food. Also stock some
required vaccine and medicine so that you can use them when needed.

Marketing
Good marketing strategies influence the profit from your business. If you can sell your products in the
market easily, then it will encourage you in getting more production. We always recommend determining
marketing facilities in your area before starting any farming business. Because your business will not be
much profitable if you can’t market your products properly.
Hope this poultry farming for beginners guide will help you to plan for your new business. Before starting,
try to learn more about the business and visit some farms if possible. Consult with other farmers in your
area and start with a minimum number of birds for the first time.
Layers Chicken Cage System
Layer chicken cage system consist of two types, A type and vertical H type, which is applicable to various
kinds of chicken house (opened type, half-opened type, closed type).
 A type chicken cage has the feature of simple structure, easy operation and maintenance, high
option of the automatic equipment, lower input costs and reap fast, customer could choose the
chicken cage only, cage with semi or high-automatic equipment according to your different
requirement.
 H type chicken cage has the feature of high-automation, high-density, effectively save the land
and labour cost, the separation of the chicken shed and people living zone avoids the disease
spread, fully automatic manure removing system effectively decrease the environmental
pollution, adding the intelligent environmental controlling system, which is the best choice of the
intensive & large scale poultry farm.

Equipment list of the layer cage breeding system:

1. Basic Component:
 Chicken layer cage mesh
 Chicken layer cage frame
 Feeding trough
 Water Pipe
 Water Pressure Adjuster
 Drinking Nipple
2. Optional automatic equipment:
 Automatic egg-collecting system
 Automatic feeding system
 Automatic manure-removing system
 Climate control system
 Computerized control system
Please inform us of your expected feeding scale, size of your chicken shed (or the size of the land for
poultry), we could provide you with the professional solution, complete equipment list and price freely.
Send Inquiry

Technical Data
Type Tier Birds Qty / Set Cage basket / Set Door / Cage basket Birds Qty / Door
A-96 3 tier 96 birds 6 4 door 4 birds
A-128 4 tier 128 birds 8 4 door 4 birds
A-160 4 tier 160 birds 8 5 door 4 birds
H-144 3 tier 144 birds 6 4 door 6 birds
H-192 4 tier 192 birds 8 4 door 6 birds
H-240 5 tier 240 birds 10 4 door 6 birds
H-288 6 tier 288 birds 12 4 door 6 birds
H-336 7 tier 336 birds 14 4 door 6 birds
H-384 8 tier 384 birds 16 4 door 6 birds

Note: If there are any special specifications, cages also can be customized to sample.
Broiler Poultry Feeds
Broiler poultry birds are raised for commercial meat production. They convert foods to meat within a very
short period of time. They have a good feed to meat converting ratio. So quality feeding is very important
for maintaining a profitable broiler poultry farming business. Broilers require more energy and protein in
their food. The main difference between layer poultry feed and broiler poultry feed is that ‘broiler poultry
needs more nutrient ingredients than layer poultry’. So broiler poultry feed must have to be enriched
with highly nutrient ingredients. You can provide nutritious feed to your broilers by formulating at your
home or through purchasing from your nearest market.
There are many companies available, who are supplying quality commercial poultry feed for broilers. This
type of commercial poultry feeds are suitable for poultry health, and especially designed for broiler
poultry. Feed your broiler birds some extra energy enriched food during winter season. Because they
require more energy for keeping their body warm during this season. And they get the required energy
from foods.
Adequate amount of protein is also very important. Broilers are very fast growing birds, and they require
more protein enriched food than layer poultry. And adding adequate amount of protein to broiler poultry
feed is the most important and expensive part of broiler poultry feed. You can add both animal and
vegetable protein in their food. Fish meal, meat meal, meat, milk, liver, dried animal blood etc. are great
source of animal protein. Various types of corn, vegetables, grains etc. provide required protein for the
poultry birds. Also ensure the availability of sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals in their food. Add
adequate amount of required minerals and Vitamins in their food.
For making balanced food for your poultry birds, you have to mix the feed ingredients in proper ratio. A
good chart of nutritious broiler poultry feed is shown below.

Feed Ingredients Different Aged Broiler

Starter (1-4 w) Finisher(4-8 w)

Broken Wheat 47 52
Rice Bran 20 18
Sesame Cake 13 12
Kipper Fish Powder 18 15
Bone Powder 1.25 1
Oyster Shell Powder 1.25
Salt 0.5 0.5
Primix (Vit & Min) 0.25 0.25
Total 100 100

Adequate amount of clean and fresh drinking water is very important for poultry. Usually broiler poultry
birds drink more water than layer poultry. So along with quality poultry feed, always ensure availability of
adequate amount of fresh and clean drinking water according to their demand.

Layers Poultry Feed

Good quality and nutritious feeding is the main and most important part for successful layer poultry
farming business. Layer poultry are known as the egg machines. Because they consume food and convert
them to eggs. There are some poultry breeds available which can produce up to 280 to 320 eggs per year.
But for getting maximum egg production from layer poultry, you must have to be more conscious about
their feeding management. You can feed your birds’ homemade layer poultry feed or pellet feed which
are available in the market. But ensure that ‘all the necessary nutrient ingredients are available in proper
ratio in the layer poultry feed’. For commercial egg production, poultry producers around the world
usually used to feed their bird commercially prepared pellet layer poultry feed. This type of commercial
poultry feed contain proper ratio of required feed ingredients, Vitamins, Minerals and other nutrients.
You can just purchase and start feeding your birds.
You can also feed your birds home prepared balanced feed. In case of preparing feeds by your own, you
can ensure availability of all types of required elements (energy, protein, vitamins and minerals) in their
feed. And it’s absolutely better than commercially prepared feeds. Because, while preparing the feeds by
your own, you can always check the quality of feed ingredients and choose the best elements for your
feed mixture. This will ensure a healthy life, better growth and maximum production from your layer
poultry farming business.

A chart of supplementary layer poultry feed is shown below.

Feed Ingredients Different Aged Layer Poultry
Starter (1-4 w) Growing (4-18 w) Egg Laying (18-72 w)
Broken Wheat 36 34 32
Wheat Chaff 10 10 10
Broken Rice 10 10 10
Rice Bran 8 15 10
Sesame Cake 12 12 12
Kipper Fish Dust 14 10 12
Dried Molasses 2 2 2
Oyster Dust 2 3 8
Boiled Triticum Aestivus 5 3 3
Salt 0.5 0.5 0.5
Premix (Vit & Min) 0.5 0.5 0.5
Total 100 100 100
Layer poultry birds drink lots of water daily. So, keep sufficient amount of clean and fresh water inside
their house. Try to serve them slightly warm water during winter season.

Problems of Poultry Improvements

From the ancient time poultry has been rearing in house with other bird and animals. Then poultry
rearing was not so popular or important. Because the food supply was more than demand. But now the
scene has changed. Population of the world is increasing rapidly. We need more and more food for this
new people. For this reason poultry rearing and developing is very important. But there are some
problems of poultry improvement which are described below.
 Old concept: Some people think that poultry rearing is not a prestigious occupation. They take
service or business as their occupation. As a result poultry rearing is not becoming popular.
  Lack of Baby Poultry: Due to lack of hybrid poultry this business is not popular in village area.
Govt. and private farm of our country produce highest 10 million baby poultry per year. But the
annual demand is more than 20 million. Importing from foreign country is very expensive and
risky. So many govt. and private farm should established to keep this industry.
 Insufficient Vaccine and Medicine: At present we have a great shortage of poultry vaccines.
Many vaccine has to import from foreign country at very high cost. We have to produce vaccine
and medicine in our country. Because poultry rearing is impossible without vaccine and medicine.
 Lack of training: Knowledge about poultry breed, food, management, vaccine etc. are very poor
to the people of our country. The government should train the new farmer, women and
unemployed young generation. The new one can be inspired through training.
 Lack of Loan Facility: Most of the people of our country are poor. Many people want to raise
poultry but they can’t due to lack of capital. The government should give loan without any
investment, where the interest will very low and terms and condition will be easy. This system
can increase poultry business.
 Transportation: Transportation system in our country is very poor. So, we can’t start poultry farm
where we want.
 Housing: Poultry housing in our country is very low due to lack of capital and investment.
 Marketing: There is no easy method of poultry transportation and marketing. Almost all farmer
sell their product through agent. Where this agent become more profitable than buyer and
farmer. During transportation the bird can die or egg can broke which increase the rate of meat
and egg. So, sell the poultry by considering accurate transportation method, grading, weight etc.

POULTRY VACCINES
Using poultry vaccines are must because the main obstacle of profitable poultry farming and spreading
this industry is diseases. For this reason to prevent the poultry farm, disease defense method should
make through vaccination. Most of the poultry diseases has no treatment. As the disease spread very fast
so there is no scope to prevent this. We can make disease defense power in poultry body by hygienic
rearing systems and providing appropriate vaccine. The germ of disease like certain bacteria or virus
collected and preserved in a specific method and then turn it to medicine where this germ works as
antibody. They work against the germ and bacterias. This is simply known as vaccine. That means turning
harmful germs to inoffensive germ. While applying this to animal body they will make disease defense
instead of causing any diseases. Vaccine is very sensitive materiel. Potency of vaccine can be damaged
due to numerous causes.
Different Types of Vaccine
Generally bacterial, mycoplasma and viral vaccine are used for poultry. Name and recognition method of
some widely used vaccine are described below.
 BCRDV Vaccine: This vaccine is for baby chicken affected by newcastle disease. This vaccine can
be found as tablet in vial in dry and freezing condition. The tablet is green colored.
 RDV Vaccine: This vaccine is for adult chicken. It can be found as tablet in vial in dry freezing
condition. This tablet become white colored.
 Gumboro Live Vaccines: This vaccine is for baby chicken affected by gumboro disease. It can be
found as tablet in small vial. There is a liquid material bottle with this. Mix the tablet with this
liquid.
 Gumboro Killed Vaccines: This is for breeding chicken affected by gumboro disease. This can be
found in 500 ml bottle in liquid condition.
  Mareks Vaccines: This vaccine is for mareks disease affected chicken. Vaccine can be found as
tablet in a small vial. Mix this with diluent in 200 ml bottle.
 Fowl Pox Vaccines: This vaccine is used for chicken pox disease. Tablet can be found in a small
vial. The color of this vaccine become reddish.
 Mycoplasma Vaccines: This is for mycoplasmosis disease of chicken. This vaccine is liquid and can
be found in 500 ml bottle.
 Cholera Vaccines: This vaccine is for cholera affected chicken. Liquid vaccine can be found in 100
ml glass bottle.
 Duck Plague Vaccines: This vaccine is for duck plague disease affected duck. Liquid vaccine can be
found in small glass bottle.

Use of Poultry Vaccines

Using method of vaccine of different aged poultry are described below.
Vaccines Disease Age Applying Method
Mareks Mareks 1 day Run meat
BCRDV Newcastle 7 day Two whit in two eyes
Gumboro Live Gumboro 14-18 day One whit in one eye
Fowl Pox Chicken Pox 30 day Under wing skin
Salmonella Live Fowl Typhoid 6 and 16 week Injection in meat
RDV Newcastle 60 day and 6 month Injection in run
Mycoplasma Mycoplasmosis 9-10 week Under skin of neck
Cholera Poultry Cholera 75,90 day and 6 month Under skin of neck
Gumboro Killed Gumboro 18-20 week Under skin of neck
Duck Plague Duck Plague 30, 45 day and 6 month Injection in run meat

DISEASES OF POULTRY
Diseases of poultry are the main obstacles to the producers for poultry farming. Diseases are the main
causes of failure in poultry industry. In accordance with human civilization growth, people started to keep
wild birds for their own need of meat and eggs. Later people starts to raise this birds at home. This
household birds or poultry provides us with food and vitamins. They give us meat and egg to fulfil our
regular food and nutrition demand. The farmer who raise them can earn money by selling their meet and
eggs. In a word, it has very important role in human food and economic condition. Among different types
of household birds, chickens, ducks, pigeon, quail, swan, turkey etc. are most important. People are
rearing them from a long time ago. But now it is time to raise them commercially and scientifically
according to rapid population growth.
There are many difficulties to raise the birds at home and farm. Lack of sufficient investment, food
problem, low knowledge about modern farming, low knowledge of animal health and diseases,
transportation problem, lack of veterinarian service, diseases are the main constraints of domestic
farming. Among those, diseases of poultry is the main problem. So, it is very important to know more
about the poultry health and diseases of poultry or poultry illness for the farmer. Poultry can be affected
by different types of diseases. This diseases can reduces the production and causes death or other health
hazard. Prevention of tropical diseases is more useful than curing the diseases. So, you have to be
conscious about the poultry care. You have to use modern farm management, cleanliness, health of
poultry and regular poultry vaccination. You must have to meet with the poultry vet regularly. If you want
to make more profit from your poultry farm, it is very important to keep the poultry birds healthy and
free from diseases.
Different types of poultry diseases
Diseases are dire threat for poultry industry. There are many reasons for why the farmer lose money from
their poultry farm. Diseases are the main of them. So, if the farm cannot be free from diseases the
existence of farm will finish and no return would make. Poultry suffers from many types of diseases.
Among those, some occur for virus, pathogenic microorganisms, malnutrition, problem in food consume,
acidity, pesticides and some other diseases occur due to miss management. Generally, baby birds suffers
more than the adult poultry. There are many types of poultry diseases. Such as
 Ranikhet (Newcastle Disease)
 Chicken pox disease
 Gumboro disease
 Mareks disease
 Duck plague disease
 Cholera disease
 Pullorum disease
 Coccidiosis diseases
Besides that there are many diseases occurred for different types of bacteria and microorganisms.
Prevention methods of this diseases through vaccination are described below.
Newcastle Disease - BCRDV, RDV
Fowl pox - Fowl pox vaccine
Pigeon pox - Pigeon pox vaccine
Gumboro - Nobilis gumboro D 78, V1 bursa G, Bur 706, Gumboro CT
Marek’s - HTV-126, Marexiue CA
Duck plague - Duck plague vaccine and proper management or care.

Layers Poultry Equipment

For proper growth and well management, layer poultry birds needs some equipment. Proper care and
management for poultry ensures the highest profit. The name of some layer poultry equipment which are
used for poultry rearing are shown below.
Automation Equipment
 Automatic Cooling System Panel
 Auto Control Unit
 Pressure Control Unit
Brooding Equipment
 Gas Brooder
 Electric Brooder
 Diesel Brooder
 Homemade Brooder
 Cooling Equipment
 Exhaust Fan
 Air Circulating Fan
 Pad Cooling Systems
 Curtain Winching System
Disinfection Equipment
 G-kill Flame Gun
 Baby G-kill Flame Gun
 Pressure Water Cleaners
Drinkers
 Chick Drinkers
 Jumbo Drinkers
 Bell Drinkers
 Grower Drinkers
 Cage Drinkers
Feeder
 Chick Feeder
 Grower Feeder
 Parent Feeder
 Chick Feeder Tray
 Cage Feeder
Heating Equipment
 Space Heater
 Electric Heater
 Diesel Heater
 Hericane
Other Equipment
 Chick Guard
 Sprinklers
 Hygrothermo Meter
 Moisture Meter
 Eggs and Chicks Transportation Trays
 Vaccinator
 Debeaker Machines
 Chain Link
 Boxes or Nest for Laying Eggs
 Poultry Nipples
 Hanging Scale
 Bird Transportation Cage

PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD OF POULTRY REARING*

Producers faces some problem in rearing poultry, which decreases the production. This type of problem
solving method of poultry rearing are described below.
 High Productive Breeds: By poultry from reputed govt. or private farm of our country. I needed
to import poultry from foreign country.
  Housing: Good house keeps the poultry healthy. Make proper poultry house where sufficient
movement of air and light is available. Make a poultry house design suitable for feeding, cleaning
and management system. Also keep the poultry house neat and clean regularly.
 Balanced Feed: Every farmer must have the knowledge of balanced poultry feed. Feed the
poultry properly and serve clean water regularly according to their demands.
 Vaccination: Vaccinate the poultry when they get affected by disease. In this regard use the
required vaccine and medicine in due time.
 Marketing: The government have to establish market, which is suitable for buying and selling
poultry meat and egg. This will help the farmer to get proper value of their products.
 Taking Care of Poultry: For desired production from poultry, they need well care and
management. The farmer must have to have training to learn about hygienic rearing of poultry,
health and care and disease prevention methods.
 Keeping Record of Income and Expenditure: To know how much poultry rearing profitable keep
a record of income and expenditure or poultry farm regularly. This is a good practice for
successful farmer.
 Training: The government should establish many training center around the country for providing
the poultry farming knowledge to the general farmer like, characteristics of high productive
poultry, production strategy, productive power, housing, food etc. This method will inspire the
farmer establishing poultry farm. If this knowledge can provided to farmer, they will keep poultry
in hygienic method by using modern technology and definitely be successful.
 Capital: Government and private NGO should provide the farmer loan with low interest and easy
terms and conditions. This system will courage them and inspire them in poultry rearing.
 Transportation: Developed transportation plays a vital role in poultry farming. By good
transportation system the farmer can sell their products in the market easily and get proper value
of their product.
 Breeding: To get high productive and appropriate species which is suitable for our weather
condition, we have to make some new species by breeding with hybrid poultry to our local
species. This will increase the poultry productive power.
To keep the poultry industry and spread it throughout the country we have to take decent steps. Poultry
rearing must have to make popular to build the economy of our country strong.
For eradicating the poverty and unemployment problem we have to inspire the young generation. Thus
we can be success.
To get high productive and appropriate species which is suitable for our weather condition, we have to
make some new species by breeding with hybrid poultry to our local species. This will increase the poultry
productive power.
To keep the poultry industry and spread it throughout the country we have to take decent steps. Poultry
rearing must have to make popular to build the economy of our country strong.
For eradicating the poverty and unemployment problem we have to inspire the young generation. Thus
we can be success.
BEST EGG LAYING BREEDS FOR BEGINNERS
Nowadays most of the people in urban and rural areas want to raise some egg laying chickens on their
own backyard for the purpose of producing some fresh and organic eggs. If you have decided to raise
some chickens too for getting some fresh and organic eggs for your daily family consumption, you have to
start with some best egg laying chickens. Start out with easy keepers until you get the hang of caring for
poultry. As a beginner, you have to choose relatively docile, healthy and productive breeds that can
produce adequate amounts of eggs for your daily family needs. Here we are describing about some best
egg laying chickens for beginners.

Choosing Breeds
Discuss with your family members about exactly what size of chickens and eggs are suitable for you
before choosing your fist chicken breed. People of urban areas don’t like noisy and large breeds. Because
this type of breeds causes some problems and sometimes those birds will draw complaints from your
neighbours. But according to the rural circumstances, this type of large and noisy breeds are not a
problem. Choose some winter hardy chicken breeds if you are living in a cold climate environment. Less
hardy birds can suffer from frostbitten combs and might not survive unseasonably cold temperatures. In
case of warmer environment, choose some breeds that can grow, live and produce maximum in warmer
conditions. Also consider your preferences about particular chicken colour, size or number while choosing
breeds. Collect catalogue or website address of some commercial hatcheries to learn more information
about available chicken breeds on your area.
Usually hens lay only a certain number of eggs in their lifetime. And egg laying varies by the breeds. Also
decide what you are going to do with your hens when they are spent. You can use the spent hens as pet
or for meat purpose. Also consider the opinion of your family members. If their choice vary then you can
raise various breeds and it will increase the beauty of your flock.
 Egg Laying Breeds: All hens lay eggs. Some breeds lay highly and some lay less. But there are
some breeds available which are primarily for highly egg production purpose and some are raised
for meat production. Some breeds also available which are suitable for dual purpose (both eggs
and meat). As you are planning for raising some hens to produce eggs, so you have to choose
some chickens which are specifically bred for maximum egg production. Young hens usually lay
more eggs than the old one daily during the spring and summer season. Egg production reduces
when the days become shorter. Especially in cold months. Older hens might not produce many
eggs during this period. But the several eggs they lay tend to be larger. And the younger hens
might lay some small sized eggs during their first laying period.
 Roosters: Roosters are not a must in your flock for laying eggs. They are necessary only if you
want to produce fertile eggs and raise chicks. Naturally roosters are noisy. So, many communities
don’t allow to keep roosters with the flock. But in rural areas you can raise as many roosters as
you wish without any single problem. There are some advantages of raising some roosters too.
They become very protective and provide good protection to your hens from harmful predators.
Sometimes a good and protective rooster will die for protecting the hens in your flock.

SUGGESTED BREEDS FOR BEGINNERS

As a beginner, you can raise some Rhode Island Red for first time. They are very hardy and dual purpose
chicken breed. They lay medium sized brown coloured eggs and also suitable for meat production.
 Plymouth Rock: is another dual purpose chicken breed. Generally it’s very easy to handle this
breed and they produce light brown coloured eggs.
 Orpington breeds: are available in a wide variety of colours. Among them buff coloured hens are
most common and popular. They are very friendly with us, gain maturity earlier and produce
brown coloured eggs.
  Leghorns: are also suitable for highly egg production. They produce white coloured eggs. Some
people like to have some blue or green coloured eggs along with white and brown eggs. In this
case, you can raise..
 Ameraucanas breed: They are relatively calm in nature and quite cold hardy. You can choose
Bantam breeds if you don’t have much space for your chickens. Bantam hens produce small sized
eggs, but there are almost no nutritional differences compared to eggs of other breed.
I think you have got a clear idea about what breed is suitable for you. Above listed breeds are the best
egg laying chickens for beginners. Consider your facilities to choose the best breeds.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

Although the listed chickens here are some of the most popular and best egg layers of them all, you'll
have to determine which kind suits your own personal needs.
Consider the available land space, how much you want to care for them, a little or a lot, their overall
disposition and what you are going to do with all of those eggs!

1. Needed Space
In virtually any backyard, unless perhaps in the heart of the city, a chicken coup can be erected where the
chickens can be housed.
There should be a little bit of a yard area outside where the chickens can stretch their legs, and this may
be a good area for feeding and watering. If properly insulated, this can be a year round chicken house.
Pens are a great way to keep your chickens outdoors yet give them ample space to move around. You can
make either a permanent pen, with a small indoor shelter in which to roost or lay eggs, or have a movable
pen that can be picked up and moved from place to place. Movable pens allow constant foraging in
different areas and fresh greens.
You'll need a little more space than a city back yard, but a suburban yard or a small farm would work well.
Free range can be a very large penned in area, perhaps an acre or more, or as the name implies, free
range anywhere around your property. This works best on farms that have several acres of land on which
the chickens can roam.
It is thought, by many, that the best chickens and the tastiest eggs are produced by free range birds, and
as long as they have a shelter for the night, you can have free ranging chickens that will survive and
flourish.

2. Other Characteristics.
Raising chickens just for eggs is a very practical way to have your yolk and eat them too. And if that's all
you want to do, there is certainly no problem with that.
But, there are other characteristics that may also come into play, and they at least deserve to be
mentioned in the same breath. They are birds that are broody, birds that forage well, types that are
excellent layers, and from a purely sustenance standpoint, birds that are big enough to make them worth-
while eating.
Consider that birds which brood well will keep your flock healthy and populated.
Chickens that are excellent foragers make the best free range types, and those that are hardy egg layers
will always keep you in eggs. And when it comes time to put some meat on the table, a larger chicken
would be your best option here.
Although the emphasis of this article is on egg layers, which is the greatest priority here, other
characteristics, like foraging or brooding, may also be of special interest.

POINT TO NOTE.
Nigeria and Africa as a whole has a rigid copy and paste mentality about cultural and technology transfer
which is never subject to evolution and change. *My Point is this*, the developing world has a flexible
and objective view of the world that enables and translates tangible progress. Nigeria has and practise
these caged mentality of battery cage and curtain system of commercial poultry farming while d rest of
the developed world has evolved to d level of employing organic or extensive poultry farming for better
egg and meat production and also to cut away the burden of overhead cost, and having look around
Nigeria, I can hardly find a big industrial poultry farm that has woken up to carve a niche in this sector