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How to start a Pigeon Farming Business in Nigeria
Commercial pigeon farming is not a new business idea. It is a
very interesting and profitable business. And you can start this
business easily with relatively less investment, even if you are
a beginner. Most of the people in the rural area used to raise
some pigeons in their home for food or just as pets. Pigeon
farming requires less labor and low investment. Even you can
also raise and take care of these birds during your leisure
time.
Meat of baby pigeon (squab) is very tasty, nutritious and has
good demand and value in the market. So, if you want to start
meat production business, then pigeon farming can be a great way
to make some extra income. You can also start this business if
you want to sell show pigeons, or if you want to sell pigeons to
the people who want to keep pigeons as pets.
However, most of the people used to raise pigeons in traditional
ways. But raising pigeons using modern methods is more
profitable than traditional ways. So, if you want to be
successful in pigeon farming business, then you have to use
modern rearing techniques and also have to take good care of
your birds.
Select a Good Location for Your Pigeon Farm: Selecting a good
location for your pigeon farm is also very important. In small
scale production, you can start it within your home area. But
for commercial production, selecting a good location is very
important. But it is very important to select the location
closer to your residence.
Determine Your Purpose
Determine the purpose of your pigeon farm before choosing the
right breed for you. Pigeons can be raised for many different
purposes such as, they can be raised for meat, show purpose or
for selling to interested people who want to raise as pets. So,
determine your purpose and then select the right breed for your
farm.
Select Good Pigeon Breeds
There are about three hundred pigeon breeds available around the
world. But not all of these breeds are good for commercial
production. Some are good for meat production, some are good for
raising as pets, and some are good for show purpose. Meat
producing and entertaining pigeons are the most common types.
Meat Pigeon Breeds: White king, Texona, Silver king, Gola,
Lokha, etc. are meat pigeon breeds.
Ensure Good Housing Facilities: Providing the birds with good
housing facilities (with the availability of all required
facilities) is very important for successful pigeon farming
business. So, try to ensure good housing facilities for your
birds. Keep in mind the following factors before making house
for your pigeons. Built their house in a higher place. This will
keep the pigeons free from dog, cat, mouse and some other
harmful predators.
Ensure huge flow of air and light inside the house.
Prevent the entrance of rain water directly inside the house.
You can build the house by using thin wood or tin, bamboo or
with packing boxes.
Each pigeon requires about 30 cm long, 30 cm high and 30 cm wide
space.
Each room should accommodate two pigeons.
The house will be adjoining to each other and polyhedral.
Keep a door on every room measuring 10×10 cm.
Always try to keep the house clean and dry.
Clean the house once or twice per month.
Keep the food and water pot near the house.
Keep some straw near the house, so that the pigeons can make bed
for them.
Keep water and sand near the house, as they clean their body
using water and dust.
Ensure Balanced Feeding: Feeding the birds with very good
quality and nutritious food is the most important part of
commercial pigeon farming business. Pigeons generally eat wheat,
maize, paddy, rice, enamel, legume, mustard, gram etc. Keep
foods in front of their house and they will take the food as
much as they need.
You have to serve them balanced feed for proper growing, good
health and for proper production. You can also serve them
balanced feed, prepared for the chickens. Pigeon feed should
contain 15-16 % protein.
Every pigeon consume 35-50 grams of grainy feed daily. For fast
growing of baby pigeon and for nutrition of adult, feed them
oyster shell, lime stone, bone powder, salt, greet mixture,
mineral mixture etc. with their regular feed.
Feeding Baby Pigeons: Baby pigeons (squab) don’t need extra feed
for 5-7 days. They take crop milk from their parent’s stomach.
Which is known as pigeon milk.
Male and female pigeon used to feed their baby in this way for
about 10 days. After that, they become able to fly and can eat
food of their own. Keep fresh feed and clean water near their
house.
Along with providing the birds with good quality and nutritious
food, provide them with enough clean and fresh water. Keep water
pot near their house. They will drink and take bath from that
water pot. Clean the water pot daily. Always try to serve them
sufficient amount of clean water.
Breeding and Life Cycle of Pigeons
Generally pigeons are raised in pair. One pair of male and
female pigeon stay together for their whole life. They can
survive for about 12 to 15 years.
Male and female both collect straw together and build a small
nest for them to live. Female pigeons start laying eggs at their
5-6 months of age. They lay two eggs every time and their
breeding capability stays for about 5 years or even more.
Both male and female pigeons hatch the eggs. Usually it takes
about 17 to 18 days to hatch the eggs.
The stomach of baby pigeon contains crop milk, which they eat
for 4 days. Female pigeon feed their baby for ten days by their
lips. After that, they start taking supplementary food by their
own. At their age of 26 days, they become adult.
If artificial nest needed, make it. As the eggs are very small
in size, so squab production is very profitable than consuming
the eggs.
Ensure Good Caring and Other Management
Taking good care of the birds is very important for pigeon
farming business. Good caring not only helps the birds to grow
better, but also helps them to stay healthy. So try to take good
care of your birds. Here we are trying to describe about some
caring tasks:
Always try to follow advice from an experienced veterinarian.
Always try to keep the house clean and germ free. Hygiene
rearing system is a must for keeping your birds healthy.
Marketing: This is another important part of successful pigeon
farming business. Because your venture will not be much
profitable if you can market your products easily. So, try to
determine the marketing strategies before starting this
business. Most probably, you will be able to sell your products
in the local market, or any nearest town.
Get our Practical Training Guide on Pigeon Farming Business in
Nigeria. Are you keen to open a pigeon farm but don't know where
to begin? Then you're in luck because this guide will lead you
through all the steps required to check if your business idea
can be profitable and, if so, turn it into a reality. Our guide
is for prospective entrepreneurs who are thinking about starting
a pigeon farm no matter how far they are in their journey -
whether you’re just thinking about it or in the middle of market
research this guide will be useful to you.
Think of this as your blueprint: we cover everything you need to
know about opening a pigeon farm and what key decisions you’ll
need to make along the way.
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