Zambia’s appetite for chicken and eggs keeps outpacing local supply. Imports still plug 60 % of demand, while small producers supply most of the chicken that is grown locally. That shortfall—and a national per-capita craving of 9 kg of meat and 120 eggs a year—creates a golden gap for agile backyard farmers. In short, if you can raise healthy birds at the right price, customers are waiting.
Crunching the Start-Up Numbers
Small start (100 broilers, one 42-day cycle)
- Housing & basic gear: $450–650
- Day-old chicks: $42–100
- Feed (60–70 % of all costs): ≈ $122
- Vaccines, meds & bedding: ≈ $22
- Total outlay: around $700–1,000
Layer venture (300 pullets)
- Housing & cages: ≈ $450
- Chicks: $300–450
- Brooding & first feed: $640–840
- Equipment: $100–150
- Total: $1,400–1,800
Scaling up (3 000 birds)
Budget ≈ $65 000 for land prep, robust housing, automated feeders, starter feed and six months of working capital.
Tip: Build in a 10 % contingency for currency swings.
Profit Picture at a Glance
- Broilers (100 birds): sell-out value ≈ $370; costs ≈ $186; net ≈ $184 ➜ 50 % margin.
- Large layer farms (60 000 birds): industry data show 35–36 % net when mortality is kept under 5 %.
Margins tighten or widen with feed price shifts. Lock in bulk deals or mix some of your own ration when maize or soy peaks.
Licences & Legal Must-Dos
- Register the business with PACRA (name clearance + certificate ≈ ZMW 333).
- Get a local-council business licence and, if you plan to sell chicks or drugs, an agro-vet permit.
- Ensure your slaughter or egg-packing area meets Public Health & Meat Abattoir Regulations.
- Larger flocks may trigger an Environmental Impact Assessment—check early.
Building the Perfect Chicken House
- Floor: concrete for easy disinfection.
- Walls: clay brick or timber with wire mesh.
- Roof: iron sheets; add ridge vents for airflow.
- Stocking density: broilers 10 birds/m² max; layers 4–5 birds/cage.
Deep litter with wood shavings keeps floors dry and cuts ammonia.
Health First: Beat Disease, Boost Profits
Newcastle Disease is the big killer. Follow a strict vaccination calendar: Hitchner B1 on day 7, Lasota at day 21, booster every six weeks. Keep outsiders—and their shoes—out of the coop. Disinfect feeders weekly, and quarantine new stock for 14 days.
Feed & Breed Hacks
- Choose proven breeds. Cobb 500 and Ross 308 hit 2.2 kg in 42 days.
- Track feed conversion. Anything over 1.8 kg feed per 1 kg live weight is money lost.
- Use commercial rations early, then supplement growers with home-mixed maize/soy to trim costs.
- Fresh water = fast growth. Clean drinkers twice a day.
Smart Marketing
Sell whole birds live for fast turnover, or dress them for a 10–15 % premium. Target weekend markets and festive seasons when demand spikes. Egg farmers: grade and tray eggs by weight; premium “jumbo” trays fetch 20 % more.
Common Pitfalls (and Fixes)
| Pitfall | Fix |
| Rising feed prices | Bulk-buy with neighbours or sign forward contracts. |
| Chick price shocks | Book day-old chicks three cycles ahead. |
| High mortality | Tighten bio-security, cull early, vaccinate on schedule. |
| Price dips | Add value (dressed birds, smoked meat, branded eggs). |
Funding & Break-Even
Government’s Farmer Input Support Programme and agri-friendly micro-finance schemes can cover up to 40 % of initial costs. Most well-run 100-bird units break even by the fourth batch (≈ six months). Medium farms often reach pay-back inside 18 months.
Action Checklist
- Draft a lean business plan (include cash-flow for six months).
- Secure housing site—far from neighbours but near water and feed.
- Register with PACRA; arrange council and vet licences.
- Book reliable chick supplier; lock in feed prices.
- Build or upgrade housing to bio-secure standards.
- Start small, learn fast, reinvest profits to scale.
Backyard poultry offers one of Zambia’s quickest pay-back agribusinesses. Keep costs tight, birds healthy, and customers close—you’ll fill the market gap and your pockets.
