Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: jon on June 15, 2006, 16:34

Title: hi newcomer: starting up poultry business need help with inf
Post by: jon on June 15, 2006, 16:34

HI  :tongue2:

I'm jon business student in scotland and new to the forum.  

I'm looking to start up a poultry business in africa where I would like to breed chicken and process frozen & fresh product.  I'm interested in starting up a medium scale poultry business to supply a local demand market.  I'm on tight budget operation but I have massive land to operate from.

Could someone tell me the very first thing that  i need to know about poultry, pro's and con's,equipments or the whole process.

Would a poultry short course help me get of the ground?

Any little information you have, I will appreciate it.

thanks

Title: hi newcomer: starting up poultry business need help with inf
Post by: Tensing on June 16, 2006, 08:01

I would say that a course would be a very good idea if you are going commercial.

Also remember if you have more than 50 birds you will need to register with DEFRA.

Title: hi newcomer: starting up poultry business need help with inf
Post by: John on June 16, 2006, 09:25

Use your time here to get as much information as you can - buy some books that you can refer to but see if you can visit some poultry keepers - Maybe even offer to work a day each week for free to get an idea of how they run their business.
Be honest and tell them why - after all you will not be competition in Africa.
I expect your business course will help you evaluate the money side of things.
Which country are you looking at starting in?

Title: hi newcomer: starting up poultry business need help with inf
Post by: jon on June 16, 2006, 16:29

Hi

John & Tensing thanks very much for the info.

John, I'm looking to start the business in Namibia.

Title: hi newcomer: starting up poultry business need help with inf
Post by: John on June 16, 2006, 18:10

I don't know much about Namibia but it might be good if you could integrate a crop system with the chickens. L D Hills refers to using comfrey as chicken / animal feed in Africa.  Does need a fair bit of water though - might be worth seeing if your local library will get you a copy of Comfrey Past Present and Future by L D Hills.

Processing and freezing - quite capital intensive - could you get any grants? If you're providing, as you will, employment for people maybe you could get some help / advise from some of the NGOs  The HDRA might be able to provide some advise as well - they do a lot promoting organics in Africa

I wish you lots of luck -  
JOhn

Title: hi newcomer: starting up poultry business need help with inf
Post by: jon on June 19, 2006, 15:31

Thanks again John

I made a grant application at the local government and it has been successful in the first stage.  I 'm now waiting to find out just how much are they willing to offer against the amount i've requested.

I have come to a conclussion that its better  off to do a poultry course first because, i get an idea that its not as easy as I first imagined.

thanks for the information and for putting me in the right direction.

I will be back in near future for further information.