How the numbers are worked out
Broilers. Costs are the chicks, the feed for every bird you start with, and other costs such as vaccines, litter, heat and water. Income is the birds left after losses, multiplied by your selling price.
Layers. Costs are the chicks, the feed to bring them to point of lay, the daily feed through the laying period and other costs. Income is the eggs sold by the crate plus the sale of the old hens at the end.
What the starting figures assume
- Chick prices are our current starting prices.
- Feed is set at about GH₵ 400 for a 50 kg bag of broiler feed and GH₵ 370 for layer feed. Feed prices change often, so enter what you pay.
- A broiler eats about 4 kg of feed to reach market weight. A layer eats about 7.5 kg to reach point of lay, then about 115 g a day.
- Losses are set at 5 percent for broilers and 8 percent for layers. New farmers often lose more.
- Selling prices are recent market prices: about GH₵ 110 for a live broiler and GH₵ 50 for a crate of eggs.
This is a planning estimate, not a promise. It leaves out labour, rent, transport and loan interest. Change every figure to match your own farm before you rely on it.
Four ways to raise your profit
- Lose fewer birds. Most losses happen in the first two weeks. Good brooding pays for itself. See the brooding guide.
- Waste less feed. Feed is the biggest cost. Hang feeders at back height and never fill them to the brim.
- Sell broilers on time. After seven or eight weeks each extra day costs more in feed than it adds in weight.
- Start with healthy, vaccinated chicks. A cheap chick that dies is the most expensive chick you can buy.
Questions farmers ask
Is broiler farming profitable in Ghana?
It can be. Profit depends mainly on feed cost, the number of birds you lose and the price you sell at. Use the calculator with your own prices before you buy chicks.
How much does it cost to raise 500 broilers in Ghana?
With chicks at GH₵ 20, about 4 kg of feed per bird at GH₵ 400 a bag and GH₵ 6 of other costs per bird, 500 broilers cost about GH₵ 29,000 to raise. Enter your own prices for an exact figure.
What is the biggest cost in poultry farming?
Feed. It is usually more than half of the total cost of raising broilers and well over half for layers.