Economics of Poultry Farming ( A insight view)

  Unemployment is a problem worldwide. Highly qualified youths are not finding jobs matching to their intellect. Self employment or self entrepreneurship is the only way out. Poultry Farming is thought to be the easiest way out for rural youths with lot of land and funds available. Though this is a highly technical and skilful job, but due to hereditary cattle Farming trend,it is assumed to be simple. Like any other trade if you now the economics of the trade, you are likely to be more successful.
Let me talk of Broiler Farming first because it can be started with minimum investment and easy to start within small Sheds. A grown up Broiler of 2 Kg Wt. requires 2 Square ft. of space though a chick requires less than 1/2 sq.ft of space. So shed should be constructed keeping in view the requirements of a grown up bird. Water drinkers are to be arranged @ 1 drinker/ feeder per 20 Chicks or 15 grown up birds. Size of the drinkers and feeders also varies with the size of the birds. Usually two sized drinkers and feeders are arranged. One day chick of Broiler costs around Rs 15-30/-. A highly concentrated Feed costing Rs 35-40/- Kg is fed to these chicks. Now a days crum Feed is given which is in the form of crums so that with every bite, the bird gets complete dose of vitamins etc. 2Kg of Feed plus labour, medicines and shed expenses add up to cost Rs 70/- Kg bird. The sale price usually varies from Rs 75/- to 125/- Kg. In 45 days of age, bird attains a weight of 2 Kg approx. After the sale of this flock, the shed is thoroughly sanitised to make it ready for the next flock. ( To know more about rearing part of Broilers you can seeblog......https://plus.google.com/110483914753335459349/posts/PitNAKABXdy)
Next let's talk about Layer farming-
Layer Farming is a full fledged business where you can neither start it nor close it at short notice. Birds are reared in cages these days. A adult bird requires about 0.75 sq. ft of covered space whereas chick, grown in cages requires much lesser space. Three types of cages and Sheds are required. One for Chicks, second for the growers and finally for the layers. The one day chick costs Rs 35/- and feeding it for 4-5 months costs additional Rs 180- 190/- Thus a grown up layer bird costs around Rs 225/-. The shed construction for layer birds cost around  Rs 350/- bird. The required Land, Godowns and the grower Sheds costs extra to Rs 225/- bird ( grown up). Thus a total cost for starting a new layer farm costs Rs 800/- bird. This includes everything including land. ( Land prices calculated @ 15-20 Lac per acre) There is a specialised labour to construct Sheds for layers. A chick consumes approx 7 Kg Feed to be grown in to layer stage.( To know rearing part please see...https://plus.google.com/110483914753335459349/posts/PitNAKABXdy) .  Normally a bird takes 100-110 gm Feed daily to give an egg after 26 hours of time. It means 100 birds at maximum can give about 98 eggs. However this % age will go down gradually with the age of the bird . The market rate of a Egg varies from Rs.3/- to 4.50/-egg.. The Feed cost comes out to be Rs 19-20/- Kg. Usually the rated life of a layer birds is 325 eggs in a laying year. The bird is assumed to be retired after this period. Thus 5- 6 months of grower stage plus 1 year of laying make it to 1.5 year age of a layer bird. After this period complete flock is sold as culled.The rate of culled bird varies from Rs 16/- kg- 50/- Kg depending upon the demand and supply. On an average a bird should give a profit of Rs 100/- after repaying a interest  of 10% ( annual) on your investment.
With the upgradation of knowledge and competitive capabilities, now a days layers are kept for another six month after their retirement age after a process called " MOLTING". ( MOLTING is a complete subject . To know more visit my upcoming blogs). MOLTING process cost around Rs 10/- bird and a time of 30 days. The quality of Egg is improved after that. Moreover sometimes lean period can be bypassed by indulging in MOLTING.
Poultry manure is another additional source of income. A 10,000 bird farm can get about 1000 sq ft. of manure fetching about 20,000/-a year.