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Follow these tips to build a successful chicken farm business
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Running a chicken farm requires more than just agricultural know-how. If you want to be a chicken farmer, you must also think like a business person while growing your brand. Choosing a focus, establishing a brand, raising your chickens, and building your business are all part of chicken farming. Then, as your farm grows, you'll be able to market, finance, and network to grow your business. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to start a successful chicken farm business.
Quick Steps to Start a Chicken Farm
- Decide if you want an egg- or meat-production farm and choose the best chicken breeds for your focus.
- Buy the land for your farm and purchase supplies like coops, brooders, and feeders. Apply for a loan if necessary.
- Market your farm by creating a website, making ads, and attending agriculture conferences to network.
Steps
Section 2 of 4:
Establishing Your Chicken Farm
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Pursue a Bachelor's degree in agriculture or business. While not required, most aspirational farm owners complete an undergraduate degree first. To better prepare for a career in chicken farming, choose a Bachelor's degree in agriculture, business, or a niche major like farm administration or poultry science if your college offers it. [10] X Research source
- If you choose agriculture or poultry science, add a business minor (or vice-versa) to take classes on marketing, leadership, and other relevant topics.
- Get your degree online if you don't have time for a traditional four-year degree.
- Other ways to learn about poultry farming include taking a training course or consulting an established farmer for advice and mentorship.
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Learn and follow all poultry farm regulations. The specific rules and regulations for poultry farming vary depending on your area. Visit your local government agencies to get detailed legal information and make sure you can check every single box before starting your farm—you don’t want to run into legal trouble down the line. [11] X Research source
- If you’re starting a farm in the United States, consider applying for an LLC, which has many benefits for startups.
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Create a business plan for your chicken farm. Write an outline for how you plan to run your chicken farm, as well as your long-term goals for the next 3-5 years. Include information like your history, structure, objectives, vision, products, target demographic, and marketing strategy in the plan. Once you've created the plan , review it with an established farmer or business advisor, and revise your plan based on their suggestion. [12] X Trustworthy Source U.S. Small Business Administration U.S. government agency focused on supporting small businesses Go to source
- If you're running a meat productions farm, for example, you could include your plans for raising and butchering chickens, revenue goals or the first year, and plans for marketing your poultry products in stores.
- Business plans are useful for attracting investors or business partners down the road.
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Apply for a loan to fund your chicken farm if necessary. To start a poultry farm, you’ll likely need to spend anywhere from $5000 to $25,000. If you don't have enough money for your supplies, schedule an appointment with your local bank. Discuss your financial history, business goals, and monetary needs with the loan advisor to apply for and secure a loan . [13] X Research source
- Bring a business outline, evidence of your credit history, pay stubs, and anything else requested by the bank to your meeting.
- Start with a loan for the minimum amount of equipment and chickens for your farm. You can always get a larger loan as your business grows.
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Purchase all of the necessary equipment for your chicken farm. The type of equipment you need will depend on whether you're running an egg-laying or meat-production farm. Consider visiting other farms to inspect the equipment and determine what you need. Head to an agricultural supply store to purchase the necessary equipment, which may include: [14] X Trustworthy Source US Occupational Safety and Health Administration U.S. government agency responsible for setting and enforcing workplace safety standards Go to source
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Determine whether to hire laborers for your farm. How much manpower you'll need depends on the size of your farm. If you have fewer than 200-500 birds, you should be able to run the farm by yourself. Otherwise, especially if you want to grow your farm, you may need additional help. [15] X Research source
- Start with a small farm so you don't have to pay workers until your chicken farm business is successful.
- If you need to hire more workers, try to hire those with years of experience in poultry farming for better stability. You’ll also likely need an administrative manager to keep an eye on daily business.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat is the minimum number of chickens to start with on a farm?Andy WinderCommunity AnswerThe number of chickens you need depends on the purpose and size of your farm. Generally, 200-500 chickens is average for starting a new farm.
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QuestionHow should I draw up a business plan for a chicken farm?Community AnswerDraw up plans for your equipment, a decent sized holding area and a plain grass stretch. Follow a standard business plan but clearly tailored to running a chicken farm, the expected costs and desired profits.
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QuestionHow can I make sure I have enough money to start a chicken farm?Community AnswerYou can start out small.
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Tips
- If you're not up for starting a chicken farm from scratch, you can also invest in or buy an existing franchise instead. [27] X Trustworthy Source Federal Trade Commission Independent U.S. government agency focused on consumer protection Go to sourceThanks
- Research methods that successful chicken farms use as a guide for your business. Popular poultry farms include Cargill Meat Solutions, Hormel Foods Corp, Tyson Foods, JBS USA, and Smithfield Foods.Thanks
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Warnings
- Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling chickens. Live poultry often carry salmonella. [28] X Research sourceThanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about poultry, check out our in-depth interview with Alexandra Doss .
References
- ↑ https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KWCS.pdf
- ↑ https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/many-benefits-backyard-chickens
- ↑ https://www.ciwf.org.uk/farm-animals/chickens/meat-chickens/
- ↑ https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/new-farmers-guide-to-the-commercial-broiler-industry-poultry-husbandry-biosecurity-basics/
- ↑ https://www.poultry.care/blog/how-to-start-a-successful-poultry-care-farming-business
- ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/poultry-species/chickens/en/
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/234/69325/Chicken_Breed_Chart_to_Help_Choose_Your_Chicken.pdf
- ↑ https://www.ciwf.org.uk/media/5235306/The-life-of-Broiler-chickens.pdf
- ↑ https://www.poultry.care/blog/how-to-start-a-successful-poultry-care-farming-business
- ↑ https://withmydegree.org/can-degree-agriculture/
- ↑ https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/many-benefits-backyard-chickens
- ↑ https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/write-your-business-plan
- ↑ https://www.poultry.care/blog/how-to-start-a-successful-poultry-care-farming-business
- ↑ https://www.osha.gov/poultry-processing
- ↑ https://www.poultry.care/blog/how-to-start-a-successful-poultry-care-farming-business
- ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/management-and-housing/en/
- ↑ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-biosecurity/keeping-backyard-chickens
- ↑ https://www.greenamerica.org/green-living/many-benefits-backyard-chickens
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/adopting-and-caring-backyard-chickens
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/decreasing-daylight-and-its-effect-on-laying-hens
- ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g8903
- ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/adopting-and-caring-backyard-chickens
- ↑ https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/what-kind-of-records-should-i-keep
- ↑ https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmers/build-knowledge
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan
- ↑ https://www.fao.org/poultry-production-products/production/poultry-species/en/
- ↑ https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/consumers-guide-buying-franchise
- ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/animal/backyard.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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To start a chicken farm business, decide if you want to focus on eggs, meat production, or another specialty niche, then obtain the necessary equipment. Next, choose a chicken breed that matches your farming goals and set up coops or cages to keep them in. Feed and care for your chickens daily and be sure to separate any chickens that seem ill from the rest of the population. Don't forget to market your business by creating a website and advertisements! For more tips on choosing the best breed for your goals, read on!
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