Hi everyone,
I am writing to request guidance regarding a poultry startup buisness in The Gambia.

My name is Qasid. I am a Londoner who spent his gap year teaching maths in a Gambian secondary school.
During my seven months there I witnessed first hand the extreme and widespread poverty in The Gambia. For example some students would waste there entire school careers as they have to pull out of there final examinations because they cant afford to pay thier exam fees. Other children cant even afford to go to school and spend all day collecting scrap metal from the streets to sell for recycling to survive another day. Furthermore most people suffer from forms of malnutrition due to survining mostly on plain rice.

Therefore I have resolved to setup a small-medium scale non profit commercial poultry buisness in The Gambia. I am confident this will provide much needed jobs to local people while also reducing the extremely high cost of chicken and eggs (which are imported currently from Holland!) so that local people can afford to enjoy a healthy diet.

Despite previous experience in starting up and successfully running a small non-profit agricultural buisness in The Gambia ; I have no experience in poultry farming. Furthermore commerial poultry farming does not exist in The Gambia (only some people keep a handfull of chickens at home) and the nearest source of chicken feed is from the neighbouring country Senegal.

Therefore I would be most greatful if you could guide me to relavent resources and generally point me in the right direction (where to start!). In particular land, labour, machinery, equiment, buildings, breeds and feed requirements according to availabilty and appropriateness for The Gambia.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks!
Qasid

Hi there your project sounds great and i would love to offer some advice but can i ask a few questions?

How much land have you got - or can get? How many head are you hoping to produce? What are you specifically wanting to rear - chickens, ducks, turkeys etc or all of them?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks for your reply. In response to your questions:

Basically I have a initial startup budget of £600. I am asking you guys; with that budget how many chickens shall I buy and how much land will I need to accomadate them under a semi intensive sutructure. I can aquire land of the required size thats not a big issue in The Gambia.

I intend to raise chickens as both the eggs and the meat is in high demand locally as all eggs are currently imported from Holland (making them very expensive) and all producers of broiler solely supply tourist hotels leaving the local people to depend on expensive imported meat.

ah right! Well, do you have any idea of feed costs over there and how much you could pick birds up for? Obviosely we could show figures from UK but it may be higher /lower over there. You need to consider- feed prices (mixed corn or layers pellets) high protein feed will make the birds put on weight and if you need or want to slow the weight gain down, corn/wheat normally does the trick. Would you be breeding your stock or buying poults (young birds)?

Poultry feed - theres a link to some growers pellets. In a search engine just type poultry feed - it will show you all types - corn generally slows growth down - this may be needed if your wanting the birds to lay for longer and not put lots of weight on all at once. I dont have loads of experience with poultry but have a bit. You say your going to semi-intensive production - do you mean your keeping them in a shed/building or are you keeping them in but letting them out? If you let them wander alot, the meat may be tougher due to more muscle.

If you can, make a shed. Put it up on skids if possible (just get 2 long planks of wood and slide them under and keep the house off the ground) this will mean air can get underneath and it will help keep pests at bay, also, it can be moved depending on size. i dont know what stocking rates will be, but If its intensive, have 1 large shed, put them all in, and stick some perches (just planks of wood) and some nest boxes with straw (or similar) in, if you intend to let them out and graze, you can have  1 large shed or you can make it easier and have a few sheds on skids - its personal preference, your decsion will be based on money, space and time. Smaller sheds are better in my opinion if your birds are grazing, if there just kept in doors, it dont really matter.

 The nearest source of chiken feed would be in Dakar in the neighbouring country Senegal. Therefore intended to produce the feed from locally. The main crops grown are Groundnut (Peanut) and Sorghum. Corn, Cassava and vegetables are also common. Fish is also abundant. I would be greatful if someone could help me with how to produce feed from such materials. Aside from this poultry project I have already begun work on a small scale groundnut and palm oil press in The Gambia. I understand that the by- products of this production; the groundnut cake and palm meal are valuable ingriedients in poultry feed.

Regarding the construction of the shed would there be any resources which could help me with the construction therof; such as technical drawings. If so I could have the drawings sent over and get an estimate on the cost of its construction.

I will get back to you guys as soon as I find out the cost of birds. Unitil then I look forward to more valuable advice. Thanks again everyone.

Hi Qasid,

Iam planning to set up a similar project in angola and i was wondering how your research went along.

i would be really good if you can help.

thanks

Ali

i suggest you first return to the uk and get a job on a poultry farm for 6 months, or, sign up to a course in poultry at a college.

Otherwise, you are heading for disaster.

after that, feed the hens on waste food scraps and let them scratch about, they will be the cheapest eggs . employ local lads tp protect them from snakes and theives etc.

if the locals lack proper nutrition, the chicken feed would be better fed direct to them.

pigs left to scavenge would be better.

quasid !! go for it , i have been in the gambia and have weekly contact with a juice seller/friend i had the same plans, but no money at all.

dont let people discourage it !!  but secure the chicken by a family in trade of eggs or something, hunger make people steal

 when i have money, i go to the gambia again (and maybe help, )

GOOD LUCK !!  and do it !!!  vincent , holland

My name is Tayib A. Janha and I am a Gambian who specialized in Animal and Poultry Sciences. I am presently teaching in the U.S.A. I was a Counterpart Manager of a commercial Poultry and Vegetable Production company in the Gambia some years back.

You need to develop a plan. My interest is to establish a commercial poultry farm in The Gambia.

Thank you for your good intend. Please contact me at your convenience.

Hi  Qasid.

It was some time ago when you posted your not and it may be to late to plan any action however if not I would be very interested in making contact to speak more on your experience I live in Gambia and have my own compound also looking to start up chicken farming for the same reasons I think we may have a lot in common if you do read this message please email back and we can discuss, I have just returned to Uk after being back in Gambia for a few weeks I am uk but converted to Islam last year along with my family my name is now Yusuf.

Look forward to hearing from you

Yusuf