In 2025, every naira we pour into a bag of feed or a carton of chicks has to stretch further than last year. Feed has jumped again, reports early this year pegged typical bag prices climbing from roughly ₦25,000 in December to about ₦27,800, putting real pressure on margins for small and mid-size farms.
On the stock side, day-old broiler prices have been volatile, with ranges from about ₦57,000 up to ₦74,000 per 50-chick carton depending on brand and week, while point-of-lay hens are listed from roughly ₦6,200 to ₦7,500 per bird on retail marketplaces, though actual farm-gate offers vary by age and vaccination history.
This guide is my straight-talk, numbers-first walkthrough of which bird actually fits your 2025 budget, not in theory but in naira, bags, and weeks. I’ll compare broilers, layers (reared from DOC vs. buying point-of-lay), dual-purpose/Noilers, turkeys, and ducks against today’s input prices and science-based feed benchmarks from primary breeders (Cobb and Hy-Line). By the end, you’ll know exactly which bird aligns with your cash flow, space, and market, plus you’ll get copy-and-paste budget models and a simple calculator you can adapt for your farm.
Prices & Inputs For Bird Rearing In Nigeria
Day-Old and Point-of-Lay birds (current listings)
| Bird/type | Example brand(s) | Unit | Current listing price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broiler DOC | CASCADA/CHI (Arbor Acres) | 50 chicks | ₦60,500 (product page) |
| AMO, Agrited (Ross 308) | 50 chicks | ₦27,500–₦55,000 (range on vendor pages); DOC updates also hit ₦74,000–₦75,500 on Feb 3, 2025 | |
| Pullets DOC (Hy-Line/ISA) | Agrited (Hy-Line Brown), CHI | 50 chicks | ₦90,500–₦92,500 (current listings) |
| Point-of-Lay (POL) pullets | ISA Brown | per bird | ₦6,200–₦7,500 |
| Noiler / dual-purpose | AMO Noiler | 50 chicks | Available via dealers and e-commerce (bookings active; confirm week and price with seller) |
| Turkey poults (local) | — | 40 poults | ₦95,000–₦190,000 |
| Turkey poults (foreign) | — | 30 poults | ₦100,000–₦300,000 |
| Ducklings | Local and exotic | per duckling | ₦4,400–₦4,700 |
Tip: for DOCs and poults, always ask for hatch date and vaccination sheet before you pay. Prices change weekly; the “DOC price update” posts are a handy timestamp to archive in your farm records.
Feed prices (25 kg bags)
| Feed (25 kg) | Brand | Form | Current listing price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broiler Finisher | Topfeeds | Mash | ₦22,500.40 |
| Broiler Finisher | Chikun (Olam/New Hope) | Pellets | ₦23,699.50 |
| Broiler Grower | Chikun | Pellets | ₦21,543.50 |
| Broiler Starter | Topfeeds | Mash/crumbles | ₦23,654.75–₦24,650.50 |
| Layer-1 (19–45 wks) | Chikun | Mash | ₦20,757.00 |
| Layer Mash | Topfeeds | Mash | ₦19,659.99 |
| Broiler Super Starter | New Hope | Crumbles | ₦26,722.50–₦29,715.00 |
In early 2025, many farmers reported bag prices rising from about ₦25,000 (December) to about ₦27,800 by February. Ingredient markets have been volatile; maize eased in June 2025 (down 33 percent compared to February), but retail feed tags move slower than grain futures. Keep a weekly log from your local dealer.
How to choose the right bird for your 2025 budget
Choosing birds in 2025 Nigeria is not just “broilers vs layers.” It is a money-in/money-out timing game, played under hot, humid weather and moving feed tags. Below is exactly how I walk new and mid-scale farmers through the choice, using this week’s price signals and breeder math so you can commit with confidence.
1) Start with your timeline and cash-flow goal
If you need cash fast, broilers still win because the cycle is short and predictable. Primary breeder tables (Cobb 500) show birds around 2.5 kg at day-35 with about 3.64 kg cumulative feed per bird, or about 3.28 kg at day-42 with 5.10 kg cumulative feed. That is why a six-to-eight-week cash-out is realistic when you manage brooding and heat well.
If you would rather collect steady cash month after month, layers are about patience and consistency. Hy-Line Brown’s current standards put days to 50 percent lay at about 144 from hatch, about 6.07 kg feed to 17 weeks, and an average 110.7 g/day from 18–90 weeks. That is the math behind the “13–14 bags per 100 hens per month” rule of thumb. Buying point-of-lay (POL) lets you skip the 17-week rearing feed and risk and start selling eggs almost immediately; reputable vendors in Nigeria list POL pullets around ₦6,200–₦7,500 per bird as of this season.
If you want hardy birds that do a bit of both, Noilers (Amo Farm’s dual-purpose line) trade speed for resilience and a second income stream from eggs. They are designed for Nigerian conditions and have documented dual-purpose performance in local studies. Plan slower growth than broilers and price for flavour and live-bird demand.
For seasonal, high-ticket plays like Christmas or Eid live-bird markets, turkeys are a longer, heavier feed ride but can pay when timed into festive spikes. This year’s vendor pages show active Nigerian and foreign poult listings. Your decision here is less about speed and more about timing demand.
If you farm near water and have niche buyers such as certain restaurants or bakers, ducks can work. They are cheap to start but management is wetter and messier. FAO’s tropical duck guide is still the best practical reference for housing and water access.
2) Map your capital and your exposure to feed price swings
I always write two lines on the whiteboard: stock cost today and feed to target. Layer POLs cost more up front but dodge rearing feed. DOC pullets are cheaper per head but swallow about 6 kg each before first egg. Broilers are deceptively “cheap to start” until you multiply those Cobb cumulative numbers by your feed tag. With Nigerian grain markets wobbling this year (maize down about 33 percent from February to June, while eggs stayed pricey), treat your feed line as the lever that moves margin up or down.
For practical pricing, I budget off published bag tags (Topfeeds and Chikun) and then call my local dealer before I buy chicks. It is common to see Topfeeds Layer Mash around ₦19,600–₦20,000 and Chikun Layer-1 around ₦20,700 on retail pages, with broiler finisher a bit higher. Use those to sketch, then confirm locally.
3) Match birds to the shed you actually own (space, heat, airflow)
Your house makes or breaks the choice. In warm climates, broilers should sit closer to about 30 kg live weight per square meter. Higher densities in heat punish feed conversion and put birds on the edge. Layers in floor or aviary systems are typically about 6–9 birds per square meter of usable floor (exclude nests and perches) with strict feeder and drinker space so timid hens can eat. If your house cannot keep air moving in the afternoon, broilers struggle at high densities and layer intakes fall. Ventilation, orientation, and stocking density are not “nice to have” in Nigeria, they are the difference between the plan on paper and the reality in the litter.
4) Be honest about your daily bandwidth and risk tolerance
Rearing pullets from DOC is rewarding, but it is a 17-week, detail-heavy job before your first crate of eggs. If you are still juggling a day job, POL is often the saner on-ramp. You pay more per hen, but you skip brooding, tight weight curves, and most early-life losses. Broilers compress the risk into six to eight weeks, great if you can watch them closely and keep feed and water perfect through heat spikes. Noilers forgive more management lapses but do not race to 2.5 kg like broilers do. These trade-offs are what breeder tables and day-to-day husbandry force you to respect.
5) Where and when will you sell?
If your buyers are egg resellers and nearby shops, layers give you weekly cashflow and flexibility to scale. If your neighbourhood prefers live, heavy birds for weekends and holidays, broilers or turkeys align better. Turkey cycles are longer, so budget feed and book poults early if you are targeting December. Check current poult listings to gauge scarcity before you commit.
6) Quick decision paths (the way I actually advise farmers)
If you tell me, “I need money in under two months,” I’ll steer you to broilers, then run the bag math at your target weight using Cobb’s cumulative table. At day-35 the guideline is about 3.6 kg feed per bird and at day-42 about 5.1 kg. That’s roughly 14.5 to 20.5 bags per 100 birds on 25 kg bags. From there we layer in mortality, litter, vaccines, and transport.
If you say, “I want reliable monthly income with fewer early-stage risks,” I suggest POL layers. The Hy-Line 2024 guide pegs average 110.7 g/day in lay, so about 13–14 bags per month per 100 hens at peak is a fair, dated number. Cross-check POL quotes this week (₦6,200–₦7,500) and confirm vaccination sheets.
If you insist on lowest cost per hen and can babysit weights, rear DOC pullets. Just go in eyes-open about the about 6 kg per bird to 17 weeks before the first egg. The upside is flock uniformity and long lay length if you hit bodyweight curves on time.
If your yard is hot and rough and buyers like “country taste,” a Noiler batch is a good teacher: rugged, dual-purpose, marketable live, and not as feed-sensitive as broilers. Local research and the manufacturer confirm the dual-purpose brief, so set growth expectations accordingly.
Chicken Feed Needs and Timelines You Must Plan For
I’ll show you the actual feed your birds will eat, the time it takes to hit target weights or start laying, and what that translates to in 25 kg bags (the common bag size in Nigeria). I’ll use breeder manuals and extension guides so you are not budgeting off WhatsApp guesses.
Broilers (fastest meat: 5–7 weeks)
If you are chasing quick cashflow, broilers are still king, but only if you feed for the finish. Cobb’s current performance table shows an as-hatched broiler eats about 3.64 kg of feed by day 35 and about 5.10 kg by day 42 (cumulative). For a 100-bird flock, that is about 14.5 bags to day 35 or about 20.4 bags to day 42 (25 kg bags). Cobb also notes these are targets under good management and that FCR tables do not include mortality, so budget a little extra to cover waste and losses.
Aviagen’s Ross 308 objectives are a touch leaner on paper: about 4.59 kg feed per bird by day 42 as-hatched (about 18.3 bags for 100 birds). The two sets of targets give you a realistic range, and both assume clean water, good brooding, proper density, and heat under control.
Nigerian forums often claim “8 kg feed per broiler to 9 weeks.” That is way above breeder targets and usually reflects heat stress, spillage, poor ration density, or small feeders. It is common advice online, but it is not a benchmark you should plan toward unless your setup is already constrained.
What this means for your 2025 budget (broilers):
- Sell at 5 weeks (live 1.8–2.1 kg): budget 3.6–4.0 kg feed per bird (Cobb table).
- Sell at 6 weeks: plan about 4.6–5.1 kg per bird depending on strain and heat.
Multiply by your flock size, divide by 25 kg to get bags, then add 5–8 percent for wastage and mortality to be safe.
Read more: Arbor Acres vs Cobb 500 vs Ross 308: Prices, Performance & Best Uses
Layers (eggs): DOC vs POL
From day-old to point-of-lay (rearing cost): Hy-Line’s 2024 standard shows a pullet eats about 6.07 kg of feed by 17 weeks with about 98 percent livability when managed well. For 100 pullets, that is about 24.3 bags just to reach POL. If you buy POL, your supplier already “ate” that feed bill, and you pay it in the bird price.
In-lay consumption: From 18–90 weeks, Hy-Line Brown averages about 110.7 g/day. That is about 3.32 kg/month per hen (about 13.3 bags/month per 100 hens). Hy-Line also publishes feed per dozen figures, about 1.43–1.55 kg/dozen over 20–90 weeks, which is useful for shop-level pricing.
Cash outlay comparison:
- POL hens (ISA Brown): about ₦6,200–₦7,500 each.
- Day-old layer chicks (Hy-Line/ISA): about ₦90,000–₦92,500 per 50 (about ₦1,800–₦1,850 per chick). If you brood yourself, add the about 24.3 bags per 100 for rearing feed plus brooding energy and vaccines.
Dual-purpose “Noiler”
Noilers were bred in Nigeria for dual use and resilience. Multiple Nigerian studies show slower growth and higher FCR than broilers, but better survivability than many exotics. Typical smallholder trials report about 1.6–1.7 kg live weight at 12 weeks depending on housing and pasture access. That is fine for home meat or live-bird markets, not a direct broiler replacement. You should budget more feed per kg of gain than for a broiler, and a longer grow-out (10–12 weeks) to hit acceptable weights.
AMO Farm (Noiler’s developer) also expanded hatchery capacity in Oyo in 2025, so supply is broad. Call local agents for updated chick or POL pricing and delivery windows before you batch your feed.
Turkeys (heavier meat, big feed bill)
If you have space and a premium buyer, turkeys can pay, but feed is your largest line item by far.
University and extension guides give clear cumulative totals: to 16 weeks, a market turkey eats about 63 lb (28.6 kg) per bird; to 20 weeks, about 116 lb (52.6 kg). Translate that for budgeting: 16-week hen about 28.6 kg 1.14 bags; 20-week tom about 52.6 kg 2.10 bags, per bird. Hen market age is often 14 weeks (about 9 kg live), toms 17–20 weeks. Proteins step down (starter 28 percent, grower 22 percent, then 19–16 percent finisher).
By week 7, many smallholders report a 50 lb (22.7 kg) bag lasting 2–3 days for about 50 birds, which lines up with the heavy numbers above. Budget generously; there is no cheap way to grow a turkey.
Ducks (Pekin/Muscovy)
Commercial meat strains like Pekin typically reach 6–7 lb at 7–9 weeks after eating about 20–25 lb (9.1–11.3 kg) feed. Other reports peg about 7.9–9.0 kg to 56 days in tropical systems, close enough for budgets. Plan a higher FCR than broilers. FAO notes ducks usually deposit more fat, making meat more expensive to produce on feed alone. Layers eat about 120 g/day when in lay.
2025 Nigeria Poultry Production Budget Models
Below are worked examples I actually use when helping beginners decide what to stock. I keep the inputs transparent so you can swap in your own local prices. All feed intakes come from breeder or extension guides; all prices are from current Nigerian listings as of Aug 21, 2025.
What these models are based on (so you can trust them)
Feed intake targets:
- Broilers (Cobb 500) eat about 5.10 kg feed per bird by day 42 (cumulative). I add a 5 percent allowance for spillage and waste.
- Layers (Hy-Line Brown) eat about 6.07 kg from 0–17 weeks to reach point-of-lay (POL). In lay, plan on 110.7 g/day and 1.43–1.55 kg feed per dozen eggs (20–90 weeks).
Current Nigerian prices (examples):
- Topfeeds Broiler Finisher 25 kg: ₦22,500.40 (per-kg about ₦900). Topfeed layer mash: ₦19,659.99. Chikun Layer-1: ₦20,757. Chikun Grower Pellet 25 kg: ₦21,543.50.
- DOC (day-old chicks): Broilers commonly list ₦59,000–₦65,000 per 50; I show ₦60,500/50. Pullets (layers) DOC: about ₦92,500 per 50. Point-of-Lay (POL) pullets: ₦6,200–₦7,500 per bird.
Maize (a key feed ingredient) fell about 33 percent from January to June 2025 (₦600,000 per MT to ₦450,000 per MT), which is why some bagged feed prices have been easing lately. Keep watching this, your margins follow maize.
Model A: 50 broilers, 6 weeks to market (starter to finisher)
Assumptions (conservative): Cobb 500 to day 42; cumulative feed 5.10 kg per bird plus 5 percent waste; Topfeeds Finisher 25 kg at ₦22,500.40; DOC at ₦60,500/50; vaccines and meds budget ₦300/bird.
- Feed needed = 5.10 kg × 1.05 waste × 50 birds = 267.75 kg, 10.71 bags (25 kg).
Feed cost = 10.71 × ₦22,500.40 = ₦240,979. - Chicks = one carton 50 = ₦60,500.
Core variable cost (feed plus chicks) = ₦301,479, ₦6,030/bird. Add vaccines/meds, ₦15,000 (₦300/bird), ₦316,479 total (₦6,330/bird).
Model B: 100 day-old pullets (DOC) reared to POL (16–17 weeks)
Assumptions (practical): Hy-Line Brown rearing feed to 17 weeks ≈ 6.07 kg/bird; use Chikun Grower Pellet 25 kg ₦21,543.50; DOC pullets ₦92,500/50; 5 percent waste; ₦400/bird for vaccines and meds.
- Feed needed = 6.07 kg × 100 = 607 kg, 24.28 bags.
Feed cost = 24.28 × ₦21,543.50 = ₦499,440; add 5 percent waste = ₦524,412. - Chicks = two cartons 50 = ₦185,000.
Core variable (feed plus chicks) ₦709,412, ₦7,094/bird to POL.
Add vaccines/meds, ₦40,000, working total ₦749,412 (₦7,494/bird).
Rearing to POL in hot months uses more energy for cooling and water sanitation; budget for electrolytes and vitamin C during heat spikes. Wood shavings remain the standard litter, though alternatives are used when scarce.
Model C: 100 Point-of-Lay pullets (18–20 weeks), egg production for a month
Assumptions: buy 100 POL at ₦6,200–₦7,500 each; Hy-Line feeding in lay 110.7 g/bird/day; show both Topfeed Layer Mash and Chikun Layer-1 options.
Up-front birds: ₦620,000–₦750,000.
Monthly feed (30 days):
- Daily feed = 110.7 g × 100 birds = 11.07 kg/day, 332.1 kg/month = 13.28 bags (25 kg).
- Topfeed Layer Mash ₦19,659.99: ₦261,163/month.
Chikun Layer-1 ₦20,757: ₦275,736/month.
Feed-only cost per dozen eggs: Hy-Line guide says 1.43–1.55 kg feed per dozen. At today’s prices that’s about ₦1,180–₦1,246 per dozen (Topfeed vs Chikun). That equals ₦2,949–₦3,114 feed-only per crate (30 eggs) before meds, utilities, mortality, or labor.
Compare to selling price: Lagos and Abuja retail crates in early August were around ₦5,400–₦5,800, implying a feed-only margin of about ₦2,300–₦2,850 per crate to cover everything else and leave profit.
Every ₦1,000 shift in a 25 kg bag changes feed cost by about ₦150 per crate (because one crate takes about 3.75 kg feed).
Read More: Why Chick Prices Rise & Fall in Nigeria (Feed, Disease, Festive Cycles)
Feed strategy to protect margins in 2025
Feed is the biggest line on your budget this year, so the way you buy it, present it, and time it will decide whether your ledger smells like fresh shavings or smoke. Below is exactly how I run feed on my farm and what the breeder manuals and extension labs say, so you can squeeze more kilos and eggs out of every 25 kg bag.
Phase the diet on time (and don’t skip steps)
Starter, grower, finisher (for broilers) and pre-lay, layer-1, layer-2 (for hens) are not marketing words; they are how you match nutrient density to bird age so you do not waste cash on the wrong protein or calcium at the wrong time. Hy-Line’s performance guide, for instance, recommends Layer-1 from roughly 19–45 weeks and gives daily intake targets you can plan around. When you phase correctly, the intake figures in the breeder tables are far easier to hit.
Pellets, crumbles, or mash? (Performance vs price)
On paper and in the house, feed form matters. Cobb’s broiler guide is plain: pelleted or extruded diets usually deliver better flock efficiency and growth than mash because birds sort less and spend less energy eating. Independent trials agree: starter crumbles for the first week improve body weight and FCR versus mash.
Broader reviews also show pelleted diets beating mash on nutrient digestibility and performance. On my own floor, pellets reduce fines and keep birds working the feeder instead of the litter. If bag price is your only reason to choose mash, cost it all the way to cost per kg gain. Pellets often win once performance is counted.
Keep brands consistent; compare by naira per kg, not just naira per bag
Nigeria’s shelves carry the phases you need, for example Topfeeds Layer Mash and Chikun Layer-1, and the tags move week by week. Compare on naira per kilogram, not bag sticker, because bags are the same size but nutrition and form differ. Switching brands mid-cycle to “save ₦500” can dent intake and set you back a week. As of this week’s listings, Topfeeds Layer Mash shows ₦19,659.99/25 kg and Chikun Layer-1 ₦20,757/25 kg. Use those prices to model and then confirm the real dealer quote before you buy chicks.
Water is half the ration
Birds drink roughly 1.6–2.0 kg of water per 1 kg of feed, and in heat they will drink even more while eating less. Plan your lines, nipples, and header tank for hot-day demand, not average days. Extension guidance is blunt: build surplus water capacity because birds will shift to drinking for cooling when temperatures spike. If you have ever smelled that slightly metallic, overheated drinker line at 2 p.m., you know why intake stalls. Flush lines, keep pressure right, and shade tanks. Your feed plan does not work if your water plan is weak.
Heat-season feeding
In Nigerian heat, you will rarely hit the book numbers if you force big meals at noon. Hy-Line’s heat-stress notes explicitly recommend a 1–2-hour “midnight feeding” (with at least three hours of darkness either side) to push intake into cool hours. They also suggest reducing light intensity during the hottest period to curb activity. I top up before lights on, push the heavier meals to dawn and dusk, and keep the “midnight snack” during heat waves. Birds breathe easier, and trays tell the story next morning.
Smart mitigation, not magic powders
You will see every supplement under the sun when heat bites. The evidence base is clearer for a few tools: vitamin C and E can partially blunt heat-stress losses, and electrolyte balance (including sodium bicarbonate as part of dietary sodium) is a recognized lever in hot-weather programs. Use them deliberately. Prefer label-supported premixes and talk to your nutritionist before you tinker with sodium. Overshooting electrolytes is its own problem.
Little handling details that save a bag a week
A lot of “expensive birds” are really expensive feed on the floor. Fill feeders before lights come on so keener birds do not gorge fines. Raise pans so beaks skim, they do not bulldoze. Even the big guides remind you to get birds onto the main feeding system by about 6–7 days and move to good pellets after day 10. Early structure sets habits you cash out later. My own rule: if I can write my name in fines under the line, I have just spilled a tray of money.
Bird-by-bird buyer’s guide for Nigeria
There is a difference between “finding birds online” and buying right. Below is exactly how I vet sellers, what paperwork I ask for, how I inspect stock at pickup, and how I move birds home without losing them to heat or stress. Everything here is grounded in current breeder manuals, Nigerian vaccine sources, and reputable listings.
Where to buy (and how to verify the seller)
If you are buying commercial layers (Hy-Line, ISA Brown), start by verifying there is a real distributor behind the ad. Hy-Line maintains a public “Locations and Distributors” directory; Agrited Nigeria Ltd appears there as the Hy-Line distributor. If an online seller claims “Agrited pullets,” cross-check their details against Hy-Line’s page or Agrited’s own website before you pay.
For Noilers (dual-purpose), use the official Amo Farm/Noiler pages. They state Noiler is an Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery (AFSH) product and note weekly hatches with distribution across Nigeria. That is the quickest way to confirm that a “Noiler” seller is actually in their network.
Marketplaces can be convenient, but you still want traceability. Justagric agros is a platform where you can get quality birds; pullets, broilers, noilers, turkeys, Brahma chickens, and other birds. With over 10 years of actively supporting poultry farmers with quality birds and guidance, this platform is a haven for quality poultry input. It is a brand you can trust when it comes to the supply of quality birds.
For broiler DOCs, legitimate Nigerian options include Agrited (Ross 308), CHI or CASCADA (Arbor Acres) and others; you will see their cartons and strain names on product pages. Again, verify hatch date, strain, and pickup day on the seller’s page before you transfer funds.
The paperwork and questions that protect you
Before you pay, you must ask for three things:
- Hatch or birth date and strain (Ross 308, Arbor Acres, Hy-Line Brown, Noiler). It should match the carton or label and the distributor’s schedule.
- Vaccination record for the flock to date. For layers and pullets, Hy-Line’s vaccination brief lists the core diseases commercial flocks are routinely protected against worldwide: Marek’s, Newcastle disease (NDV), infectious bronchitis (IB), infectious bursal disease (IBD or Gumboro), avian encephalomyelitis (AE), and fowl pox, with local adjustments advised by your vet. In Nigeria, the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI, Vom) produces multiple NDV vaccines (LaSota, Komarov, and the thermostable I-2 strain), plus IBD and fowl pox, so it is normal to see those names on a vaccination sheet.
- Age in weeks (for Point-of-Lay). Realistic POL listings in Nigeria show 12–16 or more weeks. The seller should state exact age and prior vaccinations.
If the seller hesitates to share basic details, I walk away. There is always another batch.
How to inspect day-old chicks at pickup
When you lift a chick box lid, your senses matter. Look for bright, open eyes; clean, dry fluff; healed, closed navels; active but calm behavior. These are universal signals of good chick quality. If the box smells sour or the navels look raw, your performance curve is already bent.
I also weigh a sample (5 percent of boxes) to judge uniformity, as the Cobb broiler guide recommends. Low uniformity now usually becomes uneven growth later.
How to vet Point-of-Lay pullets (what good POL looks like)
A genuine POL (15–18 weeks) should be uniform in body weight and development. Hy-Line’s pullet management note sets a goal of 85 percent or more uniformity within 10 percent of the flock average before transfer. Other Hy-Line guides note flocks entering lay at 1.57–1.67 kg with over 85 percent uniformity perform best. If half the pen is small and half is oversized, egg peaks will stagger and feed budgets will not pencil.
Hands-on checks help: combs should be reddening, the abdomen soft and widening, and pelvic bones flexible with increasing spacing as birds approach lay. Extension guides describe this “three-finger” pelvic spacing test as a quick readiness indicator; pair it with a sample weigh to avoid being fooled by cosmetics.
Transport without losses (beating Nigerian heat on pickup day)
Your birds are most vulnerable between the seller’s gate and your brooder or shed. In hot weather, use ventilated crates, avoid stacking that blocks airflow, and travel very early or late. Do not seal birds in airtight car boots; keep moving air around the boxes and minimize stops. Industry transport guides add simple rules: reduce loading density in heat, park in the shade if you must stop, and keep waiting times short.
Heat-management notes also back shifting feeding to cool hours (or withholding feed a few hours before peak afternoon heat) to cut heat stress, and night or “midnight” feeding to maintain intake, useful if you are moving POLs into a warm house.
Common budgeting mistakes (and easy fixes)
When money is tight, the small leaks are the ones that sink you. Here are the mistakes I see most often on Nigerian farms in 2025 and the fixes that actually move the numbers for broilers, layers, Noilers and even turkeys.
1) Pricing birds without pricing bags
I still meet farmers who pick a strain and headcount, then “estimate” feed. That is how you get surprised by week 5. The breeder tables are public and precise: a modern broiler should consume roughly 3.6 kg by day 35 and about 5.1 kg by day 42 (Cobb 500). Layers need about 6.07 kg to 17 weeks just to reach point of lay, then about 110 g per day in lay (Hy-Line Brown). If your cash plan does not start with those numbers, you are budgeting on vibes. Build every batch plan off the cumulative intake tables first, then multiply by your actual naira per kg at the mill.
2) Forgetting the “selling week” feed
Broiler budgets often stop at day 42 as if buyers queue at the gate. In real life you will hold birds for several days while customers or trucks align. Those extra days still eat expensive finisher and add transport water and electrolyte cost. Carry an extra 0.3 to 0.8 kg per bird of finisher in your plan for the selling period.
3) Wasting feed through the feeder and the floor
If your pans are too low or you are serving powdery fines, birds bill out feed you already paid for. Even small-scale extension guides note that over-filled or low hoppers increase spillage. Fill half full and keep the lip at back height so beaks skim rather than bulldoze. Modern broiler management articles peg feed at 60 to 70 percent of total cost, so recovering just 3 to 5 percent from wastage goes straight to margin. Raise feeders as birds grow, switch to crumbles or pellets where possible, and sift fines out of mash.
4) Under-feeding during the hottest hours
At 2 p.m. you can smell the warm, metallic drinker lines and see birds panting. That is not a time to push a big meal. Layer guides explicitly recommend “midnight feeding” (lights on for 1 to 2 hours in the dark period) in hot climates. It typically adds 2 to 5 g per bird per day and supports shell formation. Move heavier meals to dawn and dusk, consider a short midnight feed during heat waves, and keep water shaded and lines flushed.
5) Stocking too tight for a hot house
Densities that work in cool, controlled barns will not work in a zinc-roofed shed at 33 °C. Ross and Aviagen hot-climate guidance trims kilograms of liveweight per square metre as temperature and humidity rise to protect performance. If you cram, FCR creeps, birds sit, and you “mysteriously” miss the breeder feed numbers. Plan density from target weight times climate, not from floor area alone. Add fans and air inlets before you add birds.
6) Switching feed brands mid-cycle to “save 500 naira”
On paper a cheaper bag looks clever. In the house, abrupt brand changes can dent intake for days (different particle size, energy, amino profile). With feed already 60 to 70 percent of cost, losing even 2 to 3 percent growth or egg output for a week is more expensive than the bag “saving.” Compare by naira per kg and performance, not sticker price. If you must switch, do a gradual blend over several days.
7) Skipping rearing math when choosing POL vs DOC
Buying Point of Lay feels pricey per hen, so people default to day-old pullets and forget the about 6 kg rearing feed, brooding energy, and mortality risk. Hy-Line’s own tables show that 0 to 17 weeks feed load. POL pricing essentially bundles that risk. Price DOC to POL transparently (chicks plus 24 to 25 bags per 100 plus meds plus energy) versus POL (bird price plus immediate layer diet). In a hot year, POL’s “time discount” can be worth it.
8) Letting mash quality (fines) starve your growth curve
Pelleted or crumbled diets generally beat mash on intake and FCR because birds cannot sort and spend less energy eating. This shows up across broiler manuals and recent nutrition papers. If you must feed mash, keep particle size consistent and feeder lip high. Run starter as crumbles where possible. If buying mash, audit fines (hand-sieve a scoop) and adjust feeders to reduce billing.
9) Confusing “rules of thumb” on Facebook with breeder math
You will see posts claiming “32 bags for 100 broilers to 9 weeks” or “11 bags of 50 kg in 7 weeks.” They often mix bag sizes and targets. The fix is dull but undefeated: open the Cobb table (or Ross) and multiply the cumulative feed per bird by your birds and divide by 25 kg. That gives you the right ballpark, then add your own wastage and mortality buffer. Budget from breeder PDFs first, use forum numbers as stories, not as baselines.
10) Ignoring water capacity and temperature
Birds drink about 1.6 to 2.0 kg water per kg feed and even more under heat. Warm lines suppress intake. Many brooding and management guides emphasize water hygiene, pressure and header-tank shading because feed plans collapse when water is limited. Size lines for hot-day peaks, flush at midday, keep tanks shaded, and check nipples and pressure weekly.
FAQs
How many 25 kg bags of feed do I need to raise 100 broilers to market weight?
Under good management, modern broilers (Ross 308 or Cobb 500) reach market at 6 weeks with cumulative feed intake of about 4.6 to 5.1 kg per bird. That means 100 birds consume 460 to 510 kg, or about 18 to 21 bags (25 kg each) to 42 days. In hotter, open-sided houses or when birds are grown a week longer, budget a few extra bags. These numbers come from Ross 308 performance tables (cumulative intake about 4.586 kg at day 42) and Cobb 500 objectives (about 5.10 kg at day 42).
How many 25 kg bags do 100 layers eat per month?
Hy-Line Brown 2024 standards show average 110.7 g feed per hen per day (18 to 90 weeks). That is about 3.32 kg per hen per month, so 100 hens need about 332 kg per month which equals about 13.3 bags of 25 kg. Farmer estimates around 14 to 15 bags are common. Heat or poorer rations can nudge usage up.
What is the feed cost per dozen eggs in 2025 terms?
Hy-Line’s table lists about 1.43 to 1.55 kg feed per dozen eggs (20 to 90 weeks). If a 25 kg bag costs 19,600 to 23,700 naira (Topfeeds or Chikun price windows online), feed cost per dozen is about 1,120 to 1,470 naira at those bag prices. Always update with your local bag price.
What are typical prices for point-of-lay pullets and feed?
Recent market posts show Point-of-Lay hens around 7,000 naira each in mid-2025. Common retail feed listings show Topfeeds Broiler Finisher 25 kg at about 21,400 to 22,500 naira, and Chikun Broiler Finisher 25 kg at about 23,700 naira. Cross-check in your city before purchase.
Pellets or mash: does feed form really change performance?
Yes. Multiple controlled trials and reviews show pelleted diets improve growth and feed conversion compared to mash because birds cannot sort ingredients and eat faster and more consistently. Pellets often cost more, but the biological gain in weight and FCR can offset the premium if pellet quality is good. If cash is tight, a coarse, well-mixed mash still works. Avoid overly fine grist.
For layers in hot weather, is “midnight feeding” worth the hassle?
In hot climates, adding 1 to 2 hours of light in the middle of the dark period can lift feed intake, often plus 2 to 5 g per hen per day, and improve shell quality by aligning calcium intake with nighttime shell formation. Strictly keep 3 hours of darkness before and after the midnight light, and taper off gradually if you stop.
Which vaccinations should a POL have already received?
Reputable pullet rearers vaccinate Marek’s, Newcastle disease (NDV), Infectious Bronchitis (IB), Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD or Gumboro), Fowl Pox, and Avian Encephalomyelitis (AE) before sale. Local risk may add more. In Nigeria, NVRI (Vom) produces ND (LaSota, I-2, Komarov), IBD and Fowl Pox vaccines. Always ask sellers for batch and schedule records before you pay.
What is a safe stocking density for broilers in the heat?
Aviagen’s guidance for hot conditions suggests not more than 30 kg liveweight per square metre in controlled-environment houses and about 20 to 25 kg per square metre (or lower at the hottest times) in open-sided houses. Overcrowding in heat dents growth and welfare.
How much water do chickens drink relative to feed?
Plan on about 1.6 to 2.0 kg of water per 1 kg of feed, more during heat stress. If water intake drops, feed intake and performance also drop. Keep water cool, clean, and flowing.
DOC vs POL in 2025: what is better for a tight budget?
- DOC layers: cheaper per bird, but you will feed about 6.1 kg to 17 weeks (Hy-Line cumulative), then carry the pullets to first egg. Lower cash outlay now, more risk and more time.
- POL: pay more upfront but start earning in weeks, and someone else carried brooding and grower risk. In mid-2025, many Nigerian sellers quote POL at about 7,000 naira. If your feed is expensive or brooding is risky in your area, POL often makes more sense.
What biosecurity step do most small farms still skip?
Quarantine new birds for about 30 days in a separate space with separate gear before mixing. It is the cheapest insurance you can buy against bringing in NDV or other pathogens. USDA’s Defend-the-Flock and university extensions repeat this for a reason.
Conclusion
I am sure you have gotten the right information you can based your decision on. Broilers still deliver the fastest turnover when you budget off breeder tables, think 3.6 kg by day 35 and 5.1 kg by day 42 per bird, and guard that feed with good form, timing, and heat management. Layers pay you in calm, weekly cash once they are at point-of-lay. Hy-Line’s standards (110.7 g/hen/day in lay, 6.07 kg to 17 weeks) are the honest baselines to plan purchases and egg pricing.
Prices will keep shifting, both for chicks and for 25 kg bags, so treat them like weather and check them weekly. Right now, reputable Nigerian listings put Topfeeds Layer Mash around ₦19,659.99 and Chikun Layer-1 around ₦20,757, while Point-of-Lay pullets typically post in the ₦6,200–₦7,500 band. Meanwhile, maize, the backbone of feed, fell about 33 percent from February to June 2025, which is easing some pressure downstream. Build your plans off today’s quotes, but keep the budget elastic, because feed remains the biggest cost line in poultry (often near 70 percent).