I have read so many success tips for entrepreneurs on poultry farming. As a wise farmer, I learned over time that so many farm produce are somehow seasonal. That means, there are times of massive sales or patronage, and times of low demand from customers.
Poultry business which is mainly a business for all kinds of birds/fowls: chickens, turkeys, ostriches, ducks, guinea fowls, etc., is one among the seasonal businesses. Just like chickens, no farmer looks up to immediate harvest of reared turkeys in less than 7 months. Chickens are different. The genetically prepared chickens or egg-laying breeds are kept for their egg-laying abilities. They are usually poor meat producers because they have small bodies. The meat producers are not expected to be laying eggs, only the dual-purpose breeds are; they lay eggs as well as produce meat.
In the case of turkeys, every farmer is expected to wait for harvest between 7 to 12 months. Guinea fowls, ducks and ostriches, also have their own individual peculiarities, quite different from the chickens. Apart from the meat value of an ostrich, it is also bred for its valuable tail feathers.
However, the knowledge I got for setting up a larger poultry farm only helped me to educate and mentor others. The reason is not far-fetched. I could not secure enough capital at the appropriate time. Though my friends did, and I was left to play the role of an adviser. I really enjoyed that but I lost out in owning my dream mega poultry farm practically. I could only manage the little one I had before while still having my eyes on the big one. In my small poultry business, there were certain things that I did that are worth mentioning for the benefit of other farmers, especially those who are planning to make it to the top no matter the size of the farm they are managing.
Advertisement: The issue of advertisement normally makes no meaning to so many people. It is only a waste of resources to them. Advertisement is what gives you an edge over many other competitors. When you are in business, no matter the size of that business, advertisement is the first thing you need to be on top. You can begin today by telling others about the services you render. When people do not know about what you do, it makes no meaning that you are in that business because there would be no patronage. You can use fliers, the internet, banners, signpost, etc., to inform people about what you do or display your services, contact address and phone numbers to reach you easily.
Good Prices: Offering good prices for your goods and services bring people to you. Apart from the conventional advertising earlier discussed, offering good prices for your goods and services helps to create awareness for you. Customers will carry the information to the areas you have not been or reached, free of charge. When people are impressed with your services, they have no option than to make you known to others. I was very much at home with my customers. I did not lose out to my competitors after their first buy; neither did I let my birds down by "dashing" them out to every customer. The birds felt a bit "honoured" because the price tags on them were right.
Timely Delivery: Delivering on time is another quality that marked my small poultry business. Many of my customers would simply book for birds only find them delivered to their homes or offices without delay.
Healthy Birds: Though stories of infections that threaten poultry business abound, yet I tried as much to keep my birds in good health condition. I did all that I could to make them the best among those of my competitors. Visitors to my small poultry farm are allowed to admire from a distance. Every close range means a dose of disinfectants. The birds were dewormed on time, helped with stress killers and vitamin supplements. The water containers were kept free from possible contaminants. All these measures helped me in managing and reaping a great harvest from my small poultry business, even though I was not able to own the larger farm I had planned to have earlier.
The lesson here is that no matter what you do, try to be faithful in little. Having a platform is what matters, because it provides the way of climbing to the top. I got to where I am today not as a result of owning a bigger industry initially, but smaller businesses which actually helped me to build the platform for bigger ones. You too can do this.
Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int"l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria.
He is the editor of FOUNDATION SATELLITE magazine also published by the ministry. He pastors a Church in Bauchi and is married with two children.
You can reach him at: firebrandhq@yahoo.com
or, 234 802 8181 829. Website: [http://www.palmgates.com]
or http://www.firebrandhq.com
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