KEEPING POULTRY AS A BUSINESSI can understand not every one who keeps poultry, or has thought about poultry, would see it as a business venture. Why should they? It’s a pleasurable pastime in its own right. However, that said, could it provide a business opportunity? We certainly know it could. How big a business would depend on your own knowledge, determination, drive, attitude and ambition and probably the involvement, support and encouragement of your family. Very few people would disagree, that there is a growing market out there. How much of it is for you, depends on what qualities you have and how willing you are to make use of them. Like any area of self employment it does require a real discipline and commitment. Along side the understandable concern all of us have for the health of our selves and children, there is also a growing concern as to the health of the animals involved in the production of our food. If you can offer a product for consumption, that is healthy, not chemically produced, interfered with, free of artificial additives or colourings, that might even taste like Real Food, the way food used to taste, people will definitely buy it and expect to pay a higher price, if only for the sake of their health and that of their family. There has been a great deal of publicity with regards to intensive farming, especially in connection to poultry. Also there has been an equal concern as to the treatment, by some producers, of the animals bred to provide food for our table. This awareness is growing. If you feel this business is not for you, you might still consider for the reasons given above, keeping a few chickens in the backyard, benefiting the chickens, as well as you. It is probably best to start off, as we did and many others, with a few hens, sell a few eggs and you may well see you have little option, but to develop into a larger operation.
“REFLECTIONS and CONSIDERATIONS”If the idea of a poultry business appeals to you and you feel you are ready to make a start, then the following may be of some help to you. Before going into this, I was going to say you will never make huge money if your intention is to make a “career living” out of just breeding and selling poultry. But that is making assumptions, and possibly putting down many poultry keepers who are making a very good living, doing just that. As for ourselves, if we had more space and were a wee bit younger and had a wee bit more drive.... and were seriously ambitious, there is no doubt we could make a very good living, with a just a little diversification into other related areas. But for Margaret and me, we are basically content to simply enjoy our poultry, make new friends, and maybe, by our own enthusiasm, encourage others to take the same road. We are more than content to “break even” over the year (although a wee profit would be nice). Our sales do cover the feeding costs (I think), but certainly do not cover the long hours spent with our birds. But there again, all the time we spend with the birds is mainly through our own choice. The pace is not hectic.... and it is very easy to get distracted. Check out, “comments from customers”. An email that arrived yesterday... “They (the birds bought) are lovely... and A GREAT WASTE OF TIME!!......as I love just sitting and watching them. Honestly I am getting nothing done”!!! ....thanks, Paul and Sarah. You can still love and care for your poultry. But do the job more effectively & efficiently. Becoming less distracted and more focussed on the business aspect, (which of course still means giving priority to your poultry and your customers), and then you will have ahead of you... Your own EXCITING GROWING BUSINESS. No one I hope would start this business without giving it a great deal of consideration, discussing it with family and friends, asking plenty of questions and doing the research. Total commitment, real sense of responsibility and a genuine love of poultry is priority. “Poultry as a Business” could possibly integrate into some thing you are already doing. There are always opportunities where poultry keeping compliments a present business. If you have a business where people come to you, you are half way there. And if you have a business and you want to attract more customers, then start selling fresh eggs. The word will spread and new customers will arrive.... and keep coming back. “SOME FURTHER THOUGHTS and OBSERVATIONS”....If you have a young family you will be aware of how difficult it can be to motivate them. (If your family don’t fall into this category, my apologies....... and lucky you!) But for some kids, the idea of doing something that actually involves “moving, is quite a difficult concept to grasp... and even more difficult to actually accomplish... as is the idea of maybe, “earning” their pocket money... Now that could easily bring on a serious panic attack ... (as well as the Child Welfare Groups). As a generalisation, maybe too many young children don’t give their selves the opportunity to experience childhood. Too much emphasis on style and fashion before even reaching their teens and maybe too little interest in physical activities, means many of today’s generation are missing out, not only on an important stage in development, but an enjoyable period in their life. And introducing young children to hens and ducks is the total answer? Probably not. Most children take to poultry very quickly and learn very quickly. Backed up with the right encouragement and guidance it can easily become their profit making business. A Testimonial..."I had wanted to keep chickens for a long time and happened upon the "Happy Hen Hoose" where we met a very enthusiastic Gerald, so I ordered my first lot of 4 hens right away. Since then I have had four more and hope to get some ducks soon. All the hens are prolific layers with no let up in the winter. (Please see our Testimonials page for many other satisfied customers.)
“WHERE DO I START?”What follows below is some very basic ideas and aimed mainly at newcomers to poultry. If “Poultry Breeding” as a sole means of making a living appeals to you, then it can be further broken down, whereby there is the opportunity to specialise in different aspects. “SUPPLYING FRESH EGGS”FREE-RANGE or Simply the freshest around. BIG DEMAND and PREMIUM PRICES. “HYBRID LAYERS”SUPPLYING LAYERS @ POL. Or CHICKS. “SUPPLYING HATCHING EGGS”YOU WILL NEED TOP QUALITY HENS & SPECIALISED BREEDSMOST TIMES VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND. TRADITIONAL BREEDSALLOWS YOU AND CUSTOMER A WIDER DUCKSCHOICES AS ABOVE and consider the VERY POPULAR CALL DUCKS. You might wish to consider, QUAIL, GEESE, PHEASANTS, PEACOCKS, BANTAMS and probably much more... these certainly come in a range of colour and different breeds. Copyright © Happy Hen Hoose 2007 | Web Design: TenderSoft |
