Poultry farming: Turning birds to a rewarding venture
By Obiabin Onukwugha
Owning a poultry farm can be rewarding. From providing diaries and eggs for households and your family to being employer of Labour, poultry farm makes you financially independent.
It also brings great joy to see your small farm begin to produce hundreds of birds.
This is the story of Faisal Ahmed Shuvo, a college student from a remote village in Bagerhat. His passion has not only brought immeasurable joy and pride to him and his parents but has also blossomed into a thriving enterprise, attracting other exotic chicken farmers seeking his advice.
Many unemployed youths have also drawn inspiration from Faisal to launch their own enterprises.
It was learnt that Faisal’s journey began in 2019 in the village of Mallik Ber in Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat when as an honours second-year student, a YouTube video sparked his fascination for rare chickens.
Faisal started his investment with a meagre Tk3,400 that he used to purchase four European Silky chickens and began his venture in the backyard of the family homestead.
Soon, his interest swiftly evolved into a dedicated pursuit as he sourced foreign chickens from diverse locales.
Today, Shuvo Agro, Faisal’s specialised poultry farm prides of 200 to 300 rare chicken breeds. Equipped with an incubator, the farm ensures a steady supply of hatched chicks to neighborhoods and other poultry farmers.
Faisal’s success story is that of interest and the drive to make a difference. As the business grew, the young entrepreneurs expanded his collection to encompass 25 species of foreign chickens and started selling chicks online through platforms like Facebook.
Narrating his story Faisal said: “My farm’s journey began purely out of interest. Once the chickens started laying eggs, there was no turning back.
“The most prized chickens on my farm are the American Wyandotte chickens,” Faisal notes, with pairs of chicks priced between Tk4,000 and Tk5,000, and mature pairs fetching Tk60,000 to Tk70,000.
“I specialise in breeding and selling chicks rather than selling foreign chicken eggs,” adds the enterprising young man, who has supplied foreign breed chickens to 55 districts across Bangladesh, including Bagerhat, Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Cumilla.”