Buying point-of-lay pullets at the right age and the right price can makes or breaks a layer flock. In this guide, I’ll share what I’m seeing on the ground: real price bands, where those numbers are coming from, and a practical playbook for when to buy (or wait). We’ll connect the dots between maize and feed costs, egg-crate prices in Nigeria, disease headlines, and those too-good-to-be-true “POL at 14 weeks” adverts. By the end, you’ll know the current market price for point-of-lay pullets in Nigeria, how to judge if now is a good entry, and the exact checks I use before paying, plus ROI tips and a month-by-month buying calendar to help you hit peak demand.
What “Point-of-Lay” Really Means (and how not to get duped)
“Point-of-lay” isn’t a marketing word; it’s when a pullet’s body has finished the last stretch of growth and is ready to start laying (then ramp quickly to peak). With modern brown layers, that readiness usually falls between 18–22 weeks, and most strains hit 50 percent production around 20–21 weeks. For example, ISA Brown lists 145 days (about 20.7 weeks) to 50 percent in its official product spec; Lohmann and Hy-Line give similar windows across their brown and white lines. Those benchmarks are why buying “POL at 14–16 weeks” nearly always means you’ll be feeding a pre-POL bird a few more weeks before the first egg.
What a ready pullet looks and feels like
Walk the pen and let the flock “talk” to you. Birds close to lay develop full, warm, velvety combs and wattles with a rich red color; pale, cool, shrunken headgear usually means off-lay or immature. University and welfare guides use the same cues, and they’re reliable once you’ve handled a few flocks.
Slip a hand under the tail (gently) and feel the pelvis: the spacing between the two pubic bones, and the abdominal capacity (pelvic width by keel-to-pubic distance) tell you how close she is. Extension guides teach it as “fingers’ width”, a 3-by-4-finger capacity is classic in-lay, while a 1-by-2 is a tight, not-yet-laying abdomen. Vent texture corroborates it: moist and oval in producers; dry, tight, small in non-layers.
On a humid afternoon, a true POL pen has a particular smell, clean feed and that warm “bird” scent, but not the sharp, stale note you get when too many under-aged pullets are crowded and restless. Trust your nose and your hands.
Don’t judge on calendar age alone; weight and uniformity are the real gates. Lohmann’s body-weight table puts 18-week pullets about 1.49 kg (range 1.45–1.54 kg) and 19-week about 1.56 kg, which is a solid reality-check if a seller swears a light bird is “POL.” Hy-Line emphasizes stimulating flocks into lay only at target body weight with strong uniformity. Their commercial guides aim for at least 85 percent of birds within plus or minus 10 percent of the average, and note that at least 90 percent uniformity at POL correlates with best production.
The pelvic-spacing test (and why it works)
You’ll see backyard forum versions of this test, but the Extension method is the gold standard: measure pelvic-to-pelvic and keel-to-pelvic with your fingers. As birds approach lay, the pelvis widens and softens to pass an egg. That’s why 2 or more finger pelvic spacing (often heading to 3) plus a 4-finger keel gap points to in-production status; 1–2 fingers usually means not yet. Keep your comparisons within the same flock and breed, Leghorns aren’t Orpingtons.
A genuine POL lot should come with rearing records: weekly weights against breeder targets, vaccination schedule (Marek’s at hatch; NDV, IB, IBD or Gumboro, AE, and Fowl Pox during rearing), and any beak-treat dates. If the records show birds were under target at 8 or 14 weeks, expect a later onset of lay. If lighting was increased early, you risk small, precocious birds that peak poorly.
Uniformity
On farm, don’t eyeball one or two “show birds.” Random-weigh 30–60 pullets (a fish scale and cloth sling work fine), compute the average and uniformity (share within plus or minus 10 percent of the average). If you’re below about 80–85 percent uniform, anticipate uneven onset of lay and more management work. If you’re north of 90 percent, you’re buying a team that will hit peak together.
Red flags for two common problems: “pre-POL” and “spent hens”
Pre-POL sold as POL: birds are light for age, combs still pale and cool, pelvis tight, and records show under-weight curves. You’ll feed extra weeks before first eggs, budget it. Lohmann also caution that birds can lose up to 15 percent body weight during transport; reweigh after a day of feed and water before you judge harshly.
Spent hens passed as POL: older hens often show bleached shanks and beaks from months of past production, worn plumage, and may re-pigment after a molt. Extension judging manuals explain pigment loss and return timing and how vent, comb condition, and pelvic spread separate an active layer from a retired one. If you see very large, rough scales and fully bleached shanks alongside a tired, dry comb, you’re likely looking at a past-production hen, not a fresh pullet.
Read More: Care And Management Of Laying Birds For Better Egg Production
Price Ranges & Where to Buy Point-of-lay Pullet In Nigeria
If you’re shopping today, expect point-of-lay pullets (POL) price to cluster between ₦5,200 and ₦7,500 per bird, with the lower half common on classifieds and farm-to-farm deals, and the upper half typical of retail or e-commerce or younger “pre-POL” ages bundled with delivery. A good retail benchmark is ISA Brown POL, which consistently range between ₦6,200–₦7,500. On the spot market, Jiji adverts frequently post ₦5,200–₦6,000 for “Point of Lay” birds, with exact price depending on age and distance. You’ll also see aggregator or dealer pages advertising 12–13-week “point of cage” at around ₦6,100. Note that 12–13 weeks is pre-POL, so you’ll still feed for a few weeks before first egg.
Who sells what (and how each channel prices)
Retail or e-commerce (curated stock, clearer terms): Platforms like Justagric Agros list POL by strain with age options (12–16 weeks), delivery timelines, and safe-payment guidance. You pay a premium for service and logistics, but you usually get traceability and after-sales support.
Dealers or aggregators (hybrid): Sites such as Poultry Plaza consolidate supply and sometimes promote early-age lots like “12–13 weeks point of cage” at about ₦6,100. That can be a fair price if you plan to acclimatize birds on your farm before lay. Just budget feed for the extra weeks and verify vaccination history.
Marketplaces and classifieds (best cash prices, highest variance): On Jiji, you’ll find national suppliers posting “POL” at ₦5,200–₦6,000 and regional sellers quoting higher where demand is tight. Recent examples include ₦7,500 for 17-week pullets in Jos (Plateau) and ₦7,450 in Mararaba or Abuja, both labelled as POL or near-POL. These show how location, age, and seller reputation push quotes up or down.
How I vet sellers on marketplaces (so you don’t get burned)
I treat classifieds like a farm gate with a crowd; great deals, mixed quality. Start with the platform’s own Safety Tips: check feedback, avoid prepayments, meet in a public place or insist on payment on delivery, and inspect birds before money changes hands.
For social proof, I also scan buyer comments and independent warnings. Yes, there are scam stories, and the common thread is paying ahead or skipping inspection. When I must reserve stock, I send a token only to a registered business with references and then complete payment after on-site checks (comb and wattle, pelvic spacing, weights, vaccination log).
When price bands drift (and why that matters for timing)
Even in the same week, Lagos can price higher than Ibadan for the same age because of freight and demand density. Abuja often floats higher still when nearby farms are restocking. Classifieds will show a ₦5,200 teaser right beside a ₦7,500 near-POL listing because the ages and logistics aren’t the same product. This is also why retail catalogues can look pricey until you factor in delivery windows, verified rearing, and safe payment.
Timing the Market
Layers don’t care about school resumption dates, but your egg customers do. In Nigeria, term resumptions typically cluster around early September, early January, and late April. That’s when boarding houses, cafeterias, and bakeries normalize their orders after holidays, and tray turnover firms up. My rule is simple: aim for first egg 2–4 weeks before those dates so you’re selling into strengthening demand, not chasing it.
I still remember off-loading a batch at dawn the last week of August, mist clinging to the run, the faint yeasty smell from a nearby bakery drifting in, knowing those birds would hit 10–20 percent lay just as schools reopened. The buyers didn’t haggle much that week; they had menus to plan.
Let feed and grain lead you (because they do)
Maize is the metronome. When maize softens, feed mills quote lower, egg prices cool a bit, and POL prices tend to ease with a lag. BusinessDay tracked about a 33 percent maize slide between February and June 2025 (₦600,000 to ₦450,000 per MT) and, two weeks later, reported Lagos crate prices down about 10 percent, with Abuja easing toward ₦5,800 per crate. That’s the exact sequence I’ve seen on farms: feed first, eggs second, POL last. Keep a weekly eye on maize and crate prices.
You can sanity-check with other trackers, but be picky with sources. I treat private dashboards as directional and major dailies as decision-grade.
Disease and movement risk
HPAI (bird flu) is the one external shock that can flip a loose market tight overnight. WHO flagged confirmed HPAI cases in Kano in January 2025 with thousands of suspect cases; NVRI has chronicled the broader multi-year wave. In practice, outbreaks mean culls, movement controls, and fewer quality pullets reaching city buyers. When I see verified HPAI reports in producing states, I lock in POL earlier if my houses are ready, better a slightly higher price than stock-outs mid-season.
Logistics, fuel and FX
Transport is the quiet tax on every crate and every pullet. Diesel prices rose about 85 percent year-on-year into mid-2024, and the post-subsidy era has kept road costs elevated. In plain terms: Lagos quotes carry a logistics premium; Abuja and Nasarawa corridor often prices higher when nearby farms restock; farther-flung offers look cheap until you add haulage and losses. If diesel and petrol headlines turn ugly, I stop waiting for a perfect price and buy good stock when I can verify age and uniformity.
How I actually time purchases (step by step)
Step 1: Map your demand window. Pull your buyers’ calendars (schools, bakeries, catering clients) and align with public term dates. Target first eggs 2–4 weeks before resumption or festive peaks (December or Easter). If your buyers are retail households, December is always noisier.
Step 2: Track two numbers weekly. Maize (₦ per MT) and crate eggs in your nearest city market. If maize falls for three or more weeks and crates soften, bid patiently. If maize bounces and eggs firm up, advance your POL buy by 2–3 weeks.
Step 3: Layer disease and diesel. A verified HPAI cluster or a fuel spike moves me from “wait” to “buy now” if houses are ready. The cash flow lost to stock-outs usually dwarfs the few hundred naira saved per pullet by waiting.
Step 4: Align biology with the clock. Remember: true POL is 18–22 weeks. If a seller offers 14–16 weeks at a discount, price in 2–6 weeks of feed before first egg.
Should you buy point-of-lay pullets or rear day-old chicks?
Buying point-of-lay pullets (POL) gives you eggs (and cash) almost immediately, assuming the birds are truly 18–22 weeks and on target weight. Rearing day-old chicks (DOC) ties up cash for 4–5 months in feed, heat, vaccination, and labour, but you control the rearing and can sometimes land a lower per-bird cost at POL age. In practice, your decision hinges on three numbers you can verify today: day-old chicks price, feed cost into 18–20 weeks, and what eggs sell for in your market over the next 60–90 days.
- DOC price (Nigeria, Aug 2025): farmer groups and hatchery pre-booking posts put ISA Brown pullet DOC at about ₦1,700–₦1,750 per chick.
- Feed price anchors (25 kg retail): recent online listings show grower mash around ₦18,070–₦18,690 per bag; layer mash around ₦19,660–₦20,760 per bag (brand and store vary). That’s roughly ₦720–₦830 per kg.
- Egg prices (to value your first months of lay): surveys in late July and early August show Lagos crates about ₦5,400 and Abuja about ₦5,800, reflecting the maize-driven easing we’ve seen.
Reputable layer guides put 50 percent lay at about 144–145 days (20–21 weeks) for modern browns (Hy-Line or ISA). That’s why buying “POL” younger than 18 weeks only makes sense if you’ve costed the extra feed to first egg.
The Cost Breakdown
You don’t need a spreadsheet to frame the decision; a few defensible benchmarks will do:
- Cumulative feed to POL: commercial pullets typically eat 6.0–7.0 kg from hatch to 17–18 weeks. Multiply that by your current ₦/kg feed price to get a per-bird feed bill into POL.
- Feed price per kg: divide the bag price by 25. For example, Topfeeds layer mash ₦19,659 ÷ 25 kg, ₦786/kg; Chikun Layer-1 ₦20,757 ÷ 25 kg, ₦830/kg; grower mash ₦18,070–₦18,690 ÷ 25 kg, ₦723–₦748/kg.
- DOC + rearing inputs you can’t skip: vaccination programs (Marek’s at hatch; NDV, IB, IBD or Gumboro, AE, Fowl Pox at set ages) are standard. Factor brooding heat (gas, electric, or charcoal), litter, and labour.
Worked example (200 birds), with today’s prices
Let’s assume you can buy verified 19–20 week POL at ₦5,700 each, or rear DOC to POL using current retail feed prices.
Option A: Buy POL now
- Bird cost: 200 × ₦5,700 = ₦1,140,000 (up-front).
- Days to cashflow: 0–30 days (assuming birds are truly POL).
- Early lay revenue (first 30 days): If your flock averages 40–50 percent lay while ramping, and Lagos eggs average ₦180 each (₦5,400 per 30), revenue of ₦432,000–₦540,000 for 30 days.
- Feed in lay: Hy-Line shows about 110.7 g/day per bird during 18–90 weeks. At ₦786/kg, that’s ₦17,400/day for 200 birds, ₦522,000 over 30 days. You can see why month one is tight unless your average lay pushes past 50 percent or your egg price is Abuja-like. As peak (85–95 percent) arrives, margin widens sharply.
Option B: Rear DOC to POL
- DOC: 200 × ₦1,700 ≈ ₦340,000.
- Feed to 18–20 weeks: 6.0–7.0 kg × ₦723–₦830/kg = ₦4,336–₦5,812 per bird, that is ₦867,000–₦1.16m for 200 birds.
- Other rearing costs: vaccines, heat/energy, litter, mortality allowance (good programs still plan 2–4 percent in rearing).
What that means in today’s market: when you add DOC + feed, your all-in cost at POL age can land in the same ₦6,500–₦7,500 window many sellers are quoting for ready POL. That’s why POL can be the smarter cashflow choice when maize or feed are firm, but DIY rearing wins if you’ve secured cheaper feed or you value total control (and can hit weight targets on time).
Sensitivity that actually moves your ROI
- Maize/feed drift: If feed slips another ₦1,000–₦1,500 per 25 kg, your rearing cost to POL drops ₦240–₦360 per bird (at 6–7 kg). Conversely, a feed rebound can erase the DIY advantage.
- Egg price band: At ₦5,400 per crate (₦180 per egg), 200 birds need about 97–100 eggs/day (≈50 percent lay) to cover feed alone at typical retail prices. At ₦5,800 per crate that breakeven drops a bit. This is why hitting true POL matters, buying 14–16 week “POL” just adds extra feed weeks before revenue.
- Uniformity & age verification: off-weight birds delay peak and burn feed. Management guides are clear: don’t stimulate until body-weight targets are met; aim for high uniformity to hit peak together.
Nigerian farmers regularly compare the two routes. In threads where DOC-to-POL costs are itemized, posters warn that pre-POL feed adds up quickly and that vaccination or brooding shortcuts “show up” later as delays to first egg. Others note they’ll pay a premium for verified 18–20 week stock to protect cashflow into school-term and December peaks. Treat forum numbers as directional, but the pattern matches the formal data above.
Read more: Which Bird Fits Your Budget? Prices & Feed Needs Compared (Nigeria)
Due diligence before you pay
Start with the paperwork, it tells you the story before the birds do. Ask for three things before you leave home: a strain/age statement, weekly rearing records (weights versus breeder targets), and a vaccination log. Rearing records should show body-weight progress toward the breeder’s targets. For modern browns that’s roughly 1.58 kg by 17 weeks (Hy-Line Brown table), with days-to-50 percent lay about 144–145 from hatch.
If the sheet shows birds significantly under target at 14–17 weeks, expect a later onset of lay. For the vaccine log, look for a conventional commercial-layer program: Marek’s at day-old, multiple NDV/IB rounds, IBD (Gumboro) in rearing, then AE and Fowl Pox by 10–12 weeks (programs vary by region; verify locally).
On-site, prove the age and readiness (don’t buy “labels”)
I work through the pen with a simple flow: headgear, weight, uniformity, abdomen/pelvis, pigment.
Headgear and maturity cues. POL birds in the right window (18–22 weeks) show reddening and development of combs and wattles as they approach sexual maturity. Combine that with the breeder’s 50 percent lay timing (ISA about 145 days) to sanity-check claims.
Weigh and check against targets. Don’t eyeball “show birds.” Individually weigh a real sample, best practice is about 100 birds distributed through the house, then compare the average to the strain table. Hy-Line’s standard shows 17-week body weight 1,485–1,590 g for Brown Commercial. If your sample averages far below that, you’re buying pre-POL even if the advert says otherwise.
Uniformity matters as much as the average. A strong flock hits breeder targets together. Hy-Line calls for at least 85 percent of birds within plus or minus 10 percent of the average in grow, rising to about 90 percent by week 17. Poor uniformity means a ragged ramp to peak and wasted feed. If you can’t weigh 100, at least sample widely and calculate the percent within plus or minus 10 percent.
Abdominal capacity and pelvic spacing (the 30-second hand check). Extension judging manuals teach a consistent method: assess width between the pubic bones and depth from pubic bones to the keel using your fingers. A wider, deeper, softer abdomen indicates current or near-term production; a tight, shallow abdomen suggests not yet. Use this alongside weight and age, don’t rely on any single cue.
Pigment “bleaching” and spent-hen tells. With yellow-skinned strains, pigment bleaches in a fixed order as hens lay: vent, eye ring, ear lobe, beak, bottom of foot, shanks, hock/top of toes. Birds that have regained pigment in this sequence are likely post-production/molted. Use this to guard against spent hens passed as POL, especially when the price seems too good.
Weights can dip after transport from dehydration and stress. Hy-Line notes about 10–12 percent loss at transfer is possible. When birds arrive late, I re-weigh after 18–24 hours with water and feed before final judgment. If the flock bounces back to target, it’s a good lot that just had a long haul.
I scan for respiratory signs, external parasites, and leg/foot condition while handling for the pelvic test. The vaccine log should map to a local commercial-layer program: Marek’s at hatch; repeated NDV/IB; IBD in rearing; AE/Fowl Pox at about 10–12 weeks; plus local additions advised by your vet. I don’t buy lots that can’t produce a dated log covering these basics.
Contract terms that protect you (and how I write them)
I ask for a short, practical clause right on the invoice: “Time-to-first-egg within 14 days (plus or minus) on standard layer ration for verified 18–20 week birds; if not, discount ₦___ per bird or feed supplement for ___ days.”
Red flags I treat as deal-breakers
- No rearing records or vaccine log “to be sent later.”
- Age mismatch (light frames versus claimed weeks; under-developed headgear for purported POL).
- Uniformity below about 80–85 percent within plus or minus 10 percent at 16–17 weeks.
- Pigment patterns consistent with spent hens (returning color in the face or vent region).
When the truck rolls up and the birds settle, I randomly pull and weigh about 100 across the house (or as many as practical), compute average and percent within plus or minus 10 percent, do 10 quick abdominal/pelvic checks, and scan for vaccine wing-web scars (fowl pox or AE) as corroboration with the log. If the numbers line up with the breed’s standards and the paperwork is tight, I close. If not, I either renegotiate (pre-POL price with feed credit) or pass. Hy-Line’s targets and the uniformity goals give you hard numbers to point to in that conversation.
Price map (August 2025): Nigeria snapshots you can actually verify
I built this city-by-city snapshot from current retail pages and live marketplace posts. Treat it as a sanity check for quotes you’re getting today, not a fixed tariff. Age, strain, and delivery distance will slide a price up or down.
How to read this
- Age is what the seller states. Anything under 18 weeks is pre-POL—budget 2–6 extra weeks of feed before first egg.
- Source type tells you what kind of seller you’re dealing with. Retail pages often include safe-payment or escrow; classifieds require your on-site checks (see Section 5).
- Last seen is when I pulled the listing (Africa/Lagos time).
| City/Region | Price band (₦/bird) | Stated age | Source type | Notes | Last seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | ₦6,200–₦7,500 | 12–16 weeks | Retail or e-commerce | In-stock pages show 3–7-day delivery; same product family also shows pre-order variants. | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Abuja (FCT) | ₦4,500–₦7,500 | 17–18 weeks; POL | FB group and marketplace | Low-end group post at ₦4,500; marketplace quotes up to ₦7,500 for near-POL lots. | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Ibadan (Oyo) | ₦5,300–₦6,000 | 12–14 weeks | Jiji classifieds | Labeled “Point of Cage/Point of Lay”; these are pre-POL, so add growers feed weeks. | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Delta (Udu) | ₦5,200 | “POL” (various) | Jiji pro vendor | Nationwide delivery. Confirm age on farm. Good baseline for lower-band quotes. | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Benin City (Edo) | ₦8,500 | 12–16 weeks | Jiji classifieds | Higher band for younger pre-POL lots; price reflects age plus location. | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Jos (Plateau) | ₦8,500 | 17 weeks | FB group post | Near-POL by age; still verify weight, uniformity, and vaccine log before buying. | Aug 20, 2025 |
| Nationwide (retail alt.) | ₦6,100 | 12–13 weeks | Aggregator or dealer | Clearly labeled “point of cage” (pre-POL); useful if you plan to finish rearing yourself. | Aug 20, 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Point of Lay Pullets
1. What exactly is a “point-of-lay pullet,” and at what age should I buy?
“Point-of-lay” means a pullet is biologically ready to begin laying and ramp quickly to peak. For modern browns like ISA Brown and Hy-Line Brown, the strain guides put 50 percent production at about 144–145 days (20–21 weeks) under standard management. So “true POL” usually sits 18–22 weeks, not 14–16. ISA’s official page lists 145 days to 50 percent; Hy-Line’s standard shows 144 days and about 1.49–1.58 kg by week 17 depending on line.
2. How much is a point-of-lay pullet in Nigeria right now?
Recent retail pages show ₦6,200–₦7,500 for ISA Brown POL, with safe-payment and delivery options. On classifieds like Jiji, you’ll often see ₦5,200–₦6,000 for “POL,” but many of those ads are younger, pre-POL ages (you’ll feed more weeks before first egg). Always verify the stated age and body weight before paying.
3. I keep seeing “12–16 weeks” advertised as POL. Is that legit?
No. At 12–16 weeks, most birds are pre-POL, you’re paying to finish rearing. Some Nigerian dealers label “point of cage (12–13 weeks)” to mean “ready for cages” rather than ready to lay. That can be a good buy if you price in 2–6 weeks of feed and verify vaccination records, but it is not the same as 18–20-week POL.
4. Where can I buy point-of-lay pullets, and how do I avoid getting scammed?
For retail or e-commerce, Justagric Agros lists age variants and offers safe-payment plus delivery windows. For classifieds, follow safety tips strictly: avoid sending prepayments, inspect first, and pay on possession. I treat marketplace listings as leads, then verify age, weight, and vaccines on farm.
5. What should the vaccination log show by point-of-lay?
A commercial-layer program normally includes Marek’s at day-old, repeated Newcastle (NDV) and Infectious Bronchitis (IB) doses during rearing, Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD or Gumboro), and Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) plus Fowl Pox around 10–12 weeks (local vets may add region-specific vaccines). Always ask for dated records.
6. How do I verify a bird is truly near lay when I’m on-site?
Use a quick five-point check: comb and wattle red and warm, body weight near the strain target, uniformity high (85–90 percent within plus or minus 10 percent of average), abdominal capacity and pelvic spacing widened and soft, and vent moist and oval. Poultry judging manuals show exactly how to assess pelvic spacing and the classic order of pigment loss in active layers.
7. Could a seller pass off spent hens as POL? What are the tells?
Yes, it happens. Learn the pigment timeline: in yellow-skinned strains, pigment bleaches in order vent, eye ring, ear lobe, beak, feet and shanks while laying, then re-pigments after molt. Combine that with a dry, tight vent and rough plumage, and you’re likely looking at a post-production hen, not fresh POL.
8. How many eggs should I expect in the first month after POL?
Expect a ramp, not an instant peak. Strain guides place 50 percent lay at about 20–21 weeks. Flocks typically climb from first eggs into the 50–70 percent range over several weeks before pushing toward 95 percent peak later. Your early-month totals depend on age truth, body weight, uniformity, and stress at transfer.
9. Do transport and stress slow the onset of lay?
They can. Hy-Line notes about 10–12 percent body-weight loss at transfer is common, mostly from reduced water intake. I re-weigh birds 18–24 hours after arrival (with water and feed) before judging the lot; a good flock rebounds quickly.
10. Why are POL prices different in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, etc.?
Two reasons: logistics and local demand. Delivered prices track diesel and haulage. Nigeria’s official stats placed average diesel at ₦1,813.81 per litre in June 2025, up sharply year-on-year, which flows into the bird price. Local demand (like school resumption cycles) and seller reputation also nudge quotes.
11. What’s the smartest time of year to buy point-of-lay pullets?
Work backward from demand. In Lagos, for example, school resumption falls in September, with other terms in January and April. Aim for first eggs 2–4 weeks before those dates so you’re selling into rising demand. If you sell mainly to households and bakeries, December also matters, plan the same way.
12. Should I buy POL now or rear day-old chicks (DOC) to save money?
Run the numbers for your inputs. Hy-Line’s standard shows about 6.07 kg feed consumed to 17 weeks. Multiply that by your feed price per kg, add DOC cost, vaccines, heat, litter, labour, and mortality, then compare to a verified 18–20-week POL quote. When feed is firm and you need cashflow soon, POL often wins. When feed softens and your brooding is tight, rearing can land cheaper.
13. What’s the difference between “point of lay” and “point of cage” I see on Nigerian sites?
“Point of lay” means birds are ready to start laying (18–22 weeks with weight and records to match). “Point of cage” is a dealer term for younger pullets (often 12–13 weeks) that are ready to be housed in layer cages but not yet laying. If you choose “point of cage,” budget extra feed weeks and check the vaccination log.
14. Does bird-flu (HPAI) news change when I should buy?
It can. Confirmed HPAI cases in Kano in early 2025 and recurrent outbreaks documented by NVRI show the pattern. Outbreaks can trigger culls, movement limits, and tighter supply, which often lifts POL prices. If credible HPAI notices hit a supplying state and your houses are ready, it’s often smarter to buy earlier rather than risk stock-outs.
Conclusion
“Point-of-lay” should mean birds are genuinely on the cusp of production, about 18–22 weeks, aligning with modern strain specs that hit 50 percent lay at about 144–145 days. Anything advertised at 12–16 weeks is really pre-POL; some dealers label this “point of cage,” which is fine if you’ve priced the extra feed weeks to first egg. Prices move with age, channel, and market signals. ISA Brown POL price ranges between ₦6,200–₦7,500. Marketplace or spot listings often sit lower, many current posts show around ₦5,700–₦5,900 for “POL,” though younger ages are common and should be treated as pre-POL in your math.