For many people fascinated by the poultry farming business, layer poultry farming catches their attention.
It is because layer poultry farming provides a steady income if you become successful at it.
So, if you are one among them, you aren't alone.
However, how to set up a successful layer poultry farm?
This involves an effort as significant as any other business.
But with this step-by-step guide from Gartech Equipments, one of the leading poultry equipment manufacturers in India, your journey can become much easier.
What is Poultry Layer Farming?
Poultry layer farming is done with the fundamental purpose of raising layer hens for egg production. This is unlike broiler farming, where the basic aim is meat production.
Layer hens typically begin hatching eggs at approximately 18-20 weeks of age and can continue doing so until they are 70-72 weeks old. However, factors like breed and management practices matter when it comes to their egg-laying lifespan.
Accordingly, poultry layer farming demands meticulous planning, which includes selecting the right breed, ensuring proper housing, and keeping the birds in excellent health to increase their productivity.
Benefits of Poultry Farm Layer
Poultry layer farming is a popular business within the poultry realm. It is for obvious reasons that include the following.
Steady Income:
Poultry layer farming focuses on eggs, which form the staple food of millions of people. Thus, daily egg production provides steady income to farmers who can sell the eggs to various vendors across the market.
Besides, the investment is higher than broiler farming, which focuses on meat production and earning quick profits.
Cost-Effective:
While providing steady income, poultry layer farming also proves cost-effective as these hens require less feed than their broiler counterparts.
Additionally, since the productive lifespan (up to 72 to 80 weeks) is high, farmers can enjoy continuous returns in the long run.
Sustainability:
Wondering how poultry layer farming can be sustainable?
Well, this type of poultry farming can involve tactics and techniques that enable optimal resource utilization with minimal waste.
On the other hand, you can use chicken manure as an organic fertilizer, minimizing waste, and helping improve soil health.
Higher Feed Conversion Efficiency:
Layers are more efficient at converting feed into eggs. Hence, they are more economically and commercially beneficial than meat-producing birds.
Now, you must be thinking about how you can optimize these benefits. Of course, the answer is by making the effort to set up a layer poultry farm.
Here are the steps to do it.
Set Up Your Layer Poultry Farm with These 7 Easy Steps!
Here's how you can enter the world of layer poultry farming.
1. Research and Planning
Research is fundamental and essential for every business, including layer poultry farming. So, begin with understanding the market demand, the business's regulations, and the environmental conditions in your region.
Accounting for these factors will help you identify the scale of your business, the investment required, and the revenue you may generate from it.
Accordingly, prepare a commercial business plan or project report to set the roadmap for your venture and try to get financial help if you need it.
The report or plan should include every detail, including the initial investment, expected profits, risks, strategies, and routine operational plan.
2. Gather the Capital You Need
The capital you need to start your own poultry layer farm differs depending on the scale of your business and the cost of resources in your region.
For instance, for a beginner in the layer poultry business, the smallest farm capacity can range from 5,000 to 15,000 birds, with a project cost of approximately Rs. 35 lakhs to Rs. 80 lakhs. The capital required for starting a poultry farming business varies by scale.
If you do not have adequate funds for your venture, you can explore government funding schemes like PM SVANidhi, which offers microloans.
In addition, you can opt for small business loans with lower interest rates and various subsidies offered by different states all over India. Another alternative is that of crowdfunding. Asking for support from family and friends can also help you gather a significant amount of capital.
3. Poultry Setup:
Setting up the actual farm involves building the shed with proper housing to maintain the health and productivity of the layer hens.
As for housing systems for commercial layers, you can usually include different types of cage systems. Here's more about these options.
- A California-Type Cage: It is a traditional poultry cage system used in layer farming. It consists of cages mounted on an A-shaped frame, allowing manure to fall freely onto the ground beneath the cages. Hence, they require high-raised platforms for proper functionality. Typically, these cages are used in open housing systems with natural ventilation. However, since the manure accumulates beneath the cages continuously, this system tends to be less hygienic and poses a higher risk of disease. These cages are available from 2 to 4 tiers and are preferred for farms with a capacity of 5,000 to 25,000 or 30,000 birds per house.
- H frame multi-tier vertical cage system: Modern H-Type multi-tier battery cages have gradually replaced California cage systems due to their limitations. These advanced systems, available in 3 to 8 or even 10 tiers, offer significantly higher housing capacity within the same space. Additionally, they provide better hygiene, enhanced automation, and improved efficiency, making them the preferred choice for commercial poultry farming. The H-frame multi-tier cage system is ideal for intensive and super-intensive farming, with capacities ranging from 30,000 to 80,000 or more birds.
In addition to housing, ensure your poultry layer farm is adequately ventilated, and has temperature control systems. Besides, the birds must have access to clean water and feed. Ensuring proper lighting to foster consistent egg production with approximately 15 hours of light daily is also important.
4. Select Premium Layer Chicks
Connect with a reputable hatchery to buy healthy day-old layer chicks. Some best breeds in this regard include Hy-Line, White Leghorn, and Plymouth Rock.
5. Ensure Proper Nutrition
Diet quality and schedule are crucial for successful poultry layer farming. It involves,
- Starter feed (0-6 weeks) for chick growth
- Grower feed (6-18 weeks) for development
- Layer feed (18 weeks onward) enriched with calcium and protein for egg-laying
6. Health Management
Bird health is critical to productivity and profitability. Some good practices include creating a vaccination schedule, conducting regular health checks, maintaining poultry hygiene, and restricting farm visitors to reduce contamination.
7. Egg Collection and Storage
Some steps include; providing nesting boxes, collecting eggs twice a day to prevent breakage, storing eggs in a cool and dry place, and using graded packing.
In addition to the above, marketing your produce and selling it in a timely manner also matters. You must grow your network by connecting with local markets, grocery stores, online delivery stores, supermarkets, wholesalers, etc.
Gartech Equipments encourages new poultry entrepreneurs with its premium poultry farming equipment. Our equipment, which includes brooder cages, breeder cages, layer, egg collection systems, etc. feature the most advanced technology, premium materials for durability, and excellent after-sales support.
All our products are known for their durability, efficiency and capabilities to ensure poultry efficiency, longevity, and productivity. Prepared to embark on your journey to a successful poultry business? Email us at sales@gartech.co.in to explore more about our support.