Broilers are the fastest poultry to market — six to eight weeks from day-old chick to sale — so your money moves quickly. The most common mistake is budgeting for chicks and forgetting that feed is the real cost. Here's what to plan for.
The two buckets
Split your spending into one-time capital costs (the house, feeders, drinkers, a heat source for brooding, and your first batch of chicks) and running costs (feed, vaccines, labour, water, power and transport). Most first-timers underestimate the running side.
Feed is the big number
Feed is roughly 60–70% of running cost. A broiler eats about 4–4.5 kg of feed to reach a market weight of 2–2.5 kg live weight, with a good feed conversion ratio of about 1.6–1.8. Watch this number closely — it's where profit is made or lost.
Where you can save
- Buy chicks from a reputable hatchery — weak chicks are the most expensive kind.
- Blend or buy feed in bulk — the single biggest lever. See how to formulate cheaper poultry feed.
- Start smaller than you think — learn the cycle first, then scale.
Plan with ranges, not one price
Prices shift with the naira and the season. Treat every figure as a planning range and confirm current market rates with your local feed mill and hatchery before you commit — and keep a 10–15% buffer on top of your total.
Key takeaways
- Feed is 60–70% of running cost — plan around it.
- Each broiler eats about 4–4.5 kg to reach 2–2.5 kg market weight.
- Separate one-time capital from recurring running costs.
- Keep a 10–15% buffer and confirm prices locally.