Is raising chickens profitable in 2018? Market prospect analysis

A year ago, chicken farming was still an industry favored by most people, which caused many people to rush into chicken farming in a big way, but within half a year the chicken farming industry suffered a Waterloo, plunging many chicken farmers into a bottomless abyss and catching breeders off guard. This raises the question for many people of whether chicken farming as an industry makes money. Let us take a look below at whether raising chickens will make money in 2018!

Is raising laying hens profitable in 2018?

In 2018, raising laying hens is still profitable without counting labor costs, even when the wholesale price of eggs is 4 yuan per kg. For 1 laying hen, the rearing cost is 2.5 yuan for the chick, 9.75 yuan for feed, 1.5 yuan for vaccines, 0.5 yuan for veterinary drugs, and 1 yuan per bird as the amortized loss from dead and culled chickens, totaling 15.25 yuan. Culled hens can be sold for an average of 7.5 yuan each; after subtracting the 10% mortality and culling rate, 6.75 yuan remains, so the investment per hen is 8.5 yuan. After deducting electricity costs, equipment maintenance costs, and vaccine and veterinary drug costs during the laying period, the gross profit per hen is 5.4 yuan. In some areas, chicken manure brings a certain income, and the profit can reach about 6 yuan.

Is raising free-range chickens profitable in 2018?

Taking the raising of 500 birds as an example, at 2 yuan per female chick, the cost of 500 chicks is 1000 yuan. The feed cost for the early brooding period is 160 kg, at 1.85 yuan/kg, costing 296 yuan. After leaving the brooder, the chicks are brooded for 30 days, at 0.06 kg per bird per day and a price of 1.2 yuan/kg, costing 1080 yuan. During the growing period of 94 days, they are fed a self-mixed complete feed, at 0.05 kg per bird per day and a price of 1.1 yuan/kg, costing 2585 yuan. During the 215-day laying period, at 0.075 kg of complete feed supplement per bird per day and a price of 1.2 yuan/kg, the cost is 9675 yuan, totaling 13636 yuan. Epidemic prevention and other costs are calculated at 1 yuan per bird, totaling 500 yuan. The total cost is 15136 yuan. Based on a 215-day laying period, 1 egg per bird every 2 days, 22 eggs per kg, and an egg selling price of 6 yuan per kg, the annual egg income from 500 birds is 14659 yuan. In addition, culled hens calculated at 1.75 kg per bird and 8 yuan per kg can bring in another 7000 yuan from 500 birds, for a total income of 21659 yuan.

How can the cost of raising chickens be reduced?

1. Reasonable feed formulation: Choose appropriate feeding standards according to different production types, different physiological stages, and different production levels. In selecting raw materials, use local materials as much as possible, choose raw materials that are nutritious and low in price, and strive for diverse raw materials to ensure complete nutrients. Supplement feed additives when necessary. The crude fiber content in feed generally should not exceed 5%.

2. Feed less and add more often: When feed is added to 2/3 of the trough, 12% is wasted; when added to 1/2, 5% is wasted; when added to 1/3, 2% is wasted. Therefore, when feeding, insist on feeding less and adding more often, and adding no more than 1/3 of the trough (feed pan) at one time. Prevent too much feed, as chickens use their beaks and claws to push feed out of the trough (pan), causing waste.

3. Appropriate feeding amount: Use different feeding amounts for flocks of different ages. During the brooding period, growth is fast, and the daily feed intake of the flock gradually increases, so the daily feeding amount should be adjusted in time. During the growing stage, 52 grams per bird per day, 57 grams at 8 weeks of age, and 77 grams by 20 weeks of age. During the laying period, feed intake varies slightly depending on the breed.

4. Clean feed troughs: When chickens drink water, they easily carry feed stuck on their beaks into the water trough. The water trough should be cleaned once every night before lights out, which is both hygienic and allows the cleaned-out “water feed” to be fed to pigs. Every morning after lights on, the feed stuck in the feed trough should also be scooped up for the chickens to eat, and the piles of feed formed when chickens pick and choose feed should be spread out in time.

5. Supplement grit: Supplementing grit helps grind feed in the gizzard, aids digestion and absorption, and can increase digestibility by 3-8%.

6. Timely beak trimming: Beak trimming of chicks at 7-9 days of age can not only prevent pecking vice but also effectively reduce feed waste, generally saving 3%.

7. Timely culling: Promptly cull chickens with no breeding value during the growing period, such as those unable to stand, with eye disease, or with deformed beaks, as well as during the laying period those that are especially weak, do not lay eggs, or have chronic diseases, and breeding roosters with poor semen quality and no breeding value.

8. Feed storage: Feed and raw materials should be stored indoors in a rainproof, non-humid, dry, and ventilated place to prevent mold and deterioration. When processing and mixing feed, feed only 5-7 days' worth at a time to prevent loss of nutrients in the feed.

9. Rodent control: Rats not only destroy feed, bite chicks to death, and frighten chick flocks, but can also spread diseases, so various methods should be adopted to do a good job of rodent control. At the same time, prevent sparrows from eating feed to reduce extra waste.