free range chicken business plan pdf

Starting Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan (PDF)

In a world increasingly mindful of ethical and sustainable farming practices, the free range chicken farming business stands as a beacon of opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking not only financial success but also a chance to make a meaningful impact. With low startup costs, strong market demand, and the potential for rapid growth, starting a free range chicken farming business offers a compelling proposition that merits serious consideration.  To build a successful, sustainable free range poultry farming business, you require sufficient knowledge of how to efficiently raise free range chickens, good business management skills, and a good free range poultry farming business plan. This article will outline how to start a free range chicken & egg production business, and the free range chicken farming business plan – PDF, Word and Excel.

This article and business plan is about free range poultry farming.  We also have articles and business plans for

Poultry Egg Farming Business  

Broiler Poultry Farming Business

Click the links above to go to the articles and business plans. 

Free range chicken and backyard chicken production is a lucrative business, but there are some essential decisions that you need to make before you venture into the business. You have to decide on the scale of your free range chicken farming business (the number of chickens that you will keep and eggs that you will produce), location of the free range chicken poultry farm and products (meat, eggs or both).  The amount of capital that you have and your target market will influence those decisions. If you do not have a lot of capital, you can always start small and grow your free range chicken farming business overtime. You also need to carry out market research (Who are you going to sell the birds and eggs to? At what price? Who are your business competitors?) and write a good free range chicken farming business plan before you venture into this poultry business.

One of the richest men in the world, Bill Gates, regards free range chicken farming as a good, profitable business. He donated thousands of chickens as a means of empowering people to earn an income by starting chicken farming businesses. In his article on his website, “Why I would raise Chickens” , Bill Gates says chickens are a good investment which can generate a lot of income for the people, as they have a multiplicative effect, due to the fact that they lay and hatch eggs frequently, thus multiplying the size of your flock quickly.

Market Research

Before starting your free range chicken farming business, it is essential to delve into comprehensive market research. This critical step can significantly impact the success of your venture by providing you with a deep understanding of the market dynamics, consumer preferences, and industry trends. Research potential suppliers for chicken feed, equipment, and other essentials. Additionally, determine the most efficient distribution channels to get your products to your target market, whether it’s through local markets, farmers’ markets, or direct-to-consumer sales.

Selecting the appropriate free range chicken breed is a crucial aspect of market research for your chicken farming business. This decision hinges on several factors, including the availability of the breed in your region, the specific demands of the market, and your business goals. Different chicken breeds excel in various areas, with some being more suited for meat production, while others are renowned for their egg-laying capabilities. Your choice should align with your target market’s preferences and your intended product offerings. By conducting thorough research on the strengths and availability of different chicken breeds, you can make an informed decision that maximizes your farm’s efficiency and meets the demands of your customers, whether you aim to supply meat, eggs, or both.

An essential aspect of market research for your free range chicken farming business is gaining a deep understanding of pricing dynamics within your target market. This involves not only comprehending the prevailing prices of free range chicken and eggs but also identifying your potential customer base, their purchasing habits, and the quantities they typically order. By gathering this information, you can effectively position your pricing strategy to align with the expectations and affordability of your customer demographic. This knowledge empowers you to set competitive and profitable prices while ensuring that your offerings cater to the preferences and purchasing patterns of your target audience, ultimately enhancing your business’s chances of success.

Land for Free Range Chicken Farming Business

You need to have land for your free range chicken farming business. There are several factors that you should take into consideration when selecting the land to run your free range poultry farming operations from. These factors include the available utilities, neighbours, local topography, prevailing winds, condition of roads, available existing buildings, and local government laws and regulations. Free range chickens make noise and produce odours, so your chicken farm should be located some distance away from residential areas. Low lying land close to streams is prone to flooding, so you should avoid such kind of land topography. Land which is level is better, as hilly land increases the construction costs of free range poultry housing due to grading that would have to be done. Consider the available utilities, it’s better to choose a location that has a good water supply and is connected to the main electricity gridline.  Also consider the conditions of the roads – vehicles will use the roads to deliver chicks and feed to the chicken farm as well as deliver chickens to the market from the farm. Thus you will need to choose a location with good roads for your free range poultry farming business. Also consider if the land will allow you to expand in the future, eg is there enough space to construct additional free range chickens houses? Depending of your choice of production system, free range chickens may require pasture to forage on and move freely around, so you should also consider if the land is suitable for free range chickens to scavenge around.

Free Range Poultry Housing

There are various housing options that you can consider for free range chickens. By definition, free range chickens must be allowed access to the outside, that is there should be space available for them to roam around freely outdoors. However, they also need proper housing especially at night. Some poultry farmers even keep free range chickens indoors all the time. Free range poultry housing may be fixed or mobile. Pasture rotation can easily be achieved when using mobile free range chicken housing which reduces damage to pasture and frequently give the chickens access to fresh pasture. Most commercial poultry farmers use fixed free range chicken housing. The free range poultry housing should provide adequate space, light, ventilation and protection to the birds. Free range chickens should have adequate space to move around even in fixed housing systems. If they don’t have enough space, the birds become stressed, cannibalism may occur, and diseases can easily spread. The free range chicken housing should have an adequate ventilation system – this can be achieved by a poultry house that has open sides. If the housing has poor ventilation, that may cause heat stress which leads to death of the free range chickens thus leading to financial loss of your free range poultry farming business. Chickens cannot tolerate high temperatures, thus why it is necessary to construct the poultry house such that its length is in an east-west orientation to avoid direct exposure to sunlight.

A well lighted housing is important for a successful free range chicken business. If the free range chicken house is dark, that leads to inactive and unproductive chickens. Free range chickens require light as it stimulates egg production, and encourages the chickens to eat feed which is good for their growth and health. Natural lighting ie sunlight is preferable as long as it does not increase the temperature of the house – thus why good ventilation system is required for the poultry housing. The free range chicken housing should also offer adequate protection to the birds : protection from predators and extreme weather conditions. Chicken predators include snakes, rats, dogs and mongooses. Your housing can be in the form of chicken barns, runs, pens, houses, hutches, cages and the cost of construction will depend on the materials used, and the size of the free range poultry house. The free range chickens and backyard chickens also need pasture for them to forage. One of the major difference between broiler chickens and free range chickens, is that broilers are raised indoors, confined to the broiler house, while free range chickens will spend most of the day outside, foraging the pasture and vegetation. The costs of constructing the housing should be include in the free range chicken farming business plan.

Equipment for Free Range Poultry Farming Business

Several equipment are required when carrying out free range chicken farming business. Free range chickens should not lay eggs on the floor, thus you should provide nests for them. Nests can be in different forms that include baskets, card boxes, wood and specially-crafted nest boxes. Ensure that your provide adequate nests – the required number depends on the number of laying free range chickens and size of the nest boxes. Feeding equipment is obviously required. Good poultry feeders should : have correct height and depth, easy to clean and be stable so that they are not knocked over by the chickens. Materials used to make poultry feeders include metal, wood and plastic. Small chicks need their own feeders separate from large chickens. Adequate drinking equipment is also required by the chickens. For large commercial free range farming businesses, you can use automated feeding and drinking systems. Incubators may also be required in free range poultry business. They are used for hatching chicken eggs to produce chicks. Free range chickens can naturally hatch eggs on their own, but the numbers of eggs which they can maintain and hatch are limited. To hatch a large number of eggs at one time you will have to use incubators. The free range poultry framing business plan should include a budget of purchasing the poultry equipment.

Day Old Chicks

You need day old chicks to start your free range chicken and backyard poultry farming business.  After getting experience, you may then hatch your own chicks, which will greatly reduce your expenses as you will no longer need to buy day old chicks. You should purchase your day old chicks from a reliable accredited hatchery or company where the parent stocks are well managed. If you are new to the free range poultry business, you should enquire from other farmers to hear where they buy their chicks from. The success of your free range poultry and backyard chicken business will partly depend on the quality of day old chicks which you buy. The free range chicken farming business plan should cater for the costs of purchasing the day old chicks.

Free Range Chicken Breeds

Major products of commercial free range chicken farming business are meat and eggs. Your choice of chicken breed will be determined by the final product that you want to sell. You can choose breeds that maximize meat production or egg production. Dual purpose free range chicken breeds can be used to do both meat and egg production. Rhode Island Red  is a popular American free range chicken breed which is very good at laying eggs as it can produce more than 260 eggs per year. The Sussex chicken breed is a dual purpose breed, which is kept for both meat and egg production. Jersey Giant is a very large chicken breed which is usually kept for meat production, though they also lay eggs. New Hampshire Red is a dual purpose free range chicken breed which grows quickly and are used for both meat and egg production.   White Leghorns breed chickens are usually used as layer birds they produce between 280-320 eggs per year, each egg weighing a minimum of 55 grams. Orpington is a large chicken breed which can be used for both meat and egg production as it can produce up to 200 eggs per year. The Boschveld  chicken breed is from Africa, and it can withstand varying climatic conditions. Boschveld  chicken breed is a dual purpose breed, which can be raised for both meat and egg production. There are many other breeds which include Golden Comet, Cornish Cross, Buckeye,  Ameraucana, Chantecler,  Barred Plymouth Rock, Croad Langshan, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Bresse,  Australorp and Dorking.

Feed For Free Range Poultry

There are different feeding systems that are used in free range chicken farming operations. Adequate feeding is important to ensure the success of the free range chicken farming business. At the same time, feeding costs should be monitored so as to maintain the profitability of the free range chicken farming business. The advantage of rearing  free range chickens over broiler chickens is that they will get some of their food from scavenging the surroundings, thus the feed costs are minimized. Free range chickens can feed on pasture and forage outside for leftover food, greens, bugs etc. In a free range poultry rearing system, adult hens and cocks ought to be given enough time and space for scavenging in the surroundings daily. The best time for scavenging is early morning and late afternoon when there are plenty of insects and less heat.

However this is usually not adequate for commercial free range chicken farming businesses. Thus you will have to give supplementary feed to the free range chickens. This can be in the form of commercial stock feeds. As stock chicken feeds are expensive, free range chickens can also be given maize, wheat, sorghum, rice and other grains. Home made stock feeds can also be used to feed free range chickens. Supplementary feeds should be offered in the morning and evening when the free range chickens come back for the night. Clean water should be provided in shady areas during the day to avoid heat stress.  You should adequately feed your free range chickens to ensure that they reach their market weight in the target period. Lack of sufficient feed causes slow growth, poor health and low egg production which reduces the profitability of your free range chicken farming business. You will also need proper vaccines and medications to prevent diseases and promote growth of your free range and backyard chickens. Costs of feed should be included in the free range chicken farming business plan.

Free Range Chicken Farming Business Model

The foundation of a successful free range chicken farming business revolves around a well-structured and sustainable business model. To kickstart this venture, you begin by acquiring day-old chicks, which serve as the future of your flock. These chicks are nurtured and raised in a suitable free range housing environment, where their growth and well-being are carefully monitored. The flexibility of this business model lies in its versatility, allowing you to produce either eggs, chickens for meat, or a combination of both, depending on market demand and your strategic preferences.

The primary expenditures in this business include the initial cost of day-old chicks and ongoing expenses related to feed and maintenance. As the chicks mature, typically reaching maturity at around 12 to 16 weeks, you can decide whether to sell them as live birds or as dressed birds for meat, tailoring your approach to meet the needs of your target market. On the other hand, if your focus is on egg production, free range chicken layers will begin laying eggs consistently from the age of 20 weeks onwards. These freshly laid eggs can then be sold, constituting a significant portion of your revenue.

The beauty of this free range chicken farming model lies in its self-sustaining nature. Over time, as your free range chicken layers continue to lay eggs, you have the option to hatch some of these eggs to produce your own day-old chicks, significantly reducing the need for recurring purchases. This cycle ensures a consistent and potentially lucrative stream of income throughout the year, making the free range chicken farming business an attractive and profitable endeavor.

Management and Labour

The number of farm workers you need will depend on the size of your free range and backyard chicken project. If you are running a small business e.g. 100 birds/cycle, you and your family may be enough to take care of the chickens. However, if you are rearing 2000 birds per cycle, you will need full time employees to manage the free range chickens.  There is need for good technical knowledge of free range chickens rearing techniques for success in the business. You also need good management skills. Salaries for all your staff should be included in the free range chicken farming business.

The amount of capital required for a free range poultry farming business depends on the scale of the project. Sources of capital include bank loans, and equity investors.Don’t have access to capital? Start small, and grow your business overtime! Free range chickens are very profitable, so if you reinvest the profits you get, you can quickly grow. You will require a good free-range chicken and eggs production business plan to guide you in your business.

Marketing Plan

Developing a comprehensive marketing plan is essential for the success of your free range chicken farming business. This plan will serve as your roadmap to reaching your target audience, establishing a strong brand presence, and ultimately driving sales. To start, it’s crucial to identify your ideal customers and understand their preferences and buying behaviors. Whether you’re targeting health-conscious consumers, local restaurants, or specialty grocery stores, this knowledge will allow you to tailor your marketing efforts effectively.

Creating a compelling brand identity is another vital component of your marketing strategy. Your brand should encapsulate the values of ethical and sustainable farming practices, which are closely associated with free range chicken products. This involves designing an eye-catching logo, selecting a memorable brand name, and creating appealing packaging that resonates with your target audience.

In today’s digital era, an online presence is paramount. Develop a professional website to showcase your products, farming practices, and contact information. Leverage social media platforms to engage with potential customers, share updates about your farm, and promote special offers. Additionally, consider content marketing to educate your audience about the benefits of free range products and position yourself as an authority in the field. Collaborating with local businesses, farmers’ markets, and restaurants can also expand your reach and enhance your visibility within the community. By incorporating these elements into your marketing plan, you can build a strong brand presence, attract loyal customers, and ensure the long-term success of your free range chicken farming business.

Market for Free Range Chickens Meat And Eggs

The market for free range chickens is high and increasing, as more people are moving towards organic and healthier food. Many people prefer organic free range chicken meat, as compared to broiler chicken meat. This is because free range chickens are highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and healthier. Thus, the demand for free range organic chickens meat continues to rise. Free range chickens have a higher price than broiler chickens, as they are considered to be more superior.

The eggs from free range chickens are also considered to be superior as compared to the eggs from commercial indoor layers chickens. Free range chicken eggs are considered to be highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and healthier. Thus, the price of free range organic eggs is higher as compared to the usual poultry eggs. You can supply your free range chicken meat and eggs to individual households, butchers, schools, restaurants, companies, supermarkets, organizations, events, abattoirs etc. You can sell your free range chicken as live birds or you can slaughter and freeze them and sell them as dressed chicken.  As you grow your business, you will also be able to export your free range organic products.

Advantages of Free Range Chicken Farming Business

One of the primary attractions of venturing into free range chicken farming is the relatively low startup costs associated with this agricultural endeavor. Compared to other farming ventures, the initial investment required to set up a free range chicken farm is comparatively modest. This affordability makes it an accessible option for individuals looking to enter the farming industry without the burden of high upfront expenses. Aspiring entrepreneurs can get started with a manageable budget, allowing for a gradual expansion of their operations as they gain experience and confidence in the business.

Another compelling advantage is the strong market demand for free range chicken products. With an increasing number of consumers seeking healthier and ethically produced food options, the market for free range chicken meat and eggs has been steadily growing. This rising demand provides a favorable environment for entrepreneurs in this industry, as it ensures a consistent customer base and potential for sustainable growth. The strong market demand not only enhances the profitability of the business but also offers a level of resilience in the face of economic fluctuations.

Additionally, free range chicken farming offers the flexibility of diversifying product offerings. Entrepreneurs can choose to focus on egg production, meat production, or even a combination of both, depending on market trends and their business goals. This versatility allows for the adaptation of the business to changing consumer preferences and market dynamics. It also mitigates the risks associated with being solely reliant on a single product category, further enhancing the business’s long-term viability and profitability.

Moreover, the potential for rapid growth is a significant advantage in this industry. By hatching their own chicks from eggs laid by free range layers, farmers can reduce the need for external purchases and increase their self-sufficiency. This self-sustainability not only minimizes ongoing expenses but also accelerates growth potential. Farmers can control their supply chain, ensuring a consistent stream of day-old chicks for future production, thereby optimizing their profits.

Pre-Written Free Range Chicken And Egg Farming Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel): Comprehensive Version, Short Funding/Bank Loan Version and Automated Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the free range chicken production business, we encourage you to purchase our well-researched and comprehensive business plan. We introduced the business plans after discovering that many were venturing into the free range chicken business without enough knowledge and understanding of how to run the business, how to keep the birds, lack of understanding of the financial side of the business, lack of understanding of : the industry, the risks involved , costs and profitability of the business; which often leads to disastrous losses.

The StartupBiz Global business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run your free range chicken business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as you will be aware of all the costs involved in setting up and running the free range chicken business.

Uses of the Free Range Poultry Farming Business Plan – PDF, Word And Excel

The free range poultry farming business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives.
• Applying for a bank loan.
• Start-up guide to launch your free range poultry farming business.
• As a project/business proposal.
• Assessing profitability of the free range chicken business.
• Finding a business partner.
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save.
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation.

Contents of the Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan – PDF, Word And Excel

The business plan include, but not limited to:

• Marketing Strategy
• Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortization)
• Risk Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• Market Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements (Including technical aspects of how to keep and rear the free range chickens, feed requirements etc)
• Operational Strategy
• Why some people in the free range poultry business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your free range poultry business

The Pre-written Free Range Chicken Farming Business Plan package consists of 4 files:

• Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive Version – 93 Pages)
• Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive Version – 93 Pages)
• Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan Funding/Bank Loan Version- Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan/funding – 44 pages)
• Free Range Chicken And Egg Production Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel File)

The business plan can be used in any country and can be easily edited. The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the number of chickens, selling price of  the chickens etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

Click below to download the Contents Page of the Free Range Chicken Production Business Plan (PDF)

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I purchased a business plan from you, and I’m glad to inform you that I was able to get my loan, and I’m starting my poultry farming business on the 1 st of July. This was made possible because of your business plan. Thank you very much, you made my dream come true.

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Get the Free Range Chicken And Egg Farming Business Plan - PDF, Word And Excel

Click Buy Now  below to purchase using Paypal, Credit Card, or Debit Card. After you have purchased, you will immediately see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. You will also immediately get an email with the business plan download link. The Pre-written business plan package (PDF, Word, and Excel) costs $30 only!

If you want to purchase multiple business plans at once then click here: Business Plans Store.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

We wish you the best in your Free Range Chicken production business! Check out our collection of business plans  , and more business ideas .

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How to Start a Free-Range Chicken Farm? | A Complete Guide

Many people are interested in starting their own free-range chicken farm to tap into the steady demand for eggs and meat. What’s the best way to get started?

Here are some steps to take on how to start a free-range chicken farm:

1. Know your state’s laws on farming and agriculture 2. Figure out the financial side of the business 3. Ensure that you have the space to let your chickens roam 4. Feed your chickens plenty of protein 5. Choose the suitable chicken breeds for a free-range farm 6. Learn how to handle eggs and prepare meat properly 7. Start selling your eggs or meat

The rest of this article will discuss the pros and cons of starting a free-range chicken farm and go into a bit more detail on the steps to get started.

Table of Contents

Pros and Cons of Starting a Free-Range Chicken Farm

Below are some pros and cons of starting a free-range chicken farm:

• You might spend less money going free-range: Chickens need a lot of chicken feed and protein to survive, lay eggs, and become ready for consumption. However, going free-range means that your chickens can mainly eat grass, bugs, and other natural food items they might find.
• You get some free pest control: With your chickens roaming around, they will likely eat insects, including some that can harm your plants.
• Your chickens will be healthier: Chickens benefit from roaming around and getting adequate sunlight. If your chickens are walking around freely, they will likely be healthier.
• You won’t need as much space for your coop: Your chickens will likely be fine with all the room that a free-range farm has to offer. You don’t need to worry about regularly creating space in your chicken coop.
• Your chickens will have free shade: You won’t have to worry about providing shade from the sun with a free-range farm. A large tree or any structure large enough to cast a shadow is usually enough.
• You will sell healthier products: Because your chickens will be more active, they will have lower fat and grasses that contain Vitamin A. These vitamins, and the low fat are healthy for your customers as well when they consume your egg or meat products. 
• You will have to watch out for predators: Chickens are usually prey to animals such as wolves, foxes, coyotes, and mountain lions (if you live in a mountainous area). You’ll likely have to invest in a good guard dog or traps to prevent the animals from getting your chickens.
• You will have eggs everywhere: Having lots of eggs all over the farm should ordinarily be a positive. You’ll have eggs to sell or more chickens for meat production. However, it may be difficult to deal with the resulting mess. Free-range chickens will lay their eggs anywhere they can find, making it harder to manage egg production.
• There will be chicken excrement everywhere: You’ll need a plan to scoop up chicken excrement regularly. The waste is great for fertilization, but it’s difficult to collect the droppings in one spot. 
• Your garden may be destroyed: Chickens tend to eat anything in their path, and your flowers and plants are no exception. Free-range chickens can be detrimental to your garden if they decide to eat some of your plants.
• You may have some noisy chickens on your hands: Free-range chickens will get used to the free space they have and being active. Once accustomed to this freedom, chickens might become very noisy when you put them back in a coop.
• Your chicken might get sick due to ingesting the wrong food: Chickens tend to eat anything they see; because of this, there will be choking hazards. Your chicken can choke on wires or litter that has come into the yard. Be sure to keep the space clean and to be wary of items that could hurt your chickens.
• Your chickens might dig holes: Chickens like to scratch the ground a lot and end up digging up holes in your garden or land. This will quickly become annoying and hazardous once you start collecting eggs, feeding your chickens, or maintaining the land. Additionally, not only do chickens enjoy digging, but they also like to dust themselves within these holes, which could result in them digging even deeper.

7 Steps to Starting a Free-Range Chicken Farm

This section will go over the crucial steps you should take to begin starting up your free-range chicken farm.

1. Know Your State’s Laws on Farming and Agriculture

The first step in starting your free-range chicken farm is recognizing what your state requires of you regarding running a free-range chicken farm. Every state has different regulations regarding how many chickens you can have, how you should maintain your eggs, how meat should be kept and prepared, and where and how you can sell your chicken products.

Research your state’s farming and agricultural laws by visiting your state’s agricultural department’s website. You can also try calling your state’s agricultural department if you find that you still have questions regarding your free-range chicken farm.

Additionally, it is imperative to follow the federal agricultural laws.

It is also vital that you inform the appropriate government agencies about your free-range chicken farm business to become certified.

Do not skip this crucial step. Not following state regulations can have serious consequences. You may end up in prison or getting fined.

2. Figure Out the Financial Side of the Business

There are plenty of financial aspects to consider when starting a free-range chicken farm. You will need to carefully determine how much money to invest into the business and how much you should charge for your products.

The following are some financial factors to consider when investing in your free-range chicken farm:

• Employee wages: Chances are, you might not be running the farm on your own. When you are deciding on pricing for your goods and products, you need to consider employee wages. Remember, you’ll have to pay competitive rates in line with the local market.
• Cost of delivery service:   You’ll likely need a delivery service to bring the chicken products to your customers; you should work out how much you should charge as a delivery fee to your clients.
• Cost of equipment and caring for your chickens: Raising healthy chickens requires having the right system and tools in place to take care of them. Work out how much you need to invest into giving your chickens a healthy environment to grow in. 
• Work out how to price your products in line with the quality: The quality of your eggs or meat will be the most significant factor in determining the price of your products. You don’t want to overprice them, but you also do not want to underprice them if they are of excellent quality.
• The cost of the birds: When deciding on what products you will be selling, you will also have to decide what breed of chicken you will be buying. Some breeds are more expensive than others, so you will have to do your own research and invest in the breeds that you will need.
• Determine whether you will be buying or leasing land: The chances are that your house’s backyard will not be enough to house your chickens properly. Leasing land might be more affordable than buying it, but the land is not entirely yours with leasing, and the lease will eventually expire. Evaluate if you have the money or are willing to invest in additional land.

Be wary that most of these items are relatively expensive, and to make a profit, you will have to be dedicated to your business and the promotion of your products.

Additionally, you also need to work out how you can handle any emergency or unexpected expenses.

3. Ensure That You Have the Space to Let Your Chickens Roam

If you plan on having a free-range chicken farm, you will need plenty of room for your chickens.

If you live in an urban setting or have a small backyard, that won’t be enough to allow all of your chickens to walk around freely. Invest in purchasing or leasing some land to house your chickens.

The land needs to be spacious. Be sure that the land you utilize for your free-range chicken farm is clean and easy to maintain.

4. Feed Your Chickens With Plenty of Protein

Though your chicken will likely feed off grass and insects, you should still provide a good diet . Ensure that you are well-informed on the diet of your chickens and how to feed them properly.

Chickens need 20 grams (0.02 kg) of protein a day. Protein-based foods will help your chickens produce eggs and good-quality meat.

Here’s a list of the different kinds of food you can feed to your chickens:

• Chicken Scratch
• Other small fruits and vegetables

Avoid feeding your chickens foods with excessive fat or salts, onions, avocados, chocolates, and even dry beans. These foods can interfere with egg and meat production and can even cause illnesses in your chickens.

Related: What to Feed Backyard Chickens? | Information and Facts

5. Choose the Suitable Chicken Breeds for a Free-Range Farm

Some chicken breeds are more suitable for a free-range farm than others.

You need to choose breeds known for egg production and breeds known to be friendly and tameable.

Chicken Breeds That Are Proficient at Egg Production

• Hybrid chickens (i.e., Golden Comet)
• The Rhode Island Red
• The Leghorn
• The Plymouth Rock
• The Barnevelder
• The Hamburg
• The Buff Orpington
• White-Faced Black Spanish
• Red Sex Link
• Barred Rock
• New Hampshire Red

Chicken Breeds That Are Known to Be Friendly and Tameable

• The Silkies
• The Speckled Sussex
• The Wyandotte
• The Australorp
• Jersey Giants
• Lakenvelder
• Egyptian Fayoumi
• Cackle’s Red Broiler
• Austra White

Extra Tips on Boosting Your Meat and Egg Production

• Give your chickens medical attention when necessary: Healthy chickens make for healthy eggs and production. Be sure to vaccinate your chickens and get them checked for diseases that they could contract.
• Give your chickens extra food once in a while: Protein will help your chickens produce eggs and quality meat. Giving your chickens extra food regularly can help improve your meat and egg production.
• Crossbreed your chickens when possible: Hybrid chickens can produce more eggs and meat.
• Boost egg production during the winter: To increase egg production in the winter, make sure your chickens get enough light , have extra food, and drink warm water. Likely, egg production will still be deficient, but you may still notice a spike after trying to boost egg production.
• Get a rooster for every 12 hens you have: Mating is the main way for your chickens to reproduce. It is recommended to have one rooster for every 12 hens that you buy. You can best use this method by letting the hens and rooster mate and then allowing some eggs to hatch so that you can have more hens. Additionally, you could also create hybrid chickens this way which will be great at egg production.

6. Learn How to Handle Eggs and Prepare Meat Properly

Eggs are fragile. Meat should also be handled a certain way to keep them from becoming rotten. You should know how to handle both before you begin selling them.

When you collect your eggs, keep them at a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.22 degrees Celsius). This keeps the egg from hatching or allowing the growth of bacteria.

Next, get your eggs graded based on the U.S. Grade Standards . If you skip this step, the eggs will be considered “unclassified.”

As a safety and health procedure, discard any damaged, rotten, leaking, or bloody egg. Getting rid of these eggs is essential to protecting your customers’ health and wellbeing.

In regards to prepping meat for selling, you need to know how to kill a chicken, remove the feathers, cut them up, and clean them out.

There are plenty of videos and resources on how to prepare chicken meat properly. Learn how to effectively and efficiently do this in a clean manner before you start selling meat products to potential customers.

7. Start Selling Your Eggs or Meat

Now that you’ve done your research, taken appropriate care of your chickens, and learned how to handle and prepare meat and eggs correctly – you can begin selling products .

Remember to consider the amount of money you spent on feed, taking care of your chickens, and even gas prices for your vehicle. All of these play a role in determining the cost of your products.

You also want to think about the quality of your eggs and how many you are selling per carton. Typically, egg cartons contain a dozen (12 pieces) eggs.

You also want to package your meat correctly. Place the meat in a proper container and be sure that the container is completely sanitary.

Related: How to Sell Chicken Eggs? | Helpful Tips

Starting a free-range chicken farm can be a long and complicated process. However, knowing the proper steps to take can help you ease into creating a new hobby or source of revenue.

Starting a chicken product business requires knowing what local laws say about starting a free-range chicken farm, knowing the prices of your products, choosing the right chicken breeds, caring for them, and following proper sanitary procedures to prepare the eggs and meat products.

With these crucial steps covered, you can set up your free-range chicken farm.

Related: What to Know About Chicken Farming? | Explained for Beginners!

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How to Start Free-range Chicken Farming: A Step-By-Step Guide, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Table of contents, what does free-range chicken mean, benefits of free-range chickens, land, house, and equipment needed, housing requirements, chicken breeds suitable for free-range farming, equipment for free-range chicken farming , feed and nutrition for free-range chickens, tips for free-range chicken care, management and labor required, the market for free-range chicken meat and eggs, disadvantages of free-range chicken farming.

It is a very lucrative business, and many people make money worldwide by raising free-range chickens. However, to build a successful, sustainable, free-range poultry farming business, you need sufficient knowledge, good management skills, and a business plan to raise free-range organic chickens effectively. Let’s check out how to start free-range chicken farming below.

When chickens or other livestock are “free-range,” they can roam freely, with free access to outlying areas and fewer restrictions on their overall movement and housing. These animals are not limited to a small coop, warehouse, or pen; they have a much larger, more enriched space to explore. Since some legal regulations on how free-range can be officially labeled for chickens, various farmers, commercial agricultural workers, or urban homesteaders can consider their poultry free-range in different ways. 

The main difference between regular chicken production farms and free-range bred chickens is the environment in which they are reared. Common farms keep chickens in tight spaces with many other chickens; this is a large-scale factory breeding environment. The same is true of chickens raised for their eggs. Their diet and conditions may or may not be purely organic. Free-range chickens can roam in low-pressure environments, outside and away from chicken coops or common residential areas. This arrangement allows the chickens to roam in nature with plenty of air, sunshine, and no stress.

In case you missed it: Earning More than 3 Lakh Per Month: A Success Story of Kadaknath Chicken Farmer

There are several benefits to raising free-range chickens. Because birds are not confined to small areas, they get more exercise; their flesh has more muscle and protein in their limited habitat than these birds. Free-range chickens generally have lower fat and calorie content in their meat and eggs, and many consumers believe that free-range chickens and their eggs taste better and fuller.

Better health helps birds be more resistant to pests and diseases, although they may be more susceptible to predators. With more room to roam, free-range chickens have anxiety, aggression, and territoriality problems, even with large flocks. The cost of caring for free-range chickens can also be less than that of a confined flock. Because birds naturally feed on a wide range of food, there is less need for expensive feed or extra pellets.

Free-range chickens will also control natural pests in gardens or landscapes as they snatch away all kinds of insects, weeds, and seeds, and their natural beaks, scrapes, and digs will sprout into the soil. Their pulp becomes the best fertilizer. A large flock can lead to a dirty or bad rebel area; however, be aware of the consequences before releasing the birds. Free-range chicken tastes better and has more protein due to better breeding conditions. The best breeding equals the best health.

Chickens that spend free time outside with better exercise, clean air, clean water, and plenty of sunshine are the best sources of natural meat products. On the farm or in, the free-range chickens on your farm can benefit your landscape. Farmers use mobile chicken pans to move chickens on their farmland.

Chickens feed on insects and eat leftover crops such as lettuce and other vegetables that fertilize the soil simultaneously. It creates a symbolic relationship between animals and the land. A few free-range chickens can help reduce pests in the garden and provide you with a fertilizer source. 

• Broader diet – Free-range chickens can feed on insects, grasses, and weeds. Their diet will be much more diverse than that of captivity. It makes them happy and healthy chickens.
• Low feed cost – Since chickens are foraging, this will increase some of their feed. You will need to give them chicken feed, but free-ranging will reduce the amount. Saving money is always a good thing in life.

In case you missed it: How this Farmer Made 24 Lakh Profit from Country Chicken Farming – A Success Story

The type of housing you need and the size of this property will depend on your poultry endeavor. When choosing a poultry business location, you want to balance the cost of the property, labor costs, safety, and the need to be close to the market, along with excellent water sources. 

When you plan to build a free-range chicken house, you must choose a well-drained place with lots of fresh air circulation. Proper housing must have adequate ventilation and proper lighting. Ventilation is necessary to allow adequate air exchange. To make eggs all year round, you must put proper lighting in your facility. You must have the equipment, including feeders, drinkers, lighting systems, and nest boxes. 

As well as choosing the right site and providing enough space for chickens, adequate housing management is an important step in starting a chicken farming enterprise. Ideally, just like outdoor pastures, you should aim for one square foot per hen according to the density of your stock. However, two hens per square foot are also acceptable if you have limited space. The chicken house should be open both inside and outside so the chickens can easily access the outside pasture. Preferably, it should be high and well-ventilated. 

• Local chicken breeds or crossbreds of Rhode Island x local chickens
• Chinese chicken breeds such as Tam Hoang or Luong Phuong 
• The Israeli Kabir chickens

There are many different chicken breeds, and choosing the right breed will depend on your needs. You can sell meat and eggs or run a free-range chicken business for meat and eggs. 

• Rhode Island Red Chicken can be raised with both meat and eggs. They lay about 250 eggs a year. The Light Sussex chicken breed is a dual-purpose breed for meat and egg production. 
• White Leghorns are commonly used as layer birds. They can lay 300 eggs yearly, weighing at least 55 grams. The Boschveld chicken breed is commonly found in Africa and can withstand various climatic conditions.
• Welsummer can be a little taller with his beautiful plumage. But if picked up correctly, they will be quite friendly and attentive. They are also good herdsmen and prefer to stay out during the day instead of sitting in the coop. 
• Buckeye is a hardy chicken breed and can be a little aggressive. They do not incarcerate at all and need free-range. These chickens are fine even if it is written as long as they can move. 
• Minorca is the largest breed of chicken in the Mediterranean. They are also easy to handle and more friendly than the rest of the class. They will endure imprisonment, but doing so may hurt them a little. They prepare fodder on top and happily pecking, scratch, and eat insects. 
• Many other breeds exist, including the Golden Comet, Ameraucana, Barred Plymouth Rock, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Australorp, and more. 
• The breeds used in free-range chicken farming are also different from these chickens. The most commonly used breeds in free-range chicken farming are Kabir and Sasso chickens, and they grow a little slower than those living inside the poultry house but are bigger and heavier. 

In case you missed it: Broiler vs Layer – Chicken Differences, Management

In addition to fencing and building a house for just one range of chickens, you will also need to purchase various equipment to help the chickens. It would help if you bought drinkers, feeders, brooding equipment, heaters and heating bulbs, and chicken plucker machines. 

Free-range chickens must be fed to increase meat and egg production. Lack of water or feed will reduce resistance to diseases and parasites and increase flock mortality. In a free-range poultry system, adult chickens should be given ample time and space to clean the surrounding environment daily. 

The best time to clean is in the early morning and late afternoon, when there are plenty of insects and the heat, is low. Generally, supplementary feeds must be offered in the morning and evening when free-range chickens return for the night. For birds’ growth, clean water should be provided in shaded regions during the day to avoid heat stress. You will also need appropriate vaccines and medications to prevent disease and promote the breeding of your free-range chickens. 

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The advantage of raising free-range chickens is that they will get most of their food from the cleanliness of the surroundings. It reduces feed costs. However, keeping free-range chickens for commercial purposes is insufficient to feed on the surrounding fodder. You will want to supplement the free-range chickens’ diet with commercial stock feeds or home feed. You can also give them corn, millet, wheat, rice, etc. 

Provide shelter : Even free-range chickens need shelter at night and protection from bad weather. A strong coop should be available for the flock; a large herd or several coops can be planted in different areas to allow more bird choice. 

Provide supplemental food : Free-range chickens will feed on their own, but providing supplemental food can provide good nutrition and vitamins needed for a healthy flock. The feed can also train the chickens and return them to the coop at night for safety. 

Keep vaccinations current : Free-range chickens are more likely to contact other wildlife, ticks, or insects that can transmit the infection. Keeping birds up-to-date on vaccinations and worms will keep the whole flock healthy. 

The number of farm workers will depend on the free-range chicken size. If you run a small business like 100 birds/cycle, you and your family may have enough to take care of the chickens. However, if you are raising 2,000 birds per cycle, you will need full-time staff to manage free-range chickens. Business success requires good technical knowledge of free-range poultry farming techniques. You also need good management skills. 

The free-range chicken market is increasing as more people move towards organic and healthy food. People mostly prefer organic free-range chicken meat to broiler chicken meat. Thus, the free-range organic chicken meat demand is constantly increasing. Free-range chickens cost more than broiler chickens because they are considered higher. Free-range hen eggs are also considered better than commercial indoor-layer hen eggs. Free-range chicken eggs are highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and healthy.

In case you missed it: 1000 Broiler Chicken Farming Project Model Report

The price of free-range organic eggs is higher compared to that of ordinary chicken eggs. You can deliver free-range chicken meat and eggs to individual households, butchers, schools, restaurants, companies, supermarkets, organizations, events, and more. You can sell your free-range chickens as live birds, slaughter them, and freeze and sell them as dressed chickens. You can export your free-range organic products as you grow your chicken farming business.

Free-range chickens can mess with your backyard – Chickens like to scratch the ground in search of insects or while bathing in the dust. It is common in chickens, but when they scratch the ground too much, it can damage your landscape, yard, or garden. So, before you let your birds roam, ensure your landscape is well protected. 

Eating unwanted plants (garden, flowers, herbs, etc.) – If you or your neighbor has a garden and your chickens find it, they will benefit from free food. Also, they will eat some flower pedals and herbs if you are not careful. By giving their birds home-grown produce, they will be tempted to seek out this kind of invitation and create even greater heights to go to the garden.

Free-range chickens as soon as possible make it difficult to collect eggs – Although these birds are known to produce nutritious eggs, they make it difficult to collect these valuable commodities. Most choose to lay their eggs in hidden places around the yard. Hunting eggs can be frustrating if you don’t know where to start. It would help if you had several much-needed areas around the yard to overcome this problem. This way, you will save time as your hens will be left in special places where you can easily find their eggs.

Raising free-range chickens can be challenging, but it can benefit a stronger, healthier, more productive flock. The free-range system is best suited for small-scale farmers who raise chickens for domestic and commercial use. This low-cost free-range system increases the commercial value of poultry products. The above steps are useful for starting free-range chicken farming.

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AgriFarming has revived the giant in farming within me with the colossal information that you are providing me, keep it up!!!

Regards, Pat

I am in south Africa l want to start my farming free range chickens. l am asking a small grant to start. can any one what to help. please help thank you for your time sincerely yours piet

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Poultry Farm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Poultry Farm Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their poultry farms. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a poultry farm business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Poultry Farm Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your poultry farm as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Poultry Farm

If you’re looking to start a poultry farm, or grow your existing poultry farm, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your poultry farm in order to improve your chances of success. Your poultry farming business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Poultry Farms

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a poultry farm are personal savings, credit cards, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans, bank loans, and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and USDA FSA loans are the most common funding paths for poultry farm.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a chicken farm.

If you want to start a poultry farm or expand your current one, you need a business plan. We detail each section of a traditional business plan for a poultry farming business.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of poultry farm you are operating and its status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a poultry farm business that you would like to grow, or are you operating poultry farm businesses in multiple locations?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the poultry farm industry. Discuss the type of poultry farm you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of poultry farm you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of poultry farms:

• Breeder Farms : this type of poultry farm produces hatching eggs for delivery to the hatchery. After the 21 day incubation period, the hatchery then delivers the baby chicks to the broiler houses.
• Broiler Farms: this type of farm produces a 2.5 lb. to 8 lb. bird in 4 to 8 weeks which is processed for various types of retail sale to consumers, grocery stores or fast food chains as whole birds, cut-up breast, wings, thigh, drumsticks, deboned breast meat, or further processed pieces.
• Pullet Farms: this type of poultry farm produces pullets and roosters to be delivered to a breeder hen house at 20-22 weeks old when they are sexually mature to breed and lay eggs.

In addition to explaining the type of poultry farming business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of chickens and/or turkeys produced, number of production contracts, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the poultry farm industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the poultry farm industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your poultry farming business plan:

• How big is the poultry farm industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your poultry farm business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your target market.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your poultry farming business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: processors, grocery stores, and restaurants.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of poultry farm business you operate. Clearly, processors would respond to different marketing promotions than restaurants, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most poultry farm businesses primarily serve customers living in their same region, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other poultry farm businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes producers of other meat such as beef, pork, or fish, as well as producers of meat alternatives. You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other poultry farms with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be poultry farms located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What kinds of poultry do they produce (breeders, broilers, pullets)?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you use superior production methods?
• Will you provide services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a poultry farm business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of poultry farm company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to traditional poultry, will you provide organic or cage-free poultry?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the products and services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your poultry farm company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your poultry farm located near a processing facility, near a transportation hub, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your poultry farm marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in trade papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local agriculture extension offices
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your poultry farm, including animal care / feeding, flock supervision, animal transportation, sourcing feed, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to sign your 20th production contract, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your poultry farm to a new location.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your poultry farm’s ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing poultry farms. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing farms or successfully running small businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you supply 50 restaurants, or produce 2,000 birds for processing each month? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your poultry farming business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a poultry farm business:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of equipment and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your farm title or lease, or blueprints of the production facility.  

Putting together a business plan for your poultry farm is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the poultry farm industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful poultry farming business.  

Poultry Farm Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my poultry farm business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Poultry Farm Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of poultry farm business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a poultry farm business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of poultry farm businesses?

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Poultry Farm business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.

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How to start a Roadrunner/Free range/Indigenous poultry chicken business in Zimbabwe and the Business Plan

Posted by StartupBiz Zimbabwe | Feb 25, 2016 | Agriculture Industry , Business Ideas , Business Plans , Starting a Business | 140

Roadrunners/Free range Chickens/Indigenous poultry chicken farming business is a very profitable business in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans love roadrunners. They have a good taste and are regarded as highly nutritious. The demand for roadrunners is high in Zimbabwe. Roadrunners can be raised for meat, or for laying eggs, or both. This article will explain how to start a roadrunners business in Zimbabwe, and the business plan.

Before you start a roadrunners business in Zimbabwe, you have to decide how many roadrunners you want to keep per cycle, where you are going keep them, and your target market. The number of roadrunners you keep will depend on the amount of land and capital you have, and also the size of your target market. You should always carry out a feasibility study, market research and write a business plan before you venture into any business. Do not make the mistake of starting a roadrunners business or any other business just because someone is doing it and he/she says it’s profitable.

What you need

Land, Housing and Equipment

You need land and housing for your roadrunners/free range chickens. The kind of housing you need and the size of the land will depend on the size of your roadrunners project. An ideal poultry farm should be sited where there’s a large availability of cheap land and at the same time should be close to your market. Chicken cannot adjust well to temperature extremes, so it is very important that chickens be housed, cared and provided with an environment that will enable them to maintain their thermal balance. The right housing should have proper ventilation and the right lighting. Ventilation is necessary so that adequate air exchange can take place. Lighting stimulates hens to lay eggs. If you want to produce eggs year-round, you will need to install adequate lighting in your facility.  You should have equipment including feeders, drinkers, lighting system and nest boxes.

Birds need adequate space for movement and exercise as well as areas to nest and roost.  For roadrunners, you should have 10 birds per square metre (0.1 square metres for each bird) in the house, and at least 1 square metre per bird in the outside run/range. The roadrunners will need pasture where they can forage for food.

Day old chicks

You need day old chicks to start with. When starting the roadrunners business with chicks, purchase 25% more birds than is expected to be needed; this allows for mortality and culling. After getting experience, you may then hatch your own chicks, which will greatly cut your costs. There are a lot of farmers who are selling day old chicks for roadrunners in Zimbabwe. You will need to make a decision on which breed of roadrunners to buy. This decision will depend on whether you are mainly raising roadrunners for meat or for eggs. The most popular breeds used in Zimbabwe are the Boschveld and the Rhode Island Red. We do not advise using the rural indigenous chicken when keeping roadrunners for business. They have no genetic identity, meaning that you can tell their expected weight after a number of weeks, how many eggs they can lay, their growth potential etc. It is better to use pure breeds like the ones listed above, which have known genetic characteristics.

Boschveld Chickens

Stock feeds

Feeding is important so as to increase the production of meat and eggs from roadrunners/free range Chickens/indigenous chicken. A lack of feed or water will reduce resistance to diseases and parasites, and subsequently increase flock mortality. In a free-range or semi-intensive poultry rearing system, adult hens and cocks ought to be given enough time and space for scavenging in the surroundings daily. The best time for scavenging is early morning and late afternoon when there are plenty of insects and less heat. Supplementary feeds should be offered in the morning and evening when the birds come back for the night. Clean water should be provided in shady areas during the day to avoid heat stress. You will also need proper vaccines and medications to prevent diseases and promote growth of your birds.

The advantage of rearing roadrunners/ free range chickens/indigenous chicken is that they will get most of their food from scavenging the surroundings, thus the feed costs are minimized. However, they can not only feed from scavenging the surroundings, if you are keeping roadrunners for commercial purposes. You will need to supplement their diet with commercial stock feeds, or your own home made feed. You can also give them maize, sorghum, wheat, rice e.t.c.

Management and Labour

The number of staff you will need depends on the size of your poultry project.  If you are keeping 50 birds at the back of your house you may not need an employee as you and your family will take care of the birds. On the other hand, if you have a poultry farm you will need dedicated staff to look after the birds, and to manage the business. You need good management skills and technical knowledge of roadrunners rearing techniques if you want to be profitable. Do your research, and train those who are working for you.

Roadrunners/ free range /indigenous chickens are in high demand in Zimbabwe, with farmers usually failing to meet the local demand. The largest buyers are Hotels, restaurants and fast food outlets. They buy roadrunners in bulky to cook meals for their customers. Customers love roadrunners, because they are nutritious, delicious and organic. Butcheries and Supermarkets are an untapped market. We would love to go into all the major supermarkets in Zimbabwe one day, and see dressed organic roadrunners on sale. We would love to see roadrunners for sale in butcheries. There is also another untapped opportunity of exporting organic roadrunners. You can also supply to individuals.  Roadrunners are more expensive than broilers because roadrunners are highly nutritious, delicious, organic, and have no chemicals injected in them. The traditional meals with roadrunners are usually more expensive in restaurants than meals with broilers.

Pre-Written Roadrunners/Free Range/Indigenous Chicken Production Business Plan  : Comprehensive Version, Short Bank Loan Version, Automated Excel Financial Statements

For an in-depth analysis of the roadrunners/free range chickens production business in Zimbabwe, purchase our business plan. We decided to introduce the business plans after noting that many Zimbabweans were venturing into the roadrunners business without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the business, the risks involved, profitability of the business and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of their businesses.

Our business plan will make it easier for you to launch and run a roadrunners/free range chickens business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the roadrunners/free range chickens production business plan will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the roadrunners/free range chickens business. The business plan is designed uniquely for the Zimbabwean market.

It is a great opportunity having you around. Your business plans are well planned after a thorough research. They have actually opened up my approach to business. Thanx

I recently used their service am delighted to say I am a happy customer thank you keep it up and God bless with the business

You have been such a wonderful help.God bless you,I have somewhere to start now….it’s been a dream come true to embark on this

I have been impressed with the level of depth and completeness of your business plans. All product, operational, financial and marketing guidelines are there. Fantastic! Please do add more plans.

Very insightful and relevant homegrown solutions. Empowerment begins in the mind and this is it…

I found the business plans very informative, helpful to make appropriate decisions.

The business plan I purchased was well written and you did an extensive research, I am satisfied keep  up the good work guys and I am planning to come back for more other orders.

You have been really helpful. Its a rare commodity in Zimbabwe. Keep it up!

Good job and extensive research on your business plan thank you.

The StartupBiz business plans are excellent, well prepared, fully detailed. I had not that much of the financial knowledge of the Agri business I wanted to venture into but I can tell you right now that from the moment I went through those farm business plans I had purchased, I started having the real picture of what I was to get in to,what was needed for me to be financially successful and I would want to tell my fellow mates that if you really want the business you want to venture into to be successful I think you need to get one of the StartupBiz Business plan.You wont go wrong with those ones

Uses of the  Roadrunners  Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The roadrunners/free range chickens production business plan can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your roadrunners production business
• As a project proposal
• Assessing profitability of the roadrunners/free range chickens production business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

Contents of the  Roadrunners/Free Range Chicken  Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

The business plan includes, but not limited to:

• Market Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• Automated Financial Statements (monthly cash flow projections, income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, break even analysis, loan repayment calculations, start-up costs)
• Marketing Strategy
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements (e.g. type of housing required, feed required e.t.c.)
• Operational Strategy
• Why some Zimbabweans in roadrunners business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your roadrunners business in Zimbabwe

The roadrunners/free range chickens production business plan includes technical aspects of how to keep the roadrunners. It also includes a mini-directory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running the roadrunners/free range chickens business. E.g. We will provide the contact details of the companies that produce feeds, sell day old chicks e.t.c.

The Roadrunners/Indigenous Chickens business plan package consist of 4 files

• Roadrunners Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – 91 pages)
• Roadrunners/Indigenous Chickens Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – 91 pages)
• Roadrunners/Free range Chickens Business Plan Bank Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – 41 pages)
• Roadrunners/Free range Chickens Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)

The business plan financials are in USD currency. 

The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change eg the number of birds, price per bird etc, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

Get the  Roadrunners/Free Range Chickens Business Plan (PDF, Word And Excel)

We decided to make them affordable for anyone who would want a business plan, and the price for pre-written business plans is only ZWL$350 000 for soft copies. When you pay via PayPal, Mastercard or Visa Card, the soft copy costs US$25 .

You can purchase via Paynow using Ecocash, One Money or Telecash. You just click  Pay   now  (scroll down)    and you will then be taken to Pay now website where you make the payment. Just follow the instructions; you will be done with the payment process in 2 minutes. We will email the business plan (PDF format, Microsoft word format, and a Microsoft Excel file with the financial statements)  to you within 24 hours, using the email address you provided when you were paying.

If you have PayPal , MasterCard or Visa Card , you can purchase the business plan via PayPal or DPO Payment Gateway.  You just click Buy now (scroll down) and you will then be taken to the PayPal or DPO website where you make the payment. Just follow the instructions; you will be done with the payment process in 2 minutes. We will email the business plan (PDF format, Microsoft word format, and a Microsoft Excel file with the financial statements) to you within 24 hours, using the email address you provided when you were paying.

You can also purchase  soft copies  at our  offices  in Harare. Visit  StartupBiz Zimbabwe, Suite 201, 2nd Floor, Morgan House, George Silundika Avenue (between 1st Street & 2nd Street), Harare  . The cost of the business plan is ZWL$350 000 (soft copies).

For any questions, other payment options, email us on  [email protected]  , call/whatsapp us on +263778798072  (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/263778798072 )  .

Roadrunners/Free range chickens/Indigenous Chickens  Production Business Plan 

Click Buy now to purchase using Paypal, MasterCard or VisaCard (US$25)

Click Pay Now to purchase using EcoCash, One Money or TeleCash (ZWL$350 000)  

Check out more business ideas and our collection of business plans . Like us on Facebook , follow us on Twitter , and subscribe to receive notifications of new posts in your email.

A note from StartupBiz Zimbabwe: Everyday we send business updates via Whatsapp. Click the link to join: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DPa61WKvMHN5PGVJERxd9T or send the word join via Whatsapp to  +263778798072  (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/263778798072 ).

About The Author

StartupBiz Zimbabwe

StartupBiz Zimbabwe is a business research firm based in Zimbabwe. We sell prewritten business plans for various industries including agriculture, transport, manufacturing, retail and education. StartupBiz Zimbabwe also publishes articles on business ideas, business news, business tips, personal finance, entrepreneur interviews and profiles.

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140 Comments

Hi, where can I get point of lay boschvelds.

Thomas Vhalah. Quite interesting.I have just started rearing roadrunner chickens. Can I be added to roadrunner keepers group. My WhatsApp. No. is +263772337898.

hie get in touch with me for boschveld chickens on 0773 050 118

hw much are day old chicks for boschveld .

you can get in touch on 0772822144 and we can negotiate the prices depending on the quantities you require

WANT BOSHVELD CHICKENS ON +263718664889

I want to road runner chicks

I do supply Boshveld chicks for 16 Nov collection @70c each

0772945164 am Looking for roadrunner’s a good breed

Inspiring,informative and educative. Let’s hope we act. For, u can’t cross a river by looking at the water.

Want business plan 0714440055

Very interesting, informative and educative especially for me as I am very keen to venture into diversified farming projects. please keep me posted on boschveld chickens and ducks.

i,m looking for model chicken run for Road runners

Hie can i please be added to a roadrunner keepers group ,I started keeping roadrunners in 2016 and i have been doing very well and i hope being added in the group will make it easier for me to get customers for chickens and eggs and also to learn from other keepers.

If u were added in the group of road runners pliz can l have the group link on 0779195479

Hie i offer hatching services for chicken eggs

what are your contact details

0773375682/0772650582

how much do charge per egg

can i join a group of roadrunner keepers

@Elvis Mapeta,Paddie and Elisha,can we partner

0788808113, i need bocshved or roadrunner good breed

i am looking for an incubator

http://www.surehatch.co.zw/

I have an incubator, call me on 0784240512

that was motivating. if there are any buyers for roadrunners contact 0772737103 or 0778374926

For all your hatching services may you please call me on 0773 375 682,0772 650 582

guys am seroussly looking for boshveld 0782994221 please contact me

How many days does it take for eggs to hatch in a hatchery(incubator)

It takes 21 days for chicken eggs to hatch

21 days for chicken. Is there a market of roadrunners outside Zimbabwe

Any buyers for big and good roadrunners please contact me 0717147509

i am a buyer 0782690055

what size do you buy and at how much per bird?

how much do you buy them for and numbers and size you prefer sms me on 0773516448

I looking for point of lay hens ne jongwe. kindly app me on 0775472104

+263782985794

I need bushveld type

Interested i need to start my own project

Looking for partner to do the project with have a few birds plus plenty of land live in mazowe christon bank my number 0773025427

I want to try that project how many birds do i start with

i am looking week old chicks my number 0782690055

Im Iooking for roadrunner chicks 0775633882

how much are boschveld chicks

I am looking for a cock please app me on 0712 579 000

very informative, l am doing Poultry lndustriliasation, l enjoy talking to anyone who is keen to do chickens for sustainability

How can i get in touch with you am thinking of starting ip my own poultry project and have donors on stand by to help with the capital but they have been asking questions on sustainbility

send me email [email protected]

Hi I have been doing hatching but had no market for the chicks or the grown birds . Are you still interested in the project.I am will to do on a large scale have. Capacity for 5000-7000 chicks a month.

+263782985794 [email protected] We can start talking from there

Hie Francisca. Did you finally find a market for your grown birds and chicks. Am wanting to also go into this road runner business but am concerned about the markets. Its such a waste to invest without a market

please contact me i want to start aproject for chickens for sustainability

My project is a medium size with 20 different types of hens laying eggs for reproduction and 3 different cocks, every month i produce a minimum of 250 chicks with the help of an incubator, from August 2017 i will be releasing a minimum of 200 point of lay roadrunners per month, but i have no market. is there anyone who know buyers of large quantities of point of lay road runners

My contact number is 0772587426. please inform me about buyers of point of lay roadrunners

going at how much app me 0784493574

+263782985794 Contact me on that number. Or send an email to [email protected]

Do you have boschveld,at how much pliz Contact me on 0733223990(app)

I have boschveld road runners at $7 to $8

please I need boshveld seriously may contact me 0782994221

Are Freerange/ roadrunner chickens the same as organic chickens?

Where on the value chain do you get the best returns, road runner table eggs, roadrunner fertilized eggs, incubation business, day old chicks, young chickens, point of lay, or the meat?

i went through yo notes ,thank you. after starter mash whats the next food for road runners. what kind of vaccinations should i have in stock for this project.

um looking for a business partner

i am intrested to be your partner,call/sms 0778067882

l am also looking for a partner my # 0773773068(l am in kadoma)

Im looking for a someone to sponsor mie to start the project of road runners with terms and conditions.I have got the land and i live in bindura,Mashcentral.Pliz help.

I want to start that project how many hens can I start with

can you kip boschveld for breeding

Can I be added to WhatsApp group for roadrunner chicken keepers

hie…how much are day old chicks ?help email [email protected] if you know any prices and where l can get them..thank you

Looking for black Australorps, Boschvelder, Rhode Island red or white Call/txt on 0777389419 App on 0719389419

His contact me if you wanna know deep about these babies on 0774885768

May l be added to your whatsap group of road runner chicken keeper

I want boschvelder chcks

I am looking for all types of roadrunners found in Zimbabwe and may you put me in your whatsap roadrunner keeper. every educative and interesting

I haver roadrunner can u add me on whatsapp group for communication

looking forward to start roadrunner project early next year. where can l find day old boschveld. contact 0773339221

Very educative and want to be one of the best roadrunners keeper. Add me to your whatsapp runner keepers. My whatsapp number is 0772346162

pliz add me to the road runner Chickens whatapp group im interested. wish to learn more on this project.

add me to road runner group what up 0774149338

Where can I get Boschvelder or Rhode island week old chicks? Please add me to the group

My whatsapp no is 0773288091

add me also on whatsapp group 0719001708

add me also on whatsapp group 0772980496

selling Boschveld eggs, chicks and hens and cocks contact 0784443161 or 0775609277

hatching services chicks and eggs for sell Bosch 0784443161 0775609277 GANYANI TINASHE

Am looking for roadrunner( one week old chicks). type boschveld. i am in masvingo. contact me on 775140422.may you pliz add my no on whatsapp group

add me also on the whatsup group 0775141985

Hi hw much are the boschveld chicks.add me on whatsup group 0778879328

are there any other types of road runners, how good are they. kindly add me also to keepers lists

Add me in your group. 0774029798

am keen to start the roadrunner project but have no land to work on. anyone willing to partner with me. am in Harare and I go to work.

contact me on 0782916843 lve got land um in bindura to start the project

i have land in zvimba murombedzi and banket 0779224325

Why don’t the roadrunners sit on their eggs for hatching

Very interesting plz add me to WhatsApp group +27734266754

..am also looking for partners.anyone interested ihave land in Nkayi area

anyone looking for a partner.. contact me on 0779279363

CONTACT ME ON O782891277 email address [email protected]

Thank you for the information. Kindly add me on whats group for Road Runner keepers. am looking for Kuroiler breed and Boschveld bread of 3 weeks old as soon as possible. contact me on +263774212686

Please add me to the what’s up group. My main challenge is on finding stable dependable markets. My number is 0771008597

add me if you are added to the group 0774149338

Hello everyone. i am looking for someone with point of lay Boschveld and fertilised eggs. Contact me at; [email protected]

Very nice contact me 0779245250

Lease add me to the road runner whats app group 0772806910

very informative. please add me to road runner whatsapp group. my phone nò 0772580566.

looking for day old chicks. Boschveld, rhode island contact me 0785129009

ndri kukaroi so I looking chicks kana pane Ari kuita project rema roadrunner ndri kuda vana vacho

my number is 0784597476 call or WhatsApp

How much are 4 weeks old road runner chicks. Anyone with 50+ conduct me on 0782043717

Add me in relevant grps number 0776041857

its very interesting please add me into watsapp group »»0784238970 l real like to rear roader runners but l mostly try to do it at home(Binga) please add me in watsapp group for more assistance

If there is groups for poultry keeping please add

Quite interesting, kindly add me to keepers group

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ONE OF YOU GUYS AND I REAL WANT TO BE CONNECTED .Please add me to road runner keepers whats up groups and face book . MY WHATS UP NUMBER IS 0773475093

Intrested ,pliz add me on the watsp group,my nmber is 0773049450

Please add me in roadrunner group 0777578963

please add me tour whatsapp group of buisness i nam interested in keeping poultry 0773745600

Would like to start that kind of project. Would like a bankable business proposal

add me on the whatsApp group 0772473584

i want to start this project..add me on the whatsApp group please 0715146960

please add me to the group 0779637730, i want to start a road runner project

Looking for land around beitbridge to start the project and suppliers of chicks contact me on 0772858166

0779224325 pliz add

anyone selling road runners boschveld breed?

I am looking for boschveld type around Gweru Zvishavane area get in touch with me 0718905875

I have just started keeping roadrunners. Please kindly add me to the group on 0773444049.

Very interesting pliz kindly add me as well my app number 0739202450 would love to learn more and invest on the project

i am selling day old chicks at dollar for two call me on 0776224012 those in gweru ,shurugwi and mostly Zvishavane

It’s very interesting indeed what I’m reading on all articles I also want to start a business project on agriculture and poultry but my concern is the market I also need help or even if it means that I have to go to school for that and have both certificate Thanks and regards Nobert

I am looking for 5000 boshveld chicks plzz contact me on 0785270707

I supply all live birds

looking for boshveld chicks around bulawayo

Interested add me on whatsapp group please 00 277 67 809 3900

[email protected]

I’m interested can you please add me to the group

I am looking for black Australorp chicks, at least one month up to point of lay. Contact 0773410469 (Call/App)

I am looking for a for someone who need a project manager for his or her road runner project

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The Big Book Project

Agribusiness Training & Startup Tools

PDF Poultry Farm Proposal for Egg Production (Organic Free Range)

Last updated on November 15, 2021 by Temi Cole 4 Comments

This is an example commercial poultry farm proposal for expanding organic, free range egg production.

(It’s downloadable as a PDF , just press the button above.)

On this page, you’ll find a custom poultry farm proposal including:

Sensitivity

Market demand, marketing & sales.

• Financial Statements

Assumptions

Quick note : Although this poultry farming proposal was set in South Africa, the general principles and reading value will hold up whether you are from Ethiopia or Kenya, for example… …Or, anywhere else for that matter. (It’s all universal stuff.)

So without further ado, let’s see the proposal!

Introduction To Poultry Farm Proposal

Yippe Yolk Farm Inc. is a successful small scale egg organic laying farm in Gauteng , South Africa.

Started in 2019, the farm began with just 3,000 layer bird capacity.

And since then (some 72 weeks later) the farm has doubled its laying capacity (6,000 layers).

This was fueled by strong consumer demand for the product.

The USP of brighter, more vibrant yolks has been especially successful with restaurant chefs and food manufacturers.

Now, the executive team are confident that given the market feedback, that there is a solid case for expanding the laying capacity to 20,000 layers.

Having landed some high-profile PR coverage with notable recommendations from leading South African chefs,

Plus, rising consumer sales in the growing network of highstreet retail venues,

It is very apparent that an expansion in capacity is earnestly warranted.

Write Your Poultry Business Plan - in Just 90 Mins!

Poultry Project Reporter 2.0 - fastest way to write your project report online.

This proposal is a summarised pitch for funded and financial support required to raise the necessary growth capital .

All facts figures and findings herein are researched and provide a basis for this investment proposal.

Market Analysis

“The poultry and egg industry is the largest sub-sector of the South African agricultural sector. The poultry industry represented 16.6% or R47.9bn of the total gross value of 2018 agricultural production of R288.6bn and is the largest animal production segment.” (Source: Business Wire) “The South African organic industry has an estimated annual value of between R70 million to R80 million with fresh produce making up the majority (70 percent) of organic food sales (De Vynck, 2005). This represents 0.3 percent of the 29 total food market (Irwin, 2002). This is low in comparison with the markets in Northern America, Europe and Latin America (See Table 2.1). It is difficult to determine the local retail demand for organic food as there is no readily available time series data on retail sales. The leading research firm, AC Nielsen does not collate data separately for organic food products. Currently, demand is more than the supply particularly for organic milk and chicken (Mead, 2005).” (Source: University of Pretoria)

The statistical trend of increasing demand for organic produce in South Africa supports the 1st hand customer feedback of the company.

“In their haste to catch up, the South African chefs hardly know which way to turn. One-half of the Cape is trying to follow America, Mr. Stroebel said. The other half is trying to use the fusion of the Indian and Malay that is already here.” “The South African national dish, bobotie, captures its essence. It was said to have been brought to Europe by the Crusaders and to Africa by both the Dutch and the Malays. In South Africa, it has become a meat pie of coarsely ground lamb with plenty of curry, bay or lemon leaves and fruits, covered with a custard of milk and eggs, as homey and much loved as meatloaf is in the United States.” (Source: New York Times)

There’s some serious growth potential for supplying organic produce in South Africa.

Especially to high-end hospitality & event catering clients.

And it seems South African chefs are only just catching on to some of the more forward-thinking global gastro-movements.

The future is more fusion and richer blends, with a focus on vibrant colours and creamier textures.

Eggs are often a common ingredient feature, especially for the toppings like in Bobotie.

The long and short of it is there plenty more upside potential in the South African organic foods market.

“Garth Stroebel, the executive chef at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, said that until recently the best ingredients were sent out of the country. Five years ago, we had to take what was given to us — now, we are finding growers and buying from them directly.” (Source: New York Times)

We have strong press coverage and already some leading names in the culinary professional circles under our belt.

We are here to serve our country’s best cooking talent.

We refuse to export our produce. We are committed to exclusively serving our own market.

And our clientele knows it. We’re really trusted domestically and that’s largely (interestingly enough) an organic thing.

Our sales are growing as our professional users expand their repertoires.

The company recently expanded capacity by 100% and the decision was proven right by our sales success.

Our share of the organic egg market has directly snowballed.

Whilst we’ve benefited from increased cash flow , our capital reserves were spent on our recent expansion.

This time around we seek external capital financing to acquire land, build sheds and hold operating stock.

Opportunities

The opportunity to grow matches the market expectation – as leaders in the organic egg market, our growing userbase of professional chefs & institutions are becoming dependant.

Our desire is to walk with them, step by step – responding to their needs and entrenching our specialist supply role.

We have the conversation and don’t want to disappoint.

We can see that the profile of organic food consumption in South Africa is relatively emerging, compared with other advanced economies.

Currently, domestic producers are quite a bit behind in matching demand.

But it won’t remain that way for long.

New entrants are a constant potential. We want to capitalise on our advantage and firmly establish a strategic lead in the marketplace.

Key Factors for Success

Maintaining our healthy margins is key to the success of this growth strategy.

Sustainability is a cornerstone of the business.

Whilst we are seeking financing for this venture, it’s only because we estimate that we could miss the window and be overtaken if we try to internally fund this.

We have obtained a kind of 1st mover advantage which sets us apart from our peers.

If we self-fund this move, we might concede an advantage to another runner in this market.

Speed therefore also is a key ingredient.

An adverse global event like a pandemic would knock our ability to convert this goal.

Also, currently, the regulatory controls surrounding organic produce in South Africa are quite relaxed.

If that were to change, we may have some additional operational and administrative criteria to meet.

The current demand for orders of 100,000 eggs per week exceeds our current capacity by some 70,000 eggs.

The only way we can reach this goal is to expand the farm output by 250%.

With the current constraints, the only way to achieve this is to acquire more land and build.

We would need a suitable plot of land in the region of about 150,000 – 250,000 sq.ft.

A plot like this, however: https://www.gumtree.co.za/a-land-plots-for-sale/other/calling-all-developers-business-opportunists-and-small-scale-farmers/1008838104590912583360409

Would give the project even further breathing space up to 200,000 egg per week, for R3.3m.

It’s water-rich, has plenty of organic pasture and plenty of space and room for growth.

Time is ticking. We have already just bought a batch of 6,000 layers to replace a culled batch.

Therefore we have 72 weeks of production to go before our next flock replenishment.

We aim to tie in the timeframes of both the next flock replenishment and our expanded capacity launch date.

Naturally, there will be a delay of 18-20 weeks before we start seeing egg production on the new site.

But we want to see a mirror image production profile across sites.

So, effectively we’ve got 72 weeks to:

• Scout Acquire Prepare Launch

…the new production site.

Our target capacity will be 10,000 layers.

The company currently charges R1.88 per egg to buyers.

If prices hold, the executive team foresees a highly profitable extension of what is a very sustainable farm business.

However, there is some in-built resilience. Currently, the estimations of margin contribution per hen over the 72 week rearing period is R.329.19.

There is enough profitable headroom here that should feed costs rise, the business should still have buoyancy in profits to continue fulfilling debt repayment and further growth goals.

Demand is exclusively high in this niche.

There just isn’t the supply to meet it yet. And we’re far away from getting anywhere close.

It is very much supported by trend which is in our favour but also more substantially by the desire and willingness of buyers to ‘buy local’.

We are very much ahead of the curve here and should maintain the advantage on the rest of the field.

We already have open channels of communication and transaction with buyers. And again, their demand is yet unfulfilled.

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Our PR has already started a snowball effect of awareness among our target audience. User feedback of our service and products is glowing.

We are becoming firmly established in and almost synonymous with quality organic eggs in this niche.

A strong position by any estimation.

Our operations are quite lean.

On the ground, we would require more staff on the new site to fulfill keeping the flocks and managing the grounds.

But we have good training in-house and are confident of finding the talent at an affordable rate.

The centralised admin will handle all other management functions.

This is how our numbers on this new venture stack up:

[*All exceprts, tables and snippets below are produced using Poultry Project Reporter software.]

Capital Expense

Necessary capital expenses and operational or working capital:

Poultry Housing & Grounds

A summary of how much land and house floor space is needed:

Extimated feed cost of rearing the new flock:

Deep Litter Cost

The cost of laying down sawdust litter on the floor of the layer houses:

Operating Expenses

The direct cost of running the layer farm:

ROI Metrics

Key facts and figures for growing this business:

Combined Sales Revenue

Money made from selling eggs, spent hens, manure and gunny bags:

Gunny Bag Income

Breakdown of gunny bag sales:

Spent Hen Income

Breakdown of spent hen sales:

Manure Sales Income

Breakdown of manure sales:

Income Statement

Profit and loss of the poultry farm unit:

Discounted Cash Flow

Total discounted cash flows of the poultry farm business:

Loan Repayment

The scedhuuled loan repayments for financing the venture:

• Land availability
• Consistent market conditions

Supplier quote for poultry equipment

Now, over to you…

Are you currently writing a poultry farm proposal?

Do you have plans for expansion or diversification of your poultry business?

Either way, I’d be interested to hear from you.

* Remember : print off the PDF by clicking the button at the start…

Leave me a comment below.

Reader Interactions

Write your poultry project proposal in just 90 mins.

June 18, 2021 at 6:48 am

this article cannot be downloaded as pdf.

kindly help please

June 18, 2021 at 10:00 am

Thanks for letting me know – all sorted now. Sorry about the hitch.

Keep me posted.

Speak soon,

March 17, 2023 at 2:00 am

outstanding

May 1, 2023 at 7:12 am

I can’t download pdf. please help.

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