Thread by @SalamHabeeb9

BROILER PROCESSING & MARKETING
The temporary closure of the Nigeria borders has increased the demand for locally produced poultry products. While the price of imported turkey has skyrocketed, people are now ware of the freshness and good taste of broilers.

Broiler processing is the same as broiler dressing and packaging. It's simply done by series of processes that will be discussed here.
But before I discuss this processes, it's important we highlight our target markets and potential customers.

Starting a broiler processing business is not difficult but the marketing and selling of your products. Before you start this venture,you mist have identify your customers.They mist have agreed to buy your product. You will have to do a comprehensive market planning and survey.

You will need to go with fresh samples of the products to your potential customers.
Here is the lists of your market target
1.Frozen food sellers on your street and in the markets near you.
2.Hotel, Eateries, Suya spots & Bars
3.Boarding schools
4.Banks
5.Private Universities

6. Meet event planners
7. Government and private offices
And many more.
You can sell your fresh processed chickens to these people.
Every one likes chicken, we all crave for this special meat most especially when it is neatly and hygienically produced.

Equipment Requirement
1. A defeathering machine
2. Bleeding cone
3. Scalding tank
4. You need a cooking gas
5. A clean table,preferably stainless steel
6. Blasting machine(optional)
7. Freezer
8. Branded nylon for packaging.
9. You also need a knife.

Start small and grow big. I also advise you start by buying 5-7 weeks old birds from farmers.I discouraged processor rearing broilers foe processing. It comes with alot of risks
Locate broiler farmers and negotiate with them per kilo of bird.
Presently a kilo of live bird is #530

Buy the live birds from farmers near you so you can save money from transportation.Transport the birds in plastic crates to avoid dead birds.
Ensure you buy live birds between 1.7kg-2kg
Ensure no food in birds crop.Make sure the farmer have withdrawn feeds few hours before u buy

This is important to avoid contamination when processing and to also ensure you are not buying food waste along with the birds.
Bird crop must be empty when buying on the farm. Please note this.
Transport the birds to your mini backyard slaughter house and start the processings

Remove birds from crates, usually birds should be stunned. Stunning is making the birds unconscious by passing the birds head through a water bathe that contains electric currents.This may not be possible with small scale processors like us.

Instead, suspend the birds in a bleeding cone and cut the jugular veins and carotid arteries in the neck with a sharp knife. Allow the birds to bleed for 2 minutes. This is also very important as any bird not bled properly will have a redder skin after feather removal.

Less I forgot you also need a thermometer. A very important tool to maintain scalding temperature.
After bleeding, drop the birds into the scalding tank that contains water heated to 50°C to 53°C depending on the toughness of the bird skin.
This temprature is very important

I actually advise you maintain your scalding water at 51°C. This temperature works well for me.
Do not exceed 53°C of you must use high temperature for your scalding.
After the birds is inserted into the hot water, it is then dropped inside a defeathering machine.

A defeathering machine will remove the feathers in seconds.
This machine is equipped with plucking fingers that remove feathers from bird carcass.
As soon as the feathers are all removed, wash the birds thoroughly in a water bath and allow to cool for some minutes.

After cooling, remove the head, feet and the neck.
Remove the preen or oil gland from the tail. Cut open the vent to remove the viscera (internal organs) using knife.
Remove the gizzard, livers and kidneys (edible offal) from the viscera. They are also sold in the market.

Cut open the gizzard,remove the yellow linen and wash. It is the most expensive part of broiler.
After evisceration, clean the canvas in and out thoroughly. Wash and re-wash to avoid contaminations.

Carcass is washed and chilled in cold water at 4°C temperature
You can use ice blocks to chill the carcass or use a ice blasting machine that will make the carcass ice stone cold within minutes.
Though very expensive,blasting machine is essential for every processor.Reduces risks

Move the chilled carcass into a deep freezer for storage before you deliver to your customers.
Don't buy a tokunbo freezer to start this business please. Am saying this from experience. Buy brand new freezers with big inside.

Actually nothing is wasted when processing broilers.
The bled bloods can be used to make blood meal,a very good protein source.
You will sell the head,legs,neck,gizzard,liver and lungs.
Feathers can also be converted to feather meal. Very high in protein.

Economics of broiler processing.
Live birds are so per kg.
1kg of live bird =#530/kg
So if you are buying average weight of 2kg birds=#1060
Transportation=#15
Labour/processing cost=#50
Electricity/Diesel cost=??
(Cost of running gen and electricity varies)
Total cost=#1125

Normally, when you processed a 2kg live broilers, expect a weight loss of 0.4-0.6grams due to evisceration and feather removal.
So 2kg live birds will give an average of 1.5kg after processing.

The prevailing market prices of the broiler parts are stated below
1.Full chicken =#900/kg
2.Gizzard=#1100/kg
3.Head and leg=#350/kg
4.Neck=#600/kg
Selling full chicken alone @#900/kg x1.5kg =#1350
#1350-#1125=#225
If you process 100 birds, multiply that by your profit/birds

However,these involves a lot of tech. Do your research and market survey very well.
I have done this before and I faced lots of challenges. This business is not for the feint hearted.
You need stable electricity to preserve your products or else you go get high blood pressure.

I use to supply Adeleke University and Redeemers University back then. My records are with them.
I stopped processing years back when the atmosphere was made difficult because of the imported poultry products that are way cheaper than our products.
But will soon resume.

Don't forget,I have quality Point of lay birds sell.
I also make agricultural machines such as Mixer,Hammermill and Battery cages.
I can also help you setup your farm.
Please kindly RT.