In this Article;
Broilers or Layers which are more profitable in poultry production?
If you’re considering raising chickens for meat or eggs, it’s important to carefully consider which type of chicken will be the most profitable for you. In general, broiler chickens are more profitable than layer chickens because they are raised specifically for meat production and can be sold at a younger age (4 weeks old) and at a higher price. However, the specific profitability of broilers and layers can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the local market conditions and the cost of housing and equipment. It’s always a good idea to do some research and carefully consider these factors before making a decision.
Is raising broilers profitable?
The cost of broiler production in the United States can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the location, the size of the operation, and the cost of feed and other inputs. In general, it’s safe to say that broiler production can be a costly undertaking, especially if you’re just starting out and need to invest in housing, equipment, and other infrastructure.
It’s important to carefully consider all of these costs and do some research before making any decisions about starting a broiler operation. Additionally, it may be helpful to talk to other poultry producers and get their advice and insights on the costs and challenges of broiler production.

Is layer farming profitable?
The demand for eggs is generally high, and the price of eggs can be relatively stable, which can make layer farming a good option for those looking to enter the poultry industry.
To determine whether layer farming is profitable for you, it’s important to carefully consider all of the costs associated with the operation, including the cost of feed, housing, and labor. It’s also important to do some research on market conditions and pricing to get a sense of the potential profitability of the operation. It can be helpful to talk to other local poultry producers and get their advice and insights on the costs and challenges of layer farming.
Making profits from broilers or layers are determined by a number of factors. When comparing a broiler production to a layer production, production inputs such as medication costs, feeding costs, and so on differ.
Pros and Cons of broiler farming
There are advantages and disadvantages of broiler chicken farming, including:
Advantages of broilers | Disadvantages of broilers |
---|---|
Fast growers. (Maturity age: Weak 4-7). | Extra heat due to high metabolic activities. |
High meat producers. | High cost in maintaining clean and dry bedding material. |
High demand for broiler market. | High bird mortality. |
Good for seasonal poultry farming. | Feed cost is very high because broilers consume a lot. |
Better Feed Conversion Rate FCR. | Labor demanding. |
Pros and Cons of layer farming
Advantages of layers | Disadvantages of layers |
---|---|
Long term profit making. | Requires technical knowledge. |
High profit in selling eggs and meat. | High cost in management. |
High demand for eggs. | Labor demanding. |
Less heat. | High cost in feeding. |
List of factors affecting the cost of poultry production
There are many factors that can affect the cost of poultry production, including:
- The type of poultry being raised: Different types of poultry, such as broilers, layers, turkeys, and ducks, can have different costs associated with their production.
- The size of the operation: Larger operations may have economies of scale that can help reduce costs, while smaller operations may face higher costs per bird.
- The location: Poultry production costs can vary depending on the local climate, the availability of land and labor, and the cost of inputs such as feed and electricity.
- The cost of feed: Feed is one of the largest expenses in poultry production, so changes in the cost of feed can have a big impact on the overall cost of production.
- The cost of housing and equipment: Poultry producers need to invest in housing, equipment, and other infrastructure, which can add to the overall cost of production.
- Labor costs: The cost of labor can also be a significant factor in the cost of poultry production.
- Market conditions: Changes in market conditions, such as changes in consumer demand or the price of poultry products, can affect the profitability of poultry production.
Overall, the cost of poultry production is determined by a combination of these and other factors. It’s important for you to carefully consider all of these factors and do some research before making decisions about their operations.
Factors likely to affect profit-making in poultry
1. Marketing
The market, in reality, dictates how much money you will make on your products. Keeping a broiler for longer than 8 weeks, for example, will not earn you any extra money.
The bad news is that you’ll have to go with the market’s current pricing at the conclusion of the day. As a result, we can see how important marketing is when comparing profit margins of broilers to layers. So, you need to consider marketing before you put your broilers for sale.
2. Production cost
Estimating production costs for broilers and layers differs due to the length of time between production and marketing.
It takes about six (6) months for layers to start laying eggs, and it takes a maximum of eight (8) weeks in the broiler for marketing to begin.
Profiting from broilers is a short-term strategy, whereas profiting from layers is a long-term one.

3. Cost of medication
In comparison to layers, which may require technical hands if the farmer is untrained, the cost of purchasing and administering medication, which includes vaccination, in commercial broilers is cheap.
Vaccination procedures such as chickenpox, new castle vaccination, and, most notably, Marek, necessitate a higher production cost plan than broilers.
4. Broilers vs Layers Cost of Feeding
Broilers are fed ad libitum, but not to the point of endangering their health in the case of fatty liver syndrome, which causes death in birds when too much fat accumulates around the liver. Unlike broilers kept in open like pastured broilers.
Broilers, as opposed to layers, are known to consume more feed. This may have an impact on the cost of production, therefore feeding must be done strategically.
When Broilers vs Layers profit-making becomes a challenge for you to decide the production to choose, consider the above factors which have a great influence on profit-making in poultry production.
Follow our LinkedIn Page for the latest updates
Sam is a blogger and an entrepreneur. More about Bio