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  • Beginner's Guide to Poultry Farming
    Hit Broiler Growth Targets
    Brooding Best Practice

    Discover the secrets to broiler growth by spending some time on the brooder floor with Dr. Scott Gillingham, Poultry Veterinarian.

    Accurate Egg Estimates
    Calculate Egg Production

    Factor in the right production dependencies for your egg farm to get at accurate estimates. Don't over or undershoot, use this method.

    Forecast Your Feed
    How Many Bags?

    A simple formula for calculating exactly how much feed your flocks will consume. This tells you the actual number of bags needed - handy.

July 23, 2020 by Temi Cole 6 Comments

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Chapter 1

Poultry Farming Fundamentals

This is where to start on the basics of poultry farming.

So, if you are new to poultry farming – this is the place to begin.

Get a grasp of these points and the more advanced strategies later on will make much more sense.

Poultry Farming Fundamentals

How to Start a Poultry Farm: Self-Start Techniques for Beginners (2020)

(The Big Book Project)

This guide will give you razor-sharp commercial focus for starting your poultry farming enterprise.

If you are a newbie, it’s a must-read to set solid poultry foundations.

How to start a poultry farm - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

Good Practices in Planning and Management of Integrated Commercial Poultry Production in South Asia

(FAO)

A detailed breakdown of the poultry farming business. It covers various species including chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail etc.

If you are not based in South Asia, don’t be put off by the title. It’s actually a far more universal guide than it would seem.

Simply, download today.

Good practices in planning and management of integrated commercial poultry production in South Asia - FAO
Check Out This Resource

Poultry Farm Manual: A Reference Guide for Central & State Poultry Farms

(Department of Animal Husbandry Dairies & Fisheries – Gov’t of India )

Packs in lots of facts and figures – yet scores high for brevity.

Short, but sweet – in a nutshell. But comprehensive, lots of take-home knowledge gained QUICKLY & PAINLESSLY.

Poultry Farm Manual - Government of India
Check Out This Resource

Basic Management of Poultry in Developing Communities

(University of Maryland Extension)

The most illustrative guide by far.

An essential field handbook for every beginner. It does more of ‘showing you’ rather than telling you.

Written in an easy – “do’s and don’ts” fashion. You’ll re-read this MANY times over.

Basic Management of Poultry
Check Out This Resource

Small Scale Poultry Farming in Central Ethiopia (PDF)

(Genesis Farms Ethiopia)

A giveaway with this guide is the phrase: ‘Teacher’s Version’. Hint: It was written for extension agents and teachers.

Therefore, it’s solid training tool.

An A-Z effort, done well. Lots of templates, quizzes/tests and even a sample business plan in the appendices. Completing this manual is completing a course. A real sense of accomplishment when all is done.

Small Scale Poultry Farming
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 2

Deciding To Farm Eggs Or Meat

Eggs and meat are the two principal outputs of poultry farming.

Deciding on what to produce can be confusing.

This chapter was written to make it an easy decision.

Deciding To Sell Eggs or Meat

Broiler Farming: The Definitive Guide (2020)

(The Big Book Project)

This guide was designed to show you all about broiler farming from a business point of view.

It does the job of answering a lot of questions which other materials skirt around at best.

Broiler Farming - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

Almost Everything You Need To Know About Raising Broiler Chicken

(University of Connecticut)

The second title in this round-up written by a Ph.D – but equally (as the first) a most pleasurable read.

Covers all critical topics and in bite-sized chunks. Just enough detail in each chapter to slam dunk a key takeaway each time.

Lots of evergreen reference material here. You’ll want to print this.

Almost Everything You Need To Know About Raising Broiler Chickens
Check Out This Resource

Layer Chicken: 72 Weeks in the Life of a Layer Hen Farmer

(The Big Book Project)

A fly-on-the-wall approach to telling you what to expect week to week (over 72 weeks) whilst rearing a batch of layer chicks to maturity.

Written in the 3rd person, after the style of a journal – it’s easily digestible and covers a broad range of topics with ease.

Layer Chicken - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

Raising Poultry for Meat or Eggs

(Minnesota Extension)

A well-rounded introduction into keeping broilers or layer birds on a small-scale.

Useful for if you need a quick comparison of the two related codes of chicken farming.

An interactive layout with dropdown panels to reveal just the information you need. An easy read.

Small Scale Poultry
Check Out This Resource

Broiler Management Handbook

(Arbor Acres / Avigen)

Best-in-class broiler rearing handbook from the market’s leading breeder.

Have a technical/operational question about raising broilers?

Look no further.

Broiler Management Handbook Avigen
Check Out This Resource

Brown Commercial Layers Management Guide

(Hy-Line)

All the industry-standard datasets and reference benchmarks for layer farming.

This is a critical planning guide for anyone starting up or growing a commercial layer farm.

Brown Commercial Layers Management Guide
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 3

Planning Your Poultry Business

Writing a poultry farming project report is not a pencil pushing exercise.

It provides an accurate projection of future returns (gain or loss).

The question is: what is the right way to write one?

This chapter answers this.

Planning Your Poultry Business

Poultry Farming Project: 12 Steps To Writing Your Report & Proposal (PDF)

(The Big Book Project)

This article demonstrates in detail how to write a persuasive poultry farming project report.

It is filled with screenshots, in-depth calculations with workings out, financial examples and a PDF download.

Poultry Farming Project - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

Poultry Farm Loan: Unmissable Reasons – Why You Don’t Need One

(The Big Book Project)

Often the priority topic on the lips of many when starting or expanding a business – finance.

This article speaks explicitly of the dangers of raising your poultry business on borrowings.

And more importantly, how to do it without the yoke of debt.

Poultry Farming Loan - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

What’s The Cost Of Rearing Poultry? A Practical Analysis For Any Number

(The Big Book Project)

A revealing, technical breakdown of the REAL business costs involved in starting up a poultry farm.

It includes step-by-step case studies with calculations to illustrate.

What's The Cost of Rearing Poultry - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

Poultry Farm Profit Calculation: A Detailed Step-By-Step Guide

(The Big Book Project)

A deep dive into how you should calculate the various forms of business profit in your poultry farm.

A must read.

Poultry Farm Profit Calculation - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

Benefit Cost Ratio: What Does It Mean? (Inc. Formula & Calculator)

(Selmore)

Want an accurate way of measuring if your planned poultry farm will be profitable?

Use this guide + instant calculator to get your results today.

Benefit Cost Ratio: What Does It Mean?
Check Out This Resource

Agribusiness Email Course

(The Big Book Project)

A deep dive into the crux of building a successful agribusiness plan.

Unlock today the most critical factors for putting together your winning plan.

Agribusiness Email Course - The Big Book Project
[Click on the button below and subscribe to receive the email course]
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 4

Choosing Land For Your Poultry Farm

This chapter will help you make better decisions on land investment for your poultry farm.

It covers the practical and technical principals

[…leaving you more confident in the way ahead.]

Choosing Land For Your Poultry Farm

Selecting a Site for Livestock and Poultry Operations

(MU Extension)

This guide shows you the practical points for consideration when planning a poultry farm.

A sound checklist for making the right land decision.

Selecting A Site For Livestock and Poultry Operations
Check Out This Resource

Plan For One Man, Ten Acre Poultry Farm

(The Poultry Pages)

This article helps you design a ‘pastured poultry’ farm site for a single person operation, over a few acres.

Ten Acre Poultry Farm
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 5

Designing Your Poultry House

Poultry housing is a critical factor.

It is the second largest capital asset (behind land) on your farm.

This chapter will help you design the most advantageous poultry house – for maximum profit.

Designing Your Poultry House

Poultry Houses and Fixtures

(University of North Texas Libraries)

This publication was written in 1940 – but is as valuable today, as it was then.

This guide tells you EXACTLY how and why you should adopt any specific house design.

Poultry Houses and Fixtures
Check Out This Resource

Poultry Houses: A Guide To Designs, Systems, Sizes & Structures

(The Big Book Project)

This guide will get you technically prepared for deciding on the most advantageous poultry house.

Poultry Houses A Guide To Designs - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

Floor Space Requirement For Layers: Online Calculator for Best Practice

(The Big Book Project)

A neat guide for figuring out just how much floor space you need for your layer houses.

It comes with an instant calculator that will email you the estimate.

Floor Space Requirement For Layers - The Big Book Project
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 6

Selecting Your Breed Of Chicken

This chapter takes all the guess work out of choosing poultry breed for your farm.

It makes clear why you should choose one breed over another.

Without being too technical – these resources will give you bird’s eye view on what type is for you.

Here it is…

Selecting Your Breed of Chicken

Choosing the Best Poultry Breed for your Small Farm

(The University of Maryland Extension)

A simple factsheet with all the best reasons why to choose a particular breed of chicken for your farm.

Choosing The Best Poultry Breed For Your Farm
Check Out This Resource

Chicken Breed Comparison Chart

(The Livestock Conservancy)

At a glance, this visual chart will help you separate out the most recognisable world chicken breeds.

A quick aid for making a snap decision on breed for meat or egg production.

Download, print and pin.

Chicken Breed Comparison Chart
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 7

Getting The Right Poultry Equipment

Where can you get a pick list of the best poultry equipment?

Right here.

This will help you get accurate scope for start-up capital cost.

Getting The Right Poultry Equipment

Poultry Farm Equipments

(Tamil Nadu Agricultural University)

A practical, who’s who list of the most common small scale poultry farming equipment.

Scan this list for a broad understanding on best kit for your farm.

Poultry Farm Equipments
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 8

Understanding Disease Control

Easily overlooked, but disease is a lurking threat to any poultry farm.

Profits can be completely wiped out in moments.

Learn here, how to combat biohazards effectively.

Understanding Disease Control

12 Poultry Farm Biosecurity Principles You Should Know

(WATTAgNet.com)

This presentation summarises your farm’s main lines of defence against disease.

Instructions to help bolster your prevention of disease outbreak.

12 Poultry Farm Biosecurity Principles You Should Know
Check Out This Resource

Poultry Biosecurity

(Iowa State University)

What a find!

This super simple guide shows you how to:

  • write a biosecurity plan,
  • how to document disease control measures,
  • how to train your staff to keep strict biosecurity on-site

& much more. Don’t miss out.

Poultry Biosecurity
Check Out This Resource

Awareness and Practice of Biosecurity Measures in Small Scale Poultry Production in Ekiti State, Nigeria

(IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science)

A study raising a very important point on the issue of poultry farm biosecurity.

Here it is…

Most farmers already know good biosecurity measures – BUT will they keep them?

Awareness and Practice of Biosecurity Measures In Small Scale Poultry Production
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 9

Stockmanship & Poultry

In the poultry business there are always signs.

Each one signalling the state of your profit – ahead of time.

The question is – can you read them?

Here’s how.

Stockmanship and Poultry

Practicing Good Broiler Stockmanship is the Key to Minimising Antibiotic Use

(The Poultry Site)

A masterclass for instituting the right stockman habits.

This 2-part guide details the ideal skillset for your practical poultry hand.

Practicing Good Broiler Stockmanship
Check Out This Resource

Broiler Care Practices

(The Poultry Site)

An examination of how best to handle birds throughout their life cycle – for best results.

Broiler Care Practices
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 10

Forecasting Your Poultry Farm Production

Farm production is the business end of your project.

The fruitful output to your financial & material input.

Use this guide to keep your sights firmly set on target production.

Forecasting Your Poultry Farm Production

Egg Production

(NAFIS National Farmers Information Service)

A useful guide for finding your feet in calculating egg production.

This guide tells you exactly how to accurately estimate the no. of eggs you should receive from your farm.

Egg Production
Check Out This Resource

Calculating the Net Return for Broiler Production

(US Department of Agriculture)

A good overview showing you how to calculate what your ‘take home pay’ should be after running your broiler farm.

Calculating Net Return For Broiler Production
Check Out This Resource

Broiler Farming Email Course

(The Big Book Project)

An exclusive email course that only our email subscribers get.

I spell out in detail how to estimate accurate broiler farming profits.

Broiler Farming Email Course
[Click the button below and subscribe to the broiler email course]
Check Out This Resource

Layer Farming Email Course

(The Big Book Project)

These are revealing step-by-step technical insights which are JUST what you need if you want to calculate layer profits today.

Layer Farming Email Course
[Click the button below and subscribe to the layer email course]
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 11

Marketing Your Poultry Farm Business

What does successful marketing really look like?

Answer:

Getting your product sold at a price which pays you back, plus gives you lots of room for growth.

Here’s how…

Marketing Your Poultry Farm Business

Marketing Organization for Eggs

(FAO)

A traditional, yet viable outline for how to get your eggs to market, profitably.

This guide shows you the options which you typically will have available for selling egg product.

Marketing Organisation For Eggs
Check Out This Resource

Direct Marketing Meats … Selling Freezer Chicken

(The Poultry Site)

A well-rounded tutorial on the relevant strategies for marketing your broiler meat direct to public.

Direct Marketing Meats ... Selling Freezer Chicken
Check Out This Resource

How to Make Profit Selling Produce to Restaurants from a Smallholding

(Smallholdings For Sale)

This practical guide will show you how to successfully sell your poultry products directly to restaurant buyers.

Well researched, evidenced tips and recommendations.

How To Make Profit Selling Produce To Restaurants From A Smallholding
Check Out This Resource

How to Jump on the Bandwagon of Local Best Selling Produce

(Smallholdings For Sale)

Some great case studies for learning strategies that work in the real world for growing your customer base.

How To Jump On The Bandwagon Of Local Best Selling Produce
Check Out This Resource

How to Sell Produce Online…Guide for Building an Online Farm Shop

(Smallholdings For Sale)

This guide shows you in explicit detail how to use the internet for selling direct to your customers.

How To Make Profit Selling Produce To Restaurants From A Smallholding
Check Out This Resource

Chapter 12

Recordkeeping & Accounting for Poultry Farmers

To grow and improve your poultry business – you’ll need tight records.

A reliable archive of key business data.

This chapter leads you in how and what records to keep for maximum profit.

Recordkeeping And Accounting For Poultry Farmers

Poultry Farm Record Maintenance

(Tamil Nadu Agricultural University)

This is an exhaustive A-Z list of the various types of farm records which you will need to keep.

Each item providing valuable oversight over your layer or broiler operation.

Poultry Farm Record Maintenance
Check Out This Resource

Record Chart For Broiler Growers

(University of Nebraska – Lincoln)

A gold standard record sheet for every broiler farm.

A simple ‘copy and paste’ proforma for your own operation, to use ASAP.

This helps you track every key performance indicator.

Record Chart For Broiler Growers
Check Out This Resource

Conclusion

I hope this guide helps you see poultry farming more clearly & learn all about it.

Now, over to you:

Do you have a favourite resource within the list?

Or, do you know of one which should have been added?

Either way, I’d welcome hearing your point of view.

Leave a comment below, now…

Conclusion

You may also be interested in:
« Poultry Business Blueprint: How to Plan, Launch, and Grow a Profitable Poultry Farm
« Broiler Farming: The Definitive Guide (2020)

Filed Under: Poultry Farming Tagged With: Poultry

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. S. Giri Kumar says

    July 28, 2020 at 6:25 am

    Dear Sir
    Thanks for this awesome report. It surely reflects your diligence and hard work. Definitely this would be a very useful report for ages that are to come.

    Reply
    • Temi Cole says

      July 28, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      Hello Giri,

      Thank you for your kind comment.

      Digging deep does have it’s cost.

      But the benefit to anyone wanting to start or grow a poultry business (I hope) will be TOTALLY worth it.

      The resources in the guide have longevity. A kind of timeless quality. [That said, I’ll keep reviewing the content and update wherever necessary.]

      Again, I appreciate your feedback.

      If you put any of the tips above into practice, let me know your results.

      Speak again soon.

      Temi

      Reply
  2. Dr Bonile Jack-Pama, PhD says

    August 1, 2020 at 1:53 pm

    This report consists of very useful tips for anyone who is planning to start a project. I found them to be quite helpful. They are practical, basic and are easy to follow.

    Reply
    • Temi Cole says

      August 2, 2020 at 11:45 am

      Hello Bonile,

      Glad you found the guide useful.

      Help isn’t really help unless you can do something about it.

      The resources in this guide are indeed practical and easy to follow for people at all stages.

      Keep me posted on your progress.

      Speak soon,

      Temi

      Reply
  3. Joe says

    February 16, 2021 at 9:34 am

    How can i reach the literature ans see the abstracts

    Reply
  4. Mahamadu Imoro says

    September 23, 2021 at 11:02 am

    My is Muhammad and worker of a company which is practicing modern poultry farming, to enhance my knowledge and experience is there any online course for broiler management. If there is any please how can I get access to it.
    Thanks

    Reply

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