“Yes, that’s true,” Niss said confidently. “I spend crazy amounts of money on feed.”
“And I figured out the best way to cut that cost,” her friend went on, “is to make your own feed.”
She sounded proud. “So now I’m talking to some farmers and companies — maize, soybeans, sunflower — trying to make deals so I can get the raw materials. That way, I’ll make my own feed. If I cut that cost, I’ll get more profit. These feed companies are exploiting us. I won’t be one of their victims.”
Niss nodded politely.
“Anyway, have a good day,” her friend said, turning toward home.
Niss just stood there. Her mind echoed one word: Why. Why. Why.
The Funeral (2)
October 15th, 2025– Wednesday
Niss’s phone rang. It was her friend again.
She picked it up half-heartedly.
“Guess what, Niss! I’ve gotten the contract!”
“What contract?” Niss asked, confused.
“For Ngerenya Secondary School! I talked to the principal. I told him I’m starting a one-thousand-bird layer farm and that I’d like to supply them eggs every week. And he said yes! I’m so happy.”
She went on, voice bubbling with excitement. “Now I just need two more schools, and all my eggs will have a market once I start producing. I won’t even struggle.”
Niss felt heat rising in her chest. Her hands trembled. Anger boiled inside her — not hate, but the kind that burns when someone just doesn’t get it.
She took a deep breath and said it.
“Friend. Number one — the principal lied to you. Number two — and most important — start your damn farm.
Which eggs will you sell? Who will you be making the feeds for? Which chickens did you buy the land for?
Brooding can feel like the scariest monster in poultry farming, yet receiving day old chicks doesn’t have to be terrifying if you know exactly what to do. Many farmers give up—or never start—because they fear brooding.
It is the most sensitive period in a chicken’s life, just like the first 28 days for humans.
The first day especially is critical. On day one, a small mistake can turn your joy into despair if all your chicks die. But I don’t want that for you. If you’ve read the 28 Equipment List and How to prepare for day old chicks arrival,now you must be ready for the moment your day old chicks arrive. This post walks you through receiving day old chicks, step by step, so there’s no guesswork when your chicks arrive (or when you pick them).
1. Pre-heat the brooder
Since day old chicks lack enough feathers, you need to control the brooding temperature carefully. Brooding is a temperature-sensitive phase, especially on day one.
Heat the brooder 2 to 3 hours before the chicks arrive. Aim for about 30–33 °C (this may vary by region and supplier).
If it’s cool, use your heat source; if hot, increase ventilation by adjusting windbreakers or openings.
2. Prepare glucose in water
Transport stresses chicks. They might arrive dehydrated and weak. So before they arrive, mix glucose in water. This gives them quick energy and helps them recover from the journey.
This simple act may mean the difference between 100% survival and full mortality. Be ready—this solution must already be in place when the chicks arrive. Consult your vet for recommended doses.
3. Count your chicks
Once your day old chicks arrive, firstcount them. Whether the supplier brings them or you pick them up, counting ensures you got the number you ordered. Some may die during transit, so count.
Some suppliers often compensate or replace dead chicks later.
4. Weigh your chicks
Weighing helps track uniform growth. Though the hatchery may have done this, it’s best practice to weigh again on your farm. For most breeds, a day-old chick should weigh around 45 grams. Record this as your baseline for later comparisons.
5. Dip their beaks in water
When placing chicks into the brooder, gently dip their beaks into the glucose water. This teaches them how to drink and helps them find the water.
If you have helpers, have them assist in this step so it’s efficient and calm.
6. Introduce feed
Allow the chicks 2–3 hours after arrival to hydrate and calm down. Then begin introducing feed. Use brooder paper (newspapers, carton, etc.). Put feed in their feeders and also sprinkle some on the paper so they can see and find it easily. Within a short time, they’ll move to the feeders on their own.
7. Monitor crop fill
Several hours later (and then at least twice that day), check the crop of each chick. The crop is that small pouch in their neck. Inspect it to confirm they are feeding and drinking.
Full & soft → good (they ate and drank)
Empty → no feed or water yet
Full & hard → ate but did not drink
Full & very soft → drank but not ate
Your goal: at least 80% of chicks with full and soft crops indicates most chicks have found water and feed.
8. Provide light
Chicks need light to find feed and water. During day one of brooding, ensure there is enough light—even if they arrive in the evening or in darkness.
For layers, start with ~21 hours of continuous light for a few days, then gradually reduce to 14–16 hours daily.
9. Monitor closely
One day old chicks received today in a proper brooder with light,heat,water and feed.
Receiving day old chicks is just the start. The real work lies in ongoing care. Monitor:
Brooder temperature
Feed and water intake via crop checks
Growth (weigh daily or often)
Mortality
Consistent monitoring separates good farmers from those who rely only on remote advice.
10. Vaccinate
If your chicks weren’t vaccinated against Marek’s disease at the hatchery, make sure you do it on day one. This vaccine protects them from a deadly viral infection that causes paralysis and poor growth. Always confirm with your supplier, and if it hasn’t been done, call your vet to administer it immediately.
Don’t delay this step—it’s one of the most important early protections for your day old chicks.
This guide gives you a clear, step-by-step plan for receiving day old chicks. No confusion, no guesswork. Yes, some chicks might die—that’s expected—but with this approach, mortality should be far lower than going in blind.
Schools had opened for the new year. The laughter, the shouting, the morning rush — all gone. Now, the neighborhood was dead quiet, like the calm after a storm.
“You know, Niss,” her friend said, breaking the silence. “That thing we talked about — keeping layers. We should do it. It’s a good idea.”
“Yeah, absolutely,” Niss replied. “I’ve been preparing. Reading, researching… there’s a ton of information in blogs, articles, even YouTube videos. It looks promising. I think I’m ready to start.”
“Really? Well, good for you.” Her friend smiled. “How many are you planning to start with?”
“I don’t know. I don’t mind starting with a hundred birds. It depends on how much money I can get.”
“A hundred?” Her friend’s eyebrows shot up. Niss suddenly wondered what she’d said wrong.
“How much profit will you even get from that? So small.”
“Here’s my plan,” her friend whispered, leaning forward like she was about to share a secret. “I’m planning to start big — massive profits, you know? I want not less than a thousand birds. I heard an expert say anything less than that is pointless.”
She paused, frowning. “But you know my piece of land — it’s small. If I keep a thousand birds, I’ll have no room left for maize or cassava. So for now, I’m saving. I want to buy a bigger plot. I hear Be Kanze is selling part of his land. That’s what I’m aiming for. When I start, it’ll be big — and fast.”
“What do you think?” she asked.
“I think it’s a dead plan,” Niss said flatly. “Let’s start with what we can for now.”
“Not true. Just wait and see,” her friend replied, folding her arms.
After a few more rounds of back-and-forth, Niss finally walked back home, unsure if she’d made her point — or lost it.
The Funeral
It’s heartbreaking seeing your chicks die. Whether on day one of arrival or any other time. It’s so tough.
April 28th, 2025 – Monday
“Hey, what’s that?” a voice called out behind her.
Niss turned. It was her friend.
“I’m burying two of my chicks. They died overnight,” Niss said quietly.
“Chicks? Dead? What chicks?” her friend asked, puzzled.
“Layer chicks — the ones we talked about. I bought a hundred and fifty. Now they’re a hundred and forty. Ten have died so far. I spoke to the vet, and he said a few deaths are normal. But it shouldn’t be too many.”
“See? I told you. If you’d waited, this wouldn’t be happening. Plus, if you had a thousand birds and lost a hundred, you’d still have nine hundred left. That’s still good money,” her friend said, voice laced with concern.
“Where are you with your plan?” Niss asked.
“Oh, I’ve got the land now,” her friend said proudly. “So I’m saving for the next step — the structure, the chicks, equipment, and feeds. I heard prices have gone up again. Once I’ve saved enough, I’ll hire a contractor and buy my chicks.” She smiled, confident.
“That’s good,” Niss said slowly, “but I think you’re wasting time.”
“No, I’m not. Just wait and see.”
Niss sighed and turned away. Maybe she should wait.
For now.
But she knew that this was the day she had buried her inexperience in brooding. The day of the funeral..
(Part 2 drops next week Friday)
Register below to get this Free Layer Poultry Beginners Guide and Regular Layer Chicken digesttips straight to your email.
Niss walked out of the police station feeling angry, guilty, and embarrassed.
Grrrr. Her stomach rumbled. Hunger joined the list of things gnawing at her.
The Cafe That Took Everything
It was a long way home, so she slipped into a small café and ordered quickly. It had been ages since she last ate in a restaurant, and the thought itself felt strange. After what seemed like hours to the waiter, she finally settled on ugali skuma. The plate hit her table in five minutes, and by the seventh it was gone.
She stared at the empty plate, stunned. That small food for seventy shillings? Rage burned hotter. This president will kill us all.
Fumbling through her leso for coins, she came up empty. That’s when a man who had been watching her closely stood, paid her bill without a word, and left her more embarrassed than grateful.
The Stranger With Promises
She walked home, bracing herself for her children. She hadn’t seen them since yesterday, when she had left with her colleagues to riot against the merchants.
But the riot hadn’t started there.
It had started a few weeks back, in her own compound. She was seated with her kids one evening when a young man appeared. He looked sharp—probably a gym type, shoulders squared, the kind who seemed to know exactly what he was doing in life. Definitely not like my husband when he was young, she thought.
He introduced himself as part of an NGO empowering women. His words dripped with promise. Twenty minutes later, he walked away with a KSh 20,000 commitment from her, paid in three installments. In her hands he left a bundle of seedlings. Rosemary.
A Marvelous Scam
Plant them, he said. In a month, they’d mature. His NGO would come for them and pay KSh 60,000. A three-times return. Marvelous, wasn’t it?
True enough, the rosemary grew and matured right on time. But on the promised harvest day, no one came. One week passed. Two. Three. Nothing.
The man had vanished. The NGO had never existed. And her money—gone.
Chicken Don’t Wait
That was the money Niss had set aside for her first batch of layers. Her chicks were now four weeks old. In another four, they would need growers mash. She thought she could “invest” the feed money, flip it fast, and come out with plenty. But the plan crumbled.
Desperation turned to fury. She joined neighbors—victims of the same scam—and they stormed the streets, shouting, demanding answers. That night, they slept in a police cell.
The Lesson In The Dark
Sitting on the cold floor, Niss finally admitted the truth: it was her fault.
She had ignored the one principle she’d read before: Go deep first, then go wide. The Secret Layers guide had always said it. Focus on one venture. Master it before chasing others. But she wanted shortcuts. Easy money. And now her birds were hungry.
Rosemary Fed Chicken
That afternoon, walking back toward her house, the lesson burned in her mind.
Well, she thought, glancing at the stack of rosemary in the corner of her yard, at least I still have this. Is it edible? Maybe. But what if—
Her lips curled into a sly smile.
Rosemary-fed chickens. Eggs with a twist. Maybe people will pay for that. Maybe this is how I begin again.
Register for our regular Layer Chicken Digest Tips below.
“I’m going to be rich. I’m going to make a lot of money. I’m going to be a millionaire.
I’ll be selling my eggs every day — money in my hands each morning. Which job pays you every day? None.”
🛌🏿Dreaming In Numbers
Niss lay on her bed, half-asleep, half-awake. Her daughter had already left for school; Niss let herself rest for a few more minutes — just a little longer😅
“Let me do some quick math,” she whispered to the ceiling.
If I start with 1,000 birds, that’s 1,000 eggs a day once they start laying. At Ksh.20 per egg — that’s Ksh.20,000 a day.
Her mouth went dry. Ksh.20,000?😱 Times thirty. Ksh.600,000 a month.
🤓Wait Till Mama B Hears
She imagined Mama B’s face. She imagined the neighbours whispering — jealous, saying she had “jinis.” She smiled. She didn’t mind.
The city rose before her like a promise: a better house, quieter mornings, no more wrangles with neighbours. She pictured herself checking the village once in a while but living somewhere with pavements and light.
⚠️The Stomach Knot Nobody Talks About
Then the stomach-knots arrived — the same small panic she had felt before. Her heart skipped in a way she could almost taste it at the back of her throat.
If layer poultry farming brings Ksh.600,000 a month, why isn’t everyone doing it? Is it that they don’t know? Or that they don’t have the money?
📱One Google Search That Changed Everything
She grabbed her phone and typed: Is layer poultry farming profitable?
The results? -“You must be offline.” 😂She bought data. And the results returned.
One by one her assumptions fell away. Yes — steady cash flow. But something else hung on the page like a warning: raising layers is hard.
Her chest tightened. The urge she usually felt when she was nervous pushed low in her belly. Layers can be profitable, yes — but the money doesn’t come easy. Her quick math had been a fantasy.
📃The Cold Hard Truth On The Ground
Things on the ground are not what you think you know. The truth is cold. Real cold.
This is what she realized:
1. Having layers doesn’t guarantee daily sales. Marketing and selling takes time.
2. Starting with 1,000 birds is far too risky for a beginner.
3. Buying 1,000 chicks doesn’t mean 1,000 will reach laying age — she didn’t factor in mortality.
4. Even healthy flocks don’t produce 100% — with good management, 80% is realistic.
5. Ksh.20 per egg is retail. Bulk buyers pay less.
6. You’ll likely sell in trays, not single eggs — and volume changes price.
7. Ksh.20,000 per day is gross revenue — not net profit. Not even close.
8. She hadn’t added expenses: daily feed, monthly labour, utilities, even a salary for herself.
9. Nobody will care if she makes it. She has to do it for herself and for her children.
There they are, the 9 things Niss had forgotten and she was reminded how things are different on the ground.
🤐Nobody Cares
Her neighbours were busy with their own lives; they weren’t waiting to cheer her on. The truth was sharp and lonely.
🥚The Brown Image Of Hope
As she scrolled away from the post, a brown image caught her eye — eggs and layer birds, simple and promising. It said: Register for free to get the guide.
She registered. Then she opened her email.
There it was: ✅ A beginner’s guide ✅ A printable purpose planner
🔑From Fantasy To Plan
She quickly read through the guides and oh boy! She was glad she did.
She sat back and let the truth land in her skull. For the first time the fantasy and the work separated. The math stopped being a dream and began to look like a plan — one that required learning, humility and time.
🚨Don’t Be Like Niss
“I can’t believe I was just fantasizing about money without knowing anything about keeping layers,” she whispered. “Never again.”
What’s in your head is very different from the work on the ground. Don’t be a spectator. Be the person in the arena.
If you’ve ever pictured quick riches from birds and a single, neat calculation — stop. Learn the real steps first.
👉 Register for free now and start the work with truth, not a fantasy.
You’ll get our regular Layer Chicken Digest tips via email.
What do I need to start a layer farm? That’s a question many beginners ask. You may wonder if you should first buy land, get money, or even write a business plan.
In this post, I’ll give you a clear answer. By the end, you’ll know exactly what you need to start a layer poultry farm. In fact, the same applies to almost any farming venture.
What do I really need to start my layer poultry farm? I’m confused😮💨
Don’t fret.Just keep reading.
1. PEOPLE
First, you need people. It is said, if you want to go far, go alone. If you want to go further, go with others.
Well,here’s what I say, if you want to go anywhere worthy, you need people.
In business, this is true. You cannot do everything on your own because you’ll quickly burn out. Moreover, business itself is about people—someone with a problem and someone with the solution.
That means you’ll need partners, employees, customers, and suppliers. Even your spouse doesn’t have to like what you do, but they should at least support you. For marketing, sales, and legal matters, you’ll also need a team, including lawyers.
Who will buy your eggs? Customers.
Where will you get farm inputs? From suppliers.
As Jim Collins said in his book Good to Great, you need the right people on the bus even before deciding where the bus should go.
Therefore, choose carefully. Work with people who share your mission, goals, and values. Not just anybody.
2. PLAN
Next, you need a plan. This doesn’t have to be a long, bankable business plan. Honestly, those are often useless.
Instead, have a simple plan that shows direction. Remember how we said to get the right people on the bus? Now, the plan is about deciding where that bus is going. It would be pointless to gather the right people only to lead them into a ditch.
So, what should your plan include?
Goals – How big do you want your farm to be?
Mission – Why are you starting this farm beyond money?
Product – Will you sell only eggs, or also chicks, feeds, or add value?
Systems – How will your farm run daily?
Legal – What approvals or licenses do you need to grow?
Communication – How will buyers find you, and how will you sell to them?
Great, you’ve already found your first guide—Secret Layers. Congratulations, because most people never take that step. From here, you’ll gain technical information and real knowledge about running a layer farm.
Still, you should also find a physical guide. This is someone nearby who can help in case of emergencies and offer one-on-one support. Trust me, you’ll need such a guide.
4. MONEY
Many beginners think money is the number one need. While they’re not entirely wrong, the truth is you need the other things first.
Still, you cannot ignore money. You’ll need cash to feed your birds from day one until about 4.5 months when they start laying. You’ll also need a chicken house, chicks, vaccines, water, and cash to cover ongoing costs like marketing and daily operations.
In addition, you must think about cash flow. Without steady cash flow, your farm could stop running even if you have healthy birds. That’s why money matters, but only after people, plan, and guide.
5. LAND
Finally, let’s talk about land—the elephant in the room. Do you really need land to start raising chickens? Yes, you do.
However, you don’t need to break the bank. You simply need enough space for your chicken house, storage, and workers. If you already have some land, start with that. If not, you can lease, borrow, or partner instead of spending thousands to buy.
Remember the second “R” in DR. STARR—it stands for Resourceful. Use what you have.
Now you know what you need to start a layer farm: people, plan, guide, money, and land. Don’t postpone your dream. Take the first step today and build the farm you’ve been thinking about.
👉 Register below for free to get our regular Layer Chicken Digest tips.
You’ve decided to go into poultry farming, but now you’re stuck between layers and broilers, unsure of their differences.
You don’t want to invest your hard-earned money blindly and fail because of limited information. That would be costly ignorance. The choice you make—whether to keep layers or broilers—will influence your time involvement, the costs you incur to start and manage your poultry farm, your profitability, and ultimately your happiness as a farmer.
This guide aims to remove confusion by explaining 10 key differences between layers and broilers and adding a profitability score for both. Make the right choice for your poultry farm.
Layer vs broiler chicken side by side – see the physical differences clearly.
What Are Layer Chickens vs Broiler Chickens? Before diving into differences, let’s define these two types of poultry. Broilers – Chickens bred and raised primarily for meat production. Layers – Chickens kept mainly for egg production.
Here’s a quick Layers vs Broilers comparison.More details below:
Feature
Layers
Broilers
Main Purpose
Eggs
Meat
Startup Costs
Higher
Lower
Time to harvest
Start laying at 18 weeks
Ready for sale 6-9 weeks
Market Stability
Stable demand
Demand fluctuates
Housing System
Battery cage or deep litter
Mostly deep litter
Vaccine Schedule
Longer
Shorter
Spacing
Bigger(2-3sq ft/bird)
Smaller(1-2 sq ft/bird)
Feeds
Starter Grower Layer
Starter Finisher
Profit Type
Daily income Continuous
Quick One time batch
Management Level
More skilled Long term
Easier Short term
Lighting
Less 14-18 hrs
More 24 hrs
Profitability Score
8.3
7.5 (Check below for how it was compiled)
(Layers vs broilers differences table) With that in mind, here are the 10 key differences in details. 1. Startup Costs Startup costs for layers are significantly higher compared to broilers.
This is because layers require more housing space, higher-priced chicks, a longer vaccination program, and more feed in their early months. For example, in Kenya in 2025, starting with 100 broilers costs approximately KSh 100,000, whereas 100 layers could cost upwards of KSh 300,000.
These figures are estimates and can vary based on region, type of housing, and market fluctuations. (Tip: I’ll soon publish a full, accurate cost breakdown for starting a layer poultry farm.)
2. Time Commitment Layers require more time and commitment than broilers.
While broilers are typically raised for a short period—6 to 9 weeks before slaughter—layers stay on the farm for up to 2 years as long as they remain productive. Because layers stay longer, they need continuous care, including vaccination follow-ups, debeaking, egg collection, and regular health monitoring.
Broilers, on the other hand, have a shorter but more intensive cycle, allowing you to free up your time after each batch. 3. Market Dynamics The market for eggs is generally more stable than for broiler meat.
In Kenya, there are significantly more broiler farmers than layer farmers, which means meat supply often outpaces demand. This can lead to price drops during peak seasons. Eggs, however, have a steady demand from institutions, hotels, retail shops, and households.
Even better,layers give you more time to plan because they start laying at about 18 weeks (4.5 months), whereas broilers must be sold within 6 weeks. That short sales window for broilers means you should find your market before buying your chicks. 4. Housing Systems Layers can be raised in both battery cages and deep litter systems, providing flexibility depending on your budget and management style. Broilers, however, are mostly raised on deep litter systems only. Imagine broilers in cages—uncommon and impractical due to their rapid growth and space requirements. If you want options for expansion or automation, layers offer more choices.
Get detailed guides on layer chicken here 5. Vaccination Programs Because layers live longer, their vaccination schedule is more extensive.
Vaccines for layers typically include Marek’s, Newcastle, Infectious Bronchitis, Gumboro, Fowl Pox, and periodic deworming. Broilers, on the other hand, have shorter lifespans and need fewer vaccines—mainly Marek’s, Newcastle, and Infectious Bronchitis.
This makes broilers easier and cheaper to manage from a health perspective, especially for beginners. 6. Space Requirements Layers need more space per bird compared to broilers.
They are active, long-lived, and require at least 2–3 square feet per bird. Broilers, by comparison, only need about 1–2 square feet per bird. This difference directly affects your housing investment. A larger poultry house for layers means higher construction costs upfront. If your available space is limited, broilers might be easier to start with. 7. Feed and Nutrition Feeding layers is more expensive in the long run because they go through multiple feed stages—starter, growers mash, and layers mash.
Additionally, their feed must be rich in calcium and other minerals to support eggshell production, while protein levels stay moderate (16–18%). Broilers only need starter and finisher feeds, formulated with high protein levels (around 23%) to promote fast muscle growth. Because their cycle is short, their total feed cost per cycle is often lower, making broilers appealing for quick-turnaround ventures.
Find more details on broilers best practices here 8. Profitability Potential Both layers and broilers can be profitable, but the pattern of profitability differs.
Broilers deliver quick, one-time profits per batch, ideal if you want fast cash flow.
Layers, however, offer stable long-term income through daily egg sales once production starts. Layers often have a higher profit margin because you buy birds once and earn from them continuously for about 22 months.
Broilers require you to restock every 6 weeks, which can be labor-intensive but gives multiple opportunities to adjust market strategy. 9. Management Skills Required Managing layers is more demanding than managing broilers.
Layers need specialized skills, including handling vaccinations, debeaking, egg collection, and monitoring productivity over a long period. However, once your layers are established, you don’t need to buy new birds for almost two years. Broilers are simpler in terms of management but require high attention during their short growth period. They need constant monitoring for weight gain, proper feeding, and quick marketing decisions. 10. Lighting Requirements Lighting needs also differ significantly. Layers require controlled lighting, typically 14–18 hours daily, to maintain egg production. Broilers, however, need near-constant lighting (24 hours) to encourage continuous feeding and rapid weight gain. This difference impacts your power costs and infrastructure decisions.
ProfitabilityScore
Criteria
Layers (Score 1-10)
Broilers (Score 1-10)
Startup Costs
6 (Higher but worth it)
8 (Lower)
Time to returns
7 (Slower)
9 (Fast)
Profit Stability
10 (Very stable)
6 (Seasonal
Market Demand
10 (Strong & Steady)
7 (Fluctuating)
Management Complexity
7 (Challenging but rewarding
8 (Simpler)
Long Term Profit
10 (Excellent)
7 (Moderate)
Average Score
8.3
7.5
(Layers vs broilers differences in profitability)
Layers have it🥳
If you’ve already decided it’s layers, I have a step by step guide on how to start your layer chicken farm the right way here
And to start you off,
Enter your details to grab a copy of my free printable guide and regular Layer Chicken Digest tips via email:
Which Option Carries More Risk? Risk depends on your resources and experience.
Layers require more startup capital, long-term commitment, and skilled management, but they also provide steady income after maturity. You won’t see returns until after 4.5 months when they start laying, so patience is necessary. Broilers carry a different risk. Their short cycle means that if you fail to secure a market quickly, your birds continue eating expensive feed while gaining weight beyond market standards.
Unfortunately, most buyers won’t pay extra for heavier birds, leaving you with slimmer profit margins—or even losses.
Which Should You Choose? The decision between broilers and layers depends entirely on your goals.
If you prefer long-term, stable income and are willing to invest more time and capital upfront, layers are ideal. If you want quick turnover and have a reliable meat market, broilers may suit you better. Think about your financial resources, available space, time commitment, skill level, and long-term vision. Choose what aligns with your goals, even imagining what you’d be comfortable managing for the next decade—eggs or meat? Common Questions Beginner Farmers Ask 1. Can you keep both layers and broilers together? Yes, you can keep both on the same farm, but never in the same house. Maintain two separate poultry houses at a safe distance to prevent disease transmission. 2. Layers vs broilers—Which is Better? There’s no universal answer. The better choice is the one that matches your current financial position, skill level, and business goal. Carefully weigh startup costs, time involvement, and market potential before deciding. 3. Which is best for small farms? For small farms with limited capital, broilers are often the better starting point because of lower upfront costs and faster returns. Finally, The layers vs broilers differences go beyond just eggs versus meat. They influence your time, money, and long-term profitability. Understand your goals clearly and then choose the option that matches your situation. If you want to explore layers further, check out for my upcoming detailed guide on the cost of starting a layer poultry farm. It will include cost by cost breakdown and projected revenue and profits.
Do you want to start a layers poultry farm and build wealth?
Listen to this..
True story: “I slaughtered and ate all my layer birds – One farmer I interviewed”
(Layers chicken in a farm)
That’s what happens when you rush blindly into layers chicken farming without a plan.
Yes you can build wealth and achieve financial freedom just by keeping layers.
But many beginners dive in without the right knowledge—and end up losing time, money, and hope on farms that never take off.
Don’t be that person!
In this post, I’m going to walk you through a simple, step-by-step guide on how to start a layers poultry farm—even if you have zero knowledge, no money, and no idea where to begin.
Let’s get started…
STEP 1 : JOIN SECRET LAYERS
Yes, join us. Are we promoting our blog? Yes…and no. Here’s why.
Before starting anything in life—especially something as delicate and costly as poultry farming—it’s wise to learn from someone already doing it successfully.
Think of it this way:
Would you go mountain climbing without a guide?
No?
Then don’t go into layers farming without one either.
Proven models help you start ahead and take you further than you could go on your own.
(How proven models can help you start a layers poultry farm: From Millionaire Real Estate Investor)
Secret Layers exists to give you:
Simple and practical information that helps you avoid failure.
Daily tips to help you actually run your farm, not just dream about it.
A community of people just like you—starting small, aiming big.
Ask yourself:
How will you raise your chickens right?
Who will teach you about markets, pricing, and policies?
Who will motivate you when you feel like quitting?
How will you even know the best breeds?
At Secret Layers, we’re building a tribe—a family of dreamers, doers, and believers. People like you.
And guess what? You don’t have to walk this path alone anymore.
So join us.
👉 Register below for free to get access to Secrets Layers resources.
Enter your email to get a free copy of my free Purpose Planner and regular Layer Chicken Digest tips via email:
“PURPOSE PLANNER”
I recommend you maximize and apply every bit of information you will get from Secret Layers.
STEP 2 : CREATE A PLAN
Congrats! You’ve joined the community. Now what?
(Create a plan before you start a layers poultry farm)
Let’s be clear: A layer farm is a business first, a farm second. And every business needs a plan.
Not a long, boring 50-page plan for the bank. I mean a real, working, personal plan just for you.
Let me share a little secret with you.No a big one: Business plans don’t fail because of what’s written in them. They fail because of what isn’t written.
Nobody plans for losing a loved one. Nobody plans for fire, theft, or sickness. But these things happen.
What protects you is vision—knowing where you’re going. That’s your anchor when life gets rough.
Ask yourself:
How many chickens do I want to keep?(5000, 10000)?
What do I want my farm to look like in 5 years?
Do I want to sell just eggs—or also manure, chicks, feed, or liquid eggs?
Here’s a simple plan you can start with:
🥅 Goals How big? (In terms of Birds, Revenue, Customers, Employees)
How many birds are you going to start with?
🎯 Mission What is your reason for doing this beyond money?
🥚 Product Are you going to sell eggs only?
Or you’ll also sell manure, feeds,or hatching chicks?
⚙️ Systems How will the farm run daily?
Will you hire?
If so, how will you train and manage them?
🛡 Legal Planning to process, hatch, or produce feeds? You’ll need government approvals.
📢 Communication Who will buy your eggs?
Marketing – How will your buyers find you?
Sales – How will you sell your eggs?
What’s your customer service plan?
💰 Cashflow Many buyers pay farmers 30 to 90 days later.
How will you survive while waiting to be paid?
This sounds like a lot—but we’ll simplify all of it for you in future posts and give you templates and checklists.
STEP 3 : GET YOUR MONEY
You’ve got the knowledge and the plan. Now you need the cash.
⚠️ Warning: If your goal is 10,000 birds, do not wait until you have enough money to start with 10,000 birds.
Truth is, you won’t get that money. Or you’ll get it when you’re 60.
And even if you do… Do you really think you can run a 10,000-bird farm on your first try?
If you do – I like your confidence,but let’s be real.
Start with what you can manage. Learn. Grow.
In future posts, we’ll break down exact costs for starting with 100, 300, 500, or 1,000 birds.
Here are the basics you’ll need to budget for:
Water source (plus tanks) Chicks Housing Feeds (Up to point of lay) Vaccines and supplements Equipment (Feeders, drinkers, etc.) Salaries (If employing help) Miscellaneous (Transport, marketing)
Knowing your startup cost saves you from running out of money before your chickens even start laying.
STEP 4 : GET YOUR MARKET
You are not keeping layers so you can eat all the eggs yourself.Or worse your birds.
Let me tell you a true story..
A farmer got so frustrated with losses and high feed costs, he slaughtered and ate his own chickens for 3 months straight. Of course sometimes adding it on greens. “Alikula mali.”
Don’t be that farmer.
Talk to potential buyers before you start.
Neighbours Schools Shops Hotels Bakeries
Ask them:
How much they buy eggs for?
How often they buy?
How and when they pay?
If they don’t match your goals, move on. Get a buyer who does. If possible, get a supply contract.
It’ll give you confidence and reduce panic when eggs start coming in.
But don’t let market worries stop you from starting.
Layers take around 18 weeks to start laying, so you have about 4.5 months to find your buyers.
STEP 5: GET A GUIDE
You’re doing great.
You’ve joined Secret Layers.
You’ve created your plan.
You’ve secured your money.
You’ve found a market..
Now get yourself a guide.
Yes, we (Secret Layers) will guide you through content.
But we’re not offering one-on-one help yet (it’s coming).
So here’s what to look for in a real-life mentor:
1.They are actively keeping layers (not just talking about it)
2. They are affordable (could be your neighbour or someone you know)
3. They are accessible (you can reach them when you need them)
Why does this matter?
Because farm problems don’t wait.
Delayed intervention can be the reason between losing 2 birds and losing your entire flock.
It can be the difference between making millions and losing millions – literally.
Get a reliable person who can help when you need them most.
STEP 6 : START
You’ve done it all.
It’s time.
Start.
Not tomorrow. Not when you have the perfect plan. Not when you have millions. START NOW.
You won’t make money from a farm that only exists in your mind. You must take action.
Think big. But start small. Every big layer farm you see started in someone’s mind—and with one step.
Maybe you only have money for a water tank today. Start there.
Maybe you can build the chicken house next month. Good. Do that.
Start with what you have. Grow with what you get.
You’ve waited long enough.
Don’t delay your dreams any longer.
As you may have noticed: This guide is for the complete beginner—someone who has the dream, but no information, no plan, no money, no market, and no guide.
It’s not a strict rulebook to be followed religiously. It’s a proven path. Feel free to improvise and adapt it to fit whatever point you are.
If you’ve already completed one or two steps—great. Just jump to the next one.
I however recommend that whatever you do, don’t skip Step 1.
👉 Register below for free to get access to Secrets Layers resources.
Enter your details to grab a copy of the printable free guide and regular Layer Chicken Digest tips via email:
“6 SIMPLE STEPS TO START A PROFITABLE LAYER POULTRY FARM”
We’re all learning. None of us knows it all. But together, we go farther.
After the great fire of 1666 that destroyed London, the world’s famous architect, Christopher Wren, was asked to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral. One day in 1671, he observed three bricklayers at the project site.
To the first bricklayer, who was bent over Christopher asked,
“What are you doing?”
He replied,
“I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.”
This bricklayer looked tired and was way behind in his work. The second bricklayer,who was half standing responded,
“I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.This wall will be a foundation for this building and will protect everyone who will be inside” But…
The third brick layer, who was standing tall when asked “What are you doing?”replied with a smile and said
“I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.
Where people can gather together,pray and celebrate the LORD.
He was the most productive of the three.
What has this got to do with Layers Farming?
3 Lessons 1. Big Picture Thinking Have the ability to see the end result of what you are doing and how your work contributes to it.
Look beyond the daily chores.
Instead of just feeding hens and collecting eggs, envision how your layers farm helps solve the chronic problem of malnutrition in Africa—from families and school children to local restaurants. 2.Attitude Having a positive attitude and pride in what you’re doing will show up in your work and your motivation. That belief and pride in your layers chicken farm will definitely show in how you handle your suppliers,customers and even chicken!
This will provide more motivation to keep you in the game long enough to be successful. 3.The power of purpose The cathedral builder shows a personal expression of purpose that gives higher meaning to his work.
You’re not just selling eggs—you’re feeding families, empowering small-scale farmers, and improving food systems.
At Secret Layers our purpose is not to give you information about layers poultry farming – it’s about fulfilling dreams.
Your dreams.
This is what our Mission reads..
To help you go from layer poultry dream to a money-making layer farm.
And by doing that we are contributing to you, our readers mission.
That’s the kind of mission I want you to have on your layers farm.
TIP Use our 3-Why Exercise—three simple questions—to uncover your real purpose before you begin your farm.
Have you been dreaming of starting a layer poultry farm?
Do you want to make more money from your layer birds?
Do you want to start a profitable layer poultry farm? – Not a get rich quick.
But…
You don’t know where to start because you don’t have the information on what to do.
The information you get about how to start layers farming from friends, YouTube or random websites is either too complex, impractical, irrelevant to you, scattered all over on websites full of ads or expensive.
Sound familiar?
If you’re already into layers farming, you might be stuck making small profits that can’t grow your farm – or worse losing money.
If you’re still planning to start your layers farm, that dream keeps getting delayed.
And slowly, doubts creep in.
You start to feel like you can’t accomplish your dreams – that profitable layers farm, that other source of stable income, financial freedom(Whatever that means to you), quitting your job or even contributing to something great in your country and this world.
You feel like your goals are slipping away.
And it stresses you out and worries you.
I Get It..Because I’ve Been There
I know what it feels to be stuck, to want something more but not have the right information to move forward.
I believe nobody should struggle to find basic, simple, practical and well organized knowledge in today’s world.
You shouldn’t be losing money on your layers farm.
You shouldn’t be making small profits than what you can get from your farm.
You shouldn’t be wondering what to feed your birds, what to vaccinate them, how to price your eggs or where to find the market to sell your eggs.
You shouldn’t be postponing your dream of starting that profitable layers poultry farm.
Here’s What I Did..
Years ago, I was in the same place.
I decided to dig deep.
I searched for every article, blog, report book and video I could find on layers poultry farming.I’ve spent over 10,000 hours learning(I’m still learning by the way) on this one topic – Layerspoultryfarming.
(You may have heard of the 10,000hourrule – It’s real)
How many years is that by the way? *Assuming a normal work week day. Type in the comments below.
And now, I’m giving it all to you – in one place.
In simple and practical ways.
Secret Layers
Secret Layers is the first layers-onlyblog focused entirely on helping you succeed in layers poultry farming.
No broilers. No other thing – just layers, eggs and how to make them profitable.
When?
Remember;
Every week.
Never miss a post.
Enter your name and email address below to get updates delivered straight to you:
What You’ll Get On This Blog
Simple. Practical. Farmer focusedinformation.
Everything is actionable and clear.
Here’s what you’ll get;
Technical Guidance
What you should know/do before starting
Choosing the right Layer breeds
Housing
Layers feeding guides
Brooding
Layers vaccination and disease management
Increasing egg production
And many more
Business Advice
Business plans
Start up costs
Selling your eggs
Marketing your eggs
Distributing your eggs
Business growth and development
Managing cashflow
Managing employees
Legal and licensing
And many more…
*You don’t want to miss these – they’re the mistakes that quietly kill most layers farms*
Interactive Learning
Case studies
Success stories of layers farmers
Tips
And many more
And Niss’ story – Out fictional farmer with very real challenges, mistakes and wins.
We’ll follow her as she tries to make her business plan, reduce feed costs, sell her eggs and grow her farm – you’ll learn with her, laugh with her and grow with her.
You’re NoT Alone
This is your blog.
Your resource.
Your secret weapon for building the profitable layers farm you’ve always wanted.
You don’t have to lose money on your farm.
You don’t have to make small money on your farm.
You don’t have to postpone that 10,000 layer birds dream farm.
You don’t have to ‘just survive’ with money problems.
Just think about it…
What if you had a stable alternative source of income – a profitable layers poultry farm.
One that didn’t depend on family, a boss, a salary or office politics.
You could finally quit that stressful job (or keep it without worrying about the pay)
You’d clear those debts, pay off that loan and give your wife, kids and family the life they deserve.
But more than that – you’d be doing something meaningful;
Feeding your communityCreating jobsEmpowering othersInspiring change
That’s the kind of success this blog is here to help you build – financial freedom with real purpose.
(Layers chicken in a farm)
Like John.F.K said ;
“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
Take the First Step NOW– It’s FREE
Simple.
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“6 SIMPLE STEPS TO START A PROFITABLE LAYER POULTRY FARM”
