What are the profitable farming methods for raising pigeons?

Like all things, meat pigeon farming has both advantages and disadvantages. But on the whole, meat pigeon farming is still a good project worth everyone's investment. As long as we operate the meat pigeon farming project according to mature models or concepts, we will certainly achieve good social and economic benefits.  

1. About “loving the farming project”  

Interest is the foundation of success. If you are not interested in a project and have no enthusiasm for it, it is very hard to run it for a long time. Meat pigeon farming offers no huge profits; it requires persistence and long-term operation. When the scale is small, you also have to do everything yourself. If you are afraid of dirt and tiredness, or even dislike animals or farming, then do not waste your precious time; you must give up this project without hesitation.  

2. About “understanding the basics of meat pigeons”  

Interest alone is not enough; you must master the relevant basics. Fully understand the breeds of meat pigeons, their physiology, the characteristics of farming them, and the necessary conditions, so as to lay a good theoretical foundation for the next steps of farming and business operations.  

3. About “investigating the local market”  

We raise meat pigeons not to keep pets for fun, but to create economic value. Therefore, market research is very important. Especially in the early stage of farming, when the scale is not large, you must focus on the local market (or a market you can control yourself) and rely on yourself rather than depending on anyone else (blindly believing promises of “guaranteed buyback” only puts your fate in someone else's hands). Based on the conditions of this market, decide whether to farm and how to farm (including breed, scale, method, and so on).  

4. About “analyzing your own situation”  

There are some old sayings: “There are no bad projects, only unsuitable ones”; “In all three hundred and sixty trades, every trade can produce a champion”; “The same trade, but not the same profit”…… However good a project is, if it does not suit you, you must absolutely not touch it! If “heavenly timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony” all suit you, then do not hesitate and firmly carry on! Nothing in the world goes smoothly all the way; when you meet difficulties, never turn back, for success always favors those who are prepared! So you must objectively evaluate your actual situation before making a decision. Based on your funds, site, personnel, surrounding market, and other conditions, determine the scale and method of investment.  

5. About “finding the right goal and positioning yourself well”  

This point is the most important link in meat pigeon farming. As the saying goes: “A woman fears marrying the wrong man, a man fears entering the wrong trade.” This shows how important the choice of industry is to a person's success in career. Once you decide which industry to enter, if you do not carefully consider and plan beforehand, and then want to turn around or give up during operation, the loss will be too great! Therefore, before investing in meat pigeon farming, “combining your own situation, finding the right development goal, and determining your business approach” is especially important. “Business is like a battlefield.” To win the battle smoothly, you must have suitable strategic and tactical thinking and methods. Meat pigeon farming is the same. Now, on the question “Which business approach or business model should be adopted to achieve better economic benefits?” the specific discussion is as follows:  

(1) In terms of business approach.  

After a detailed investigation of your surrounding environment and an objective assessment of yourself:  

A: If the meat pigeon market is mature, sales are not a problem, farming costs are low, or selling prices are high——focus on “farming commercial meat pigeons”;  

B: If meat pigeon farming is booming, the local area or surrounding areas lack good breeding stock, and you yourself have a sense of responsibility and economic strength——focus on “developing a breeding pigeon farm”;  

C: If you love meat pigeon farming, have a long-term investment philosophy, possess abundant energy, firm belief, and strong strength——take as your development goal “a modern meat pigeon farming enterprise integrating production, supply, and marketing in one chain, with breeding stock supply, production, processing, storage and transport, sales, and service as one,” which is also the development direction we strive for!  

(2) In terms of business model.  

According to your own funds, site, personnel, surrounding market, and other conditions, it can be divided into the following models:  

A: The “side business” form: If funds are limited, you must be cautious about site, personnel, and farming scale. Try to use existing idle space, do not occupy the family's strong labor force, and have women and the elderly raise 500 pairs or fewer of breeding pigeons, which can yield good economic benefits without delaying care of the family and farm work. The premise is that there must be a good local market and a relatively large number of farmers or farming volume nearby. Otherwise, if the farming volume is too small, sales will not be smooth and the sales cycle will be extended (originally collected once every few days, but if the farming volume is too small, the pigeon dealers will collect only once every ten days to half a month), and farming costs will increase. If meat pigeons can use automatic feeders, the economic benefits will be even more considerable.  

B: The “specialized household” form: If you have a certain economic strength, have accumulated good farming technology, and both site and personnel are in place, you might as well have the whole family specialize in operating a meat pigeon farming project. With a farming volume of more than 1000 pairs, as long as the technology keeps up and management is proper, the economic benefits are still quite considerable. Example: A certain farmer in Anyang originally had several hundred pairs of breeding pigeons. After years of development, three pigeon houses were built on his own plot of land, and there are now nearly 2000 pairs of breeding pigeons, mainly produced and operated by the couple, making them a “meat pigeon farming specialized household.” In the 07--08 year when market prices were relatively high, they earned a net profit of around more than 100,000 yuan; in the 08--09 year when market prices were relatively low, by improving production efficiency, adjusting business approaches according to market conditions (combining sales of live pigeons, dressed pigeons, breeding pigeons, and pigeon eggs), they earned a net profit of around 60,000 yuan.  

C: The “one-chain” form: If you have strong financial strength and all conditions are mature, and you treat meat pigeon farming as a career, then “production, supply, circulation, sales, and service all in one chain” will be a very good form. As long as the operator values production and is good at management, this project will certainly bring considerable economic and social benefits.

6. About “making good preparations and introducing good breeding stock”  

Once the business approach and model are determined, you must make the corresponding preparations, and funds, site, personnel, and so on must all be put in place. In particular, mastering meat pigeon farming technology is a must. Only by mastering the basic knowledge of meat pigeon farming will you take fewer detours. The first step of investment behavior is introducing breeding stock, and this is also the key to the success or failure of the investment. We will discuss the issue of introducing breeding stock separately.  

7. About “valuing epidemic prevention and grasping management”  

Although meat pigeons are relatively easy to raise, it is a big mistake to relax epidemic prevention! Any farming project follows “prevention is more important than treatment”! In particular, meat pigeons have strong tolerance, so once symptoms appear, it means the illness is already serious. Therefore, in raising meat pigeons, even more attention should be paid to epidemic prevention and health care. In addition, the meat pigeon farming project has developed to the point today where it is already very mature and huge profits are unlikely. Only by “vigorously grasping management, reducing costs, improving production efficiency, and tapping the potential of breeding pigeons” is the only way to succeed in investing in a meat pigeon farming project!  

8. About “keeping a close eye on the market and finding selling points”  

Our country is currently a socialist market economy, and the meat pigeon farming project also falls within the scope of the market economy. Traditional meat pigeon farming mainly sells squabs and neglects the advantage of meat pigeons having “many selling points.” Once the squab market fluctuates, economic benefits will be discounted. Therefore, in daily production and operation, do not sit and wait for the market to find you; instead, you must always keep a close eye on the market, pay attention to collecting market information, combine it with your own situation, and make timely adjustments to maximize economic benefits. When to sell squabs, when to sell pigeon eggs, and when to keep breeding pigeons all require quick responses. Whether you should sell commercial squabs, pigeon eggs, breeding pigeons, or fancy live pigeons, long-term adjustments must be made in the allocation of breeding stock.  

9. About “cooperating and innovating, seeking win-win results”  

The meat pigeon farming project requires large investment and slow returns, and relying on the abilities of a few people makes it very difficult to make meat pigeon farming large and strong in the short term, so everyone must cooperate. The meat pigeon market is still rising, and farming technology and feeding management methods still need to be improved, with deep potential yet to be tapped. Therefore, in marketing as well as farming technology and feeding management, you must constantly innovate and not stick to old rules. In short, in the production and operation process of meat pigeon farming, there must be a concept of “win-win.” You are well, I am well, everyone is well; you help, I assist, everyone wins. Only in this way can meat pigeon farming produce more social and economic benefits.

With the continuous development of our country's farming industry, pigeon farming has a history of several hundred years in our country, so experience in farming is still very rich. Therefore, farmers can exchange and share good techniques and successful good experience with one another.